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Sing Live Concert Program Gives Every Voice A Venue

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By GEORGE WILKENS

gwilkens@tampatrib.com

Published: February 23, 2009

TAMPA - Wanted: singers; no experience or audition necessary.

Sing Live UK, launched a decade ago in Leeds, England, crossed the pond to Orlando in 2007 and now has Tampa in its sights.

Founder John Morris characterizes his mission as just the opposite of fellow Brit Simon Cowell, notorious for lampooning singers on the popular reality show, "American Idol."

Sing Live USA encourages, accepts and trains anyone 18 and older. "We get every level of talent, from the person who only sings in the shower to people who sing in church choirs and community theater, right through to professionals and semiprofessionals," Morris said.

"Everybody's got a voice, it's just what you want to do with it," Morris said before a rehearsal with singers from five counties at the First Baptist Church of Tampa, where the group will perform its "Sing the Giants of Broadway" concert at 7:30 p.m. April 18.

Morris has recruited 50 singers and seeks 100 more. "We know people are out there; just getting word out to them is the difficult part."

Morris, 53, is a former environmental health inspector with a musical theater background. After the run of a musical where Morris served as vocal coach, he discovered the chorus members wanted the show to go on. They didn't want to act or dance - they just wanted to sing.

As a result, Morris founded the Sing Live UK concept of "bringing the joy of singing to the people," with 275 singers performing the first concert in 1998. Today there are groups in nine major cities in England and Ireland.

"It started out as one choir in Leeds and ended up as an international community," branching out to Orlando after years of Sing Live UK members performing in Epcot's Christmas candlelight procession.

Morris, who once owned a home in Indian Rocks Beach, chose Tampa for his second U.S. troupe, "Because I know there's great musical tradition here and we'll fit right in."

No one was happier with his decision than Lori Asch, who was working with the company in Orlando when her husband was transferred to Tampa.

"Halfway through we moved," she said. She commuted to Orlando for weekly rehearsals and to perform in the concert. That was a year ago. Upon learning of Sing Live Tampa, "I ran down here all excited," she said.

Karen Federico, music teacher at Deltona Elementary in Spring Hill, was "hooked" after one rehearsal. "It's not just the music, it's the people," she said "I live an hour away but now I have friends in Tampa. It's worth every mile."

Federico's musical background includes classical and choir, but this is an opportunity "to break out my comfort zone and do something different," she said, such as show tunes, "which I absolutely love," she said.

A half-dozen hands shot up at a recent rehearsal when Morris asked who was attending for the first time. The newcomers were applauded by the group that includes residents from Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Polk counties. About 20 percent are male, "which is a good vocal balance because men's voices are stronger," Morris said.

Every member pays $195 to cover the cost of staging the concert, and also sells $15 tickets to their two-hour performance.

At 74, Vilma Zalupski, retired provost of St. Petersburg College, boasts of being the group's oldest member - so far. "All my life I wanted to sing and this is my opportunity," she said.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Sing Live Tampa rehearsals

WHEN: 7:30 to 10 p.m., Monday or Thursday

WHERE: First Baptist Church of Tampa, 302 W. Kennedy Blvd.

COST: $195 to cover cost of staging the April 18 concert at the church

INFORMATION:

www.singliveusa.com

TELEPHONE: (407) 886-8629

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