MetaLAB:
CLOWN CHORUS
2024
Enrollments by 18.1.2024
TO WHOM
Our clown choir is looking for a complement to its harmonic ranks, from alto to coloratura soprano, whiskey basses are also considered.
Our long-term goal is to create a strong, committed core group, with whom it would also be possible to gig in the future. So we hope that the Red nose choir members could commit to the activity for at least one year at a time.
The choir is aimed at performers who already have a touch with their own personal clown. It doesn't matter where you are on your clowning journey, what school you come from, or whether you are an experienced clown or just at the beginning of your clowning journey. Each clown's contribution to the choir's collective vitality is unique and important.
If you don't have clowning experience yet, but the clown choir attracts you as a singer, we recommend that you take a basic clown course either before the choir starts or during the beginning of the year, because we don't focus on the basics of clowning in the choir rehearsals.
As for musical skill level, the clown choir is open to singers of all abilities. We highly appreciate all your pre-existing musicality and skills -even the odd ones.
DESCRIPTION
CHOIR CAMP
(2.2.–4.2.2024)
The 2024 clown choir will be launched at a weekend-long choir camp at the Art Residence SäVäri in Sastamala. The purpose of the choir camp is to get to know the unique universes of our clowns and to prepare for the coming year in camp conditions. So what does this camp conditions mean? Landing in the peace of the countryside, snuggling in bunk beds, clown singing moments in the sauna, guided clown and singing training (10h) in Säväri's rehearsal room, cooking together and having wonderful dining moments with a group.
WEEKLY CHOIR MEETINGS
(on Tuesdays 6 February–14 May 2024)
In Helsinki, in the rehearsal room of Teatteri Metamorfoosi, the choir continues to tune the group harmony and develop the repertoire with regular, three-hour weekly choir rehearsals. The exercises are a mixture of movement and singing, with and without noses. There will be no shortage of laughter!
CONCERTS
(14.5. and 12 November 2024)
In order to share with other people the good news of accepting failure and to avoid the existential crisis of clowns, we organize small concerts at least at the end of the spring and autumn seasons, the locations of which will be announced later.
If possible, we apply to perform at other events as well, e.g. Red Pearl Clown Festival at Hurjaruuth in March and the Choirs' Tour of Art Goes Kapakka in August.
(In the spring of 2023, the clown choir gave a concert at the Kallio library. In the fall, the choir took part in the choir tour and sang proudly as part of the big choir of 2500 singers on the steps of the Helsinki Cathedral, and then went to smaller gigs as part of the Art Goes Kapakka event. In addition, the choir performed as part of the Clown Matinee organized by Teatteri Metamorfoosi at the Puppet House in Pakila, and visited Tikkurila church for a charity event. )
CHORUS LEADERS
HELENA LEMINEN
The musical director of the clown choir and the accompaniment of the choir is sometimes handled by Helena Leminen and sometimes by one of her clowns. At last, when the concert hall lights come on, Grace von Virtanen takes care of the job.
Leminen is a theater teacher (TeM) and music pedagogue (AMK) specializing in clowning. He has studied physical theater and clowning, e.g. Led by Giovanni Fusetti, Philippe Gaulier and Ana Vazquez de Castro. Leminen has been firmly hooked on clowning since 2012, both as a performing clown and as a clowning teacher and instructor. He has worked as a clown also, e.g. with the elderly in service homes and with children and families in the service of the Hospital Clowns.
Leminen has been a member of Teatteri Metamorfoosi since 2014.
SOILE MÄKELÄ
Klovnikuoro's founder Soile Mäkelä (TeM) is a long-time mask theater professional who explores the world with physical theater as a teacher, director or actor. Her clown Halla Kalma sings in the clown choir and sometimes also plays the urn jar.
LANGUAGE
Finnish or English depending of the need
TIMETABLE
SPRING 2024
In the spring season, there will be choir camp and 12 times 3-hours weekly meetings, the last of which is the closing concert.
FEBRUARY
Choir camp in Säväri:
Friday 2.2. Arrival in Säväri at: 6 pm, dinner and clown sauna
Saturday 3.2. Music and clown rehearsals 10-17:00 (including 1h lunch break)
Sun 4.2. Music & clown rehearsals 10-13:00, lunch, departure after lunch.
Weekly meetings in Helsinki on Tuesdays 6/13/27.2
at 17:30-20:30
MARCH
5/12/26.3
(and a possible gig in Red Pearl Clown Festival 16.3.)
APRIL
2/9/16/23.4
MAY
7.5. and
14.5. (spring closing concert)
FALL 2024
In autumn, there will be 12 weekly meetings,
the last of which is the closing concert.
+ possible additional gigs on the Choirs tour in August
AUGUST
20/27.8
+Choirs round 22.8. (?)
SEPTEMBER
3/10/17/24.9
OCTOBER
1/8//22/29.10
NOVEMBER
5.11.
12.11. (autumn season closing concert)
VENUES
CHOIR CAMP
Art residency SäVäri
Hako-Ojantie 25
Sastamala 38510
WEEKLY MEETINGS
Teatteri Metamorfoosi / Point Fixe
Suvilahdenkatu 10 A 4th floor
00500 Helsinki
Metro: Kalasatama or Sörnäinen
PARTICIPANTS
Min. 8 person
PRICE
Spring 2024
320€
(to be paid at the latest 18.1.2024, or until the group is full)
The price includes 10 hours workshop at the Choir Camp, accommodation costs in Säväri, and 12 times 3-hours weekly meetings in Helsinki.
(In addition, the participants will have to pay their own travel expenses to Sastamala, as well as the food fee for the choir camp approx. 20€/person).
(If necessary, we can arrange a car ride TRE-Säväri-TRE at the residence price.)
Autumn 2024
250€ (to be paid after summer)
(All the rights reserved for the changes for Teatteri Metamorfoosi)
CLOWN CHORUS
History and goals
Teatteri Metamorfoosi started the clown choir within the MetaLAB -Movement Laboratory in the fall of 2019.
For the first year, the musical director of the choir was the versatile musician, trumpeter, composer and performer Eero Savela alias Aine Klaine.
Since autumn 2020, graced clown Grace Von Virtanen, aka Helena Leminen, has been waving the pace stick.
The founder of the choir is Soile Mäkelä.
From the beginning, the clown choir's activities have been laboratory-like, as both the leaders and the participants have been on the brink of something new. What is new is not so much the choir singing or the clown, but their combination. The goal of the clown choir is to make all the colorful clown voices sound harmoniously and to do clownery through music. The clown's voice gives room for play and it speaks or sings with the mouth of all our human failures.