Well, I somehow didn’t get round to doing one since April, so welcome to my late summer/Autumn blog!
Am on a high having just had a fabulous week leading the daily singing workshops at the Sun and Moon Festival. Lovely heart opening singing all week with lovely people at a lovely festival and I can’t wait to do it all again next year :
https://sunandmoonfestival.com/
![](https://i1.wp.com/www.carol-donaldson-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/20190810_161044.jpg?fit=620%2C349)
See my Diary (singing workshops and events) page for info about new workshops coming up in Autumn this year 🙂
Monthly Highlights
In April I traveled with my Open Voice Community Choir to Malaga to visit ‘Coral El Castillo’, a Spanish choir, and we did one concert in beautiful sea caves! Here’s the poster.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.carol-donaldson-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Caves-poster.jpg?resize=620%2C757)
In May I had a real treat when I sang Taize songs at 8am with a group in this beautiful ‘hobbit house’ in Findhorn . Findhorn is a difficult place to leave – it’s heavenly!
![](https://i1.wp.com/www.carol-donaldson-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/20190527_145026.jpg?fit=620%2C349)
In June, I was on BBC Radio Manchester with Mike Sweeney promoting a fundraising gig at Salford Lads Club with my ‘Rhythm of Life’ Christie and Maggies choir, singing with Rowetta of Happy Monday’s fame.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.carol-donaldson-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/radio-interview.jpg?resize=620%2C562)
Rowetta has a BIG voice, a big personality and an even bigger heart – what a charismatic woman! Donated her time to work with us and raise money for the Christie and Salford Lads Club, where we filmed ‘Cold Feet’.
https://www.facebook.com/ros.fox1/videos/10157429350187300/
July was when ‘Open Voice’ got together with Boff Whalley’s Commoners choir, 4 other choirs and all sang his specially written song to commemorate 200 years since Peterloo. Boff used to be in Chumbawumba, is a great guy and has written a brilliant song based on the words written on the Skelmanthorpe Flag. We sang it in concert at the People’s History Museum, and around Manchester and the Peterloo Memorial site.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.carol-donaldson-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Skelkmanthorpe-2.jpg?resize=620%2C775)
July also brought National Street Choirs to Manchester where over 1,000 voices gathered in song – over 40 community choirs from around the country, busking all round Manchester hosted by Manchester Community Choir – glorious! I was wrangling my 3 community choirs all day and eve then did 2 ‘From Discord to Harmony’ heart opening singing workshops for the Street Fest on the Sunday, so had a rest after that!
Here’s Open Voice busking
![](https://i1.wp.com/www.carol-donaldson-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/OV-busk-STreet-CHoirs-2019.jpg?fit=620%2C338)
Also my Wrexham One World Community Choir did an end of term concert along with a local choir set up for those affected by homelessness and mental health issues -Wrexham One Love Choir. We shared a feast of delicious food then shared a feast of delicious songs, ending the evening singing together and raising the roof and raising £400 for Wrexham Foodbank and UAREUK refugee charity.
![](https://i1.wp.com/www.carol-donaldson-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/WCC-and-WOLC-fundraiser.jpg?fit=620%2C349)
Oh, the power of singing together – it breaks down prejudices and creates UNITY!
‘We have more in common than divides us’.
Love, Carol