For some of Tauranga's most respected singing and music teachers, summer is an opportunity to invite Intermediate-aged children to discover for themselves their own creative talent.

'We've seen that Intermediate kids are often overlooked and miss out,” says Michael Blake, whose career as an international tenor soloist spans more than 40 years.

Also an internationally experienced soloist, Glenese Blake agrees.

'We thought we'd do a workshop where the only cost for them is $10 to join, and there are no fees.”

Earlier in 2021, the pair hosted a concert for emerging opera singers, from which they received enough funds to plough back into the community to provide the workshop this January.

Running for five days from January 10 – 14 at Tauranga's Wesley Methodist Church, 24 young people aged 10-13 years will be able to sing, explore their voice, and grow confidence while participating in solo singing, group work, breathing, physiology, basic stage craft, coaching, workshops and most importantly – fun.

'We think we can cater to 24 people in the workshop over the five days,” says Michael. 'If we get too many, we will go into the following week and have two weeks.”

Glenese is one of New Zealand's most respected voice tutors and has been a Voice Fellow at the Conservatorium of Music, University of Waikato, and now works in high schools preparing students for examinations and auditions.

Joining Glenese and Michael will be Leon Gray and Cody Mitchell. Cody, who plays guitar, bass, drums and piano, will be working with people who want to bring along their guitar to sing with. Leon, who holds Master of Music and Master of Education degrees, as well as postgraduate diplomas, teaches music theory, piano and is known within Tauranga circles as ‘Mister Music'.

'We come from a holistic outlook on music and we believe that everybody should be able to at least play or sing,” says Michael.

'If we can just get the kids interested at intermediate level, the idea is to show them that they can do it, and maybe they'll go on to do music at high school.”

Registrations for the workshop, which run from January 10-14, 2022, is via their website: www.singout.co.nz