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Based in West Sussex, Ariel VocalZone formed in March 2007. All of the members have had many years of performance experience which stems from a theatrical background. The name "Ariel" comes from "ARIEL COMPANY THEATRE" - the Premiere and highly respected theatre group based in the South East and is reknowned for productions such as "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Return to the Forbidden Planet", "Tommy", "We Will Rock You" and "Musicality". All of Vocalzone have taken principal roles with Ariel Company Theatre and our current members are :- DAVID : "David hails from Merseyside (or as he calls it, the Wirral...), so he should be well aware of what makes quality pop music with that geographical pedigree. Having sung in bands and choirs previously, David has certainly put in the graft to hone his talents, and has recently also taken several sizeable roles in Ariel stage productions where his quality tenor voice has left audiences shouting for more. As our very own George Michael in terms of his vocal style, David has a soaring upper range ideally suited for classic pop, and he has the performance patter and persona to match. Firm in his likes and dislikes (and don't we know it...), David is not shy with his opinions, and working hard behind the scenes to come up with a good range of tracks for Vocalzone, it's fair to say David is a driving force behind the group." STEVE : “Steve is a big presence within Vocalzone in every sense. A founding father of Ariel’s theatre group, Steve knows the meaning of good theatre, and his hallmark is powerful and memorable performances. His organisational and technical skills are key to the success of Vocalzone, and without him, it’s fair to say there’d be no music. His musical tastes are wide, his voice has a remarkable range and quality, and he’ll have a crack at whatever comes his way. Whether it’s the timeless disco quality of the Four Seasons “Oh! What a night” (we credit Steve as being the inspiration for “Jersey Boys in the West End…), or the plaintive beauty of Bublé’s “Home”, Steve’s your man.” NICCI : “Nicci is the driving force behind Vocalzone. With husband Neil, she has achieved amazing feats with the Ariel theatre group, and brings the same energy to Vocalzone which she prizes, justifiably, as her own project. Our three ladies have a superb blend of voices, and Nicci’s remarkably high range introduces an Abba-like quality to the sound (and let’s face it, that’s a comparison we can happily live with!). She loves the disco numbers, and makes them her own, in particular a cracking rendition of “If I can’t have you” and the classic “Young hearts run free”. As well as belting out a great tune, Nicci does much to market Vocalzone, and for that we are indebted to her.” GEMMA : “A local girl (Horsham), Gemma has a sound theatrical background from her schooldays onwards, and her versatility is such that she has convincingly carried off roles ranging from the cute and cookie to the downright sassy. In recent years, progressing to the later stages of a series of X Factor has given her some “celebrity status” within Vocalzone (or so she thinks…), but her team mates help to keep her grounded. Her rounded and powerful vocal range slips effortlessly from the subtleties of Eva Cassidy to the blues soul of Lulu in the current Vocalzone repertoire. Recently married, we’re determined to keep Gemma away from the demands of the kitchen sink (it won’t be hard to do, sorry Gareth!).” ANNA : “We blame Anna for being the inspiration that gave rise to Vocalzone. If she hadn’t roped us in to an impromptu evening’s entertainment a few years ago (in a local supermarket….no, but really), the group would never have happened. Anna saw a “gap in the market” for a live vocal band as a change to the tried, tested and dated disco option. We fully bought into that, and Vocalzone was born. Anna’s energy and enthusiasm are legendary, and we’re amazed she can fit so many varied activities into her life. As a local teacher, we value her organisational skills, but above all we prize her cracking voice and vivacious nature that makes her one hell of a performer.” DAVID : “David is the elder statesman of Vocalzone, and is allowed out when there is a call for “classics of the war years” or the greatest hits of Al Bowlly. As a kid in the North West in the Sixties and Seventies, David was a sponge for anything popular radio could offer, and has a good memory for lyrics. He was unavoidably influenced by the vocal style and pinpoint timing of the late Gene Pitney (his neighbour played him incessantly; he heard it through the wall as he tried to get some sleep – it’s grim up North!). Nowadays, David listens to anything from Mozart to Kaiser Chiefs, but favours a powerful vocal, great harmonised backing and above all good lyrics – hence his love of Vocalzone.” TONY : “Every group has its joker, and it’s fair to say Mr Chesterfield is never without a quip or story (most of them unprintable if litigation is to be avoided). For that alone, we relish his company. A naturally funny guy is more than a bonus in a team like ours. Beyond that, Tony has a musical taste that is slightly left of centre, and it’s thanks to him that we discovered the gem that is “Hallelujah”. We try to steer him away from Leonard Cohen by feeding him Take That numbers like “Shine”, but let’s say it’s an ongoing process…. Tony’s resonant bass voice complements the others perfectly within Vocalzone, and when he’s absent from rehearsals, something is certainly missing.” Ariel Vocalzone are an ideal group to book for functions such as Weddings, Summer Parties, Private Functions, Corporate Hospitality Events, Product Launches, or Charity Functions. For smaller, more intimate venues, we recommend "ARIEL DUO" who can provide the highest quality in acoustic entertainment. |
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| Call 01444 250407 or email : info@arielvocalzone.co.uk | |||||