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Take a break from the world, give yourself a day of rest, deep connection and singing together in harmony. ALL are welcome to attend this well-being singing retreat regardless of singing or lack thereof of singing experience. The songs are inclusive and carefully curated for community singing.Introducing the leaders
Jonathan Berkahn is a Wellington-based performer, composer, and conductor. He studied organ and harpsichord with Douglas Mews, before diversifying into many other fields of general musical usefulness. He has accompanied the Festival Singers for over two decades now, and conducted them between 2013 and 2019. Around about 2000 he started playing the accordion that his brother-in-law loaned, then gave him, and has never looked back. He is a regular at Tuesday night's Irish session at the Welsh Dragon in Courtenay Place, a co-founder of VicFolk (the Victoria University folk club and ceilidh band), a ceilidh-caller, and member of various dance bands of different genres, from Eastern Europe to North America.
Harilalao “Lala” Simpson is a vibrant singer, songwriter, and song leader who grew up in beautiful Madagascar and now calls Aotearoa home. Known for her ready smiles, joyful energy, and mischievous sense of humour, Lala brings music to life wherever she goes. She leads two lively community choirs in Wellington and hosts singing workshops and retreats both locally and abroad. She also performs French chansons with her 3-piece band and fundraises for charities in Madagascar. Passionate about sharing the rich traditions of her culture, she guides cultural immersion tours to her beloved Madagascar, inviting others to experience its music, stories, and spirit firsthand.
Jonathan and Lala have been working together, leading community singing workshops/retreats and performing for many years. They are both highly skilled song leaders who lead from the heart and joyfully share their gifts. Between them, they have over 50 years experience of leading communities into song.
Both bring with them a wealth of knowledge, an all-inclusive style of teaching, and a wide array of songs that will take you to an exciting world of harmony.
What to expect?
We will start the day by warming our bodies and voices up getting ready to sing and centre ourselves for the day. This part of the morning will involve vocal play, rhythms and singing games.
We will then move on to singing some beautiful rounds to get ourselves ready for harmony songs.
Towards the end of the day, Jonathan will lead us into singing along to well-known pop and folk songs.
We will then finish with some gentle calming down songs.
There will be a few breaks during the day, and you are free to opt in and out of the sessions to go for a walk in the garden or sit in the beautiful chapel.
What about food?
We will take care of morning tea and lunch for you so all you need is turn up. Lala will be preparing one of her well-known nutritious and flavourful dishes (including GF, DF, VG dietary needs).
The venue
Explore the garden, sit and have quiet time in the chapel, walk along the corridors and ready the history of the Home of Compassion, visit the Suzanne Aubert Heritage Centre while you are there. There is also a cafe so you can get your coffee fix should you need one.
There are plenty of parking space on site and The Home of Compassion is within walking distance to bus stops.
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Event Venue
Home of Compassion, 2 Rhine St, Island Bay, Wellington 6023, New Zealand, Home of Compassion, 2 Rhine St, Island Bay, Wellington 6023, New Zealand, Wellington
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
