Songs from a Full Moon
In Spring 2026 Candy and her colleague and friend, Lindsey Williams, will be running a 5-day non-residential singing workshop in Stroud, UK based on their songbook ‘Songs from a Full Moon’ and Candy’s ‘A Book of Irish Songs for Choirs’.
THE MUSIC and WHO IS THIS WORKSHOP FOR?
This workshop is for singers with some experience of choirs who enjoy being challenged to improve the sound we make together, who want to delve into interesting music, experiment with ways of interpretation, get to know the music’s subtleties, think about interpretation of lyrics and work on honing our sound.
If you haven’t sung Lindsey and Candy’s songs before, you’re in for a treat. Quality, poetic lyrics are expressed in rich lyrical harmonies. All the parts have something interesting to sing.
You can listen to the audios here (scroll down the page).
STOP PRESS! We will be learning one song newly composed for this event.
LISTEN TO YOUR PART AHEAD OF THE WORKSHOP
We will be sending audios/music for five of Lindsey and Candy’s songs, out early in the new year. The idea is that singers look at the music and familiarise themselves with their part in advance of the workshop. You won’t need to be absolutely note perfect when you arrive, but the more people know, the less time we spend on ‘note-bashing’ and more time on the interesting bits.
We will also be singing other beautiful music some of it easy, some more challenging. Expect full immersion with laughter, joy, fellowship and a lot of fun.
TWO FREE SONG BOOKS
We are offering two song books free when you book on the course: Songs from a Full Moon by Lindsey and Candy and The Song House Book of Irish Songs for Choirs by Candy. They will form the basis of the workshop though we will also learn many other songs - by us and by other people.
The songbooks come with downloadable audios. We'll send the audios, scores, and lyrics in the new year, and give you the two free books at the workshop.
YOUR WORKSHOP LEADERS
Candy Verney's passion is to inspire and create, through singing, a sense of harmony which gives an experience beyond the ordinary. She has been building singing communities in different ways all her working life. She created and developed six community choirs in and around Bath for 20 years, and now directs the Pan-European Choir, and teaches regularly in Germany.
“Hugely recommend - if you love singing and cannot get enough, come Singing on the Wild Side”. PB 2018
“Candy is a superb voice coach, the atmosphere was spot-on, truly delightful.” MD 2017
“Lindsey’s songs are sometimes challenging, but Candy’s arrangements make them accessible to all. Enriching, absorbing and utterly worth the effort!” SS 2023
Lindsey Williams is an award-winning playwright who has been writing songs all her life. A Clinical Psychologist by profession, she tries to write songs that reflect and dissect everyday experiences. “I write lyrics that have meaning for me but which I also hope will resonate with other people...The tunes usually come pretty easily but getting the words right is hell!”
Lindsey was Assistant Music Director with Sing Out Bristol (the South West’s largest LGBT choir) and leads the Spring Singers in Gloucestershire, a group she describes as ‘small on numbers but huge on loveliness!’
Collaborating with Candy has been thrilling...by some magical alchemy she creates marvellous, soaring, rhythmic harmonies that singers just love to sing.
‘Candy and Lindsey...Wow! The tunes, the harmonies, the words, the teaching...And all done with such good humour and laughter. To quote my favourite song of the day...’I’ll be coming back to you!’ AN 2024
TIMINGS
Wednesday - Saturday 10am to 4pm, with tea/coffee breaks and a break for lunch around 1pm
Sunday 10am to 1pm
VENUE
We will be based principally in the Centre for Art and Science. Built at the end of the 19th century, it’s an amazing building which has been a school, a museum and an art school in its time. It’s slap in the middle of Stroud, with many independent cafes within easy walking distance, as well as conveniently located car parks.
We will go out for a couple of afternoons and sing, either in historic local churches with wonderful acoustics or in nature. Gloucestershire is an enchanting county with picturesque Cotswold villages, architecture which ranges from ancient cottages to modern eco-homes, and many unspoilt areas of natural beauty.
FOOD
Coffee/tea will be provided throughout the day.
Lunch - there are many nice cafés and eating places within 5 mins walk, and you’re welcome to bring your own packed lunch.
TUESDAY EVENING: several singers will be coming over from Germany to participate. With this in mind, we are organising a meal out somewhere close by on Tuesday evening. Anyone signed up for the workshop is welcome to join us and meet up with fellow singers before we start the course.
WHAT TO BRING
Water bottle
Packed lunch, or you can visit local cafés
CAR PARKS
Nearest car park is Church Street - 4 mins walk through the park to our singing base on Lansdown.
Parliament Street car park is also nearby (6 mins walk).
The multi storey car park (Brunel Mall) is open Monday - Saturday (charges 9am - 2pm only) and remains open until 9pm.
The Five Valleys shopping centre also has a multi-storey car park – please be aware they are quick to give you a ticket if you outstay your time.
ACCOMMODATION
If you live locally, would you be prepared to offer a spare room to a singer coming from further away?
And if you need accommodation, and would like to stay in another singer’s home, please contact us.
Ultimately it will be up to singers to find their own accommodation, but we have some low budget ideas. Please contact us.
Email: a.sfafullmoon@gmail.com