Saturday Sings - Bruce Ncube & Rosie Sleightholme

Description

Now in its third year, Saturday Sings is a Bristol singing workshop series showcasing original (and often brand new!) choir material taught by the composers themselves. The series was created and is hosted by Bristol composer/choir leader Rosie Sleightholme, who invites a different fantastic choir composer to each event to share a day of teaching their own original harmony songs. Rosie and her guest composer teach two workshops each, taking it in turns throughout the day. Often the composers use Saturday Sings to teach brand new songs, so you could be the first group of singers to ever sing this material! Most songs are in 4 part harmony (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass).

All composers are Natural Voice Network leaders and all songs are taught by ear, so there is no need to read music. All are welcome.

Past composer guests:

Helen Chadwick, Katy Rose Bennett, Anna Tabbush, Ben See, Helen Yeomans (2024)

Kirsty Martin, Lea Morris, Ryan O'Riordan, Emily Roblyn, Dom Stichbury (2025)

Feedback from past Saturday Sings workshops:

“It was amazing. Full of emotion - wonderful songs taught with fun and professionalism”

“Thank you for a really enjoyable day’s singing. I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday. I’ll definitely come again”

“It’s a privilege to be some of the first singers to sing through original compositions with their composers, to be able to buy a score and to take them away to share with our choirs. Thank you for another wonderful day’s singing”

“It was a fabulous day of singing, led by two dynamic and inspirational teachers!”

“I loved the workshop - the mix of heartfelt and joyful songs was just right”

“Wonderful! So uplifting - great songs and a lovely bunch of people, skilfully facilitated by amazing leaders”

“Well organised, welcoming and friendly. Good mix of people as in age and voice parts. Lovely to have two such different leaders/teachers/composers!”

“I appreciate how both experienced teachers accommodated me as a singer. I'm not confident and I did wonder if I was good enough to participate. However, I didn't feel judged or criticised. As someone with challenges in groups and in activities, thank you for the inclusive space”

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13th June 2026 - Bruce Ncube & Rosie Sleightholme

Our third composer guest of the year is the hugely experienced performer, teacher and writer Bruce Ncube. Community choir members may know Bruce through his highly popular workshops teaching traditional songs from his native country of Zimbabwe. What people may not know is that he composes his own rich compositions too, and we will be lucky enough to learn some of these at this workshop.

About Bruce Ncube:

Bruce is a versatile, multi-talented award winning artist and one of Africa’s leading Cultural Ambassadors. He has spent over 18 years touring and traveling across the UK teaching, speaking and performing in some of the world's biggest platforms such as WOMAD, African Drum Village, Natural Voice Network Annual Gathering (Key note speaker), Edinburgh International Festival, Aberdeen International Youth Festival, Lancaster Music Festival, World Music Workshop Festival, Skye Music Festival.

Bruce's teaching is in the traditional, oral/aural way; reminiscent of long ago when people people would gather around a fire in the evenings, at weddings and funerals or whilst working in the fields and start weaving harmonies. His approach is inclusive and participatory, designed to build people's confidence in singing. The songs he writes and teaches are emotionally charged and uplifting, carrying messages of struggle, hope, determination, courage, inspiration and togetherness.

About Rosie Sleightholme

Rosie is a choir leader, composer and singer based in Bristol. She leads longstanding Bristol community choir People of Note and parent and baby choir Folks & Bairns, which has featured in Classic FM, BBC TV and BBC Radio. Having performed as a singer-songwriter for over 20 years, Rosie understands the power of music to connect people and evoke emotion. She pours the same passion into her work as a choir leader and as a composer for choirs.

As well as hosting Saturday Sings in Bristol, Rosie loves to teach at workshops and camps across the UK, including her and Katy Rose Bennett's Heartful Harmonies camps. She aims to create accessible, harmonically satisfying and inspiring songs that bring people together and lift their spirits.

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Key info for 13th June:

🎶 WHERE? Victoria Park Baptist Church, Sylvia Ave, Bristol BS3 5DA*

🎶 WHAT TIME? 1030am-430pm (Doors 10am, arrive by 1015am).

🎶 PRICE? £45 standard rate, plus 5% booking fee (Low Income/Supporter/Super Supporter options available)**

*Drivers - This venue isn't in the Bristol Clean Air Zone, but do check your route if you're trying to avoid it. You can check if your car is exempt here.

There is free on street parking on all the surrounding streets.

**There is a morning and afternoon tea break (teas and coffees included). Lunch break will be an hour, and you can bring your own packed lunch to eat at the church or in Victoria Park across the road. There is a bakery across the road, and there are other food options within 10/15 mins walk of the church.

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Payment options:

Rosie wants Saturday Sings to be accessible whilst also paying herself and her composer guest a fair wage (fees go towards prep time, admin, composing time, travel, as well as the workshop itself). For this reason there are 4 payment options:

If you can afford to pay a bit more, your extra payment is much appreciated and helps to offset Low Income payments.

Please have a read of the Fees table on Rosie's People of Note website to decide which of the categories you best fit, and you can decide which rate to pay, no questions asked.

The Supporter and Super Supporter rates are there as some people have said that they would like to pay more, which is very kind, and means that these payments help to offset any Low Income payments.

If you will still struggle to pay the Low Income option, please contact Rosie directly and we will work something out. Rosie doesn't want anyone to be excluded because they are limited by finances. We have the Higher Earner and Super Supporter rates to help with this.

Please note that the ticketing platform adds a 5% fee on to your booking.

Please see the event FAQs below for Accessibility, Refund Policy, Parking and what your payment covers.
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Saturday Sings 2026 Series:

17th Jan - Seamas Carey & Rosie Sleightholme

14th Mar - Molara Awen & Rosie Sleightholme

13th June - Bruce Ncube & Rosie Sleightholme

12th Sept - Wendy Sergeant & Rosie Sleightholme

7th Nov - Una McCann & Rosie Sleightholme