Singing Under the Open Sky – Castle Voices at the Music and Mind Festival

We performed outdoor this year!

On 23 August 2025, Castle Voices had the joy of performing outdoors for the very first time, as part of the Music and Mind Festival in Whitehead. Our stage was the beautiful garden of the Methodist Church, with the sunshine above, a gentle breeze drifting through, and the welcoming support of both our audience and curious passersby. We especially loved seeing people step out of the shops across the road, linger, and then stay with us right through to the end of the concert. Nature truly gave us the perfect setting.

As music director and conductor, I will admit I had my concerns about singing outdoors. Without walls or a roof, there is little natural reverberation to carry the sound, which means singers often cannot hear themselves clearly. This can be disorientating and sometimes leads to pushing the voice too hard. Add in the unpredictability of the wind, background noise, and the lack of acoustic support, and outdoor performances present real challenges for any choir.

But despite all of this, Castle Voices rose to the occasion. The choir sang with energy, focus, and sensitivity, bringing warmth and joy into the open air.

I would also like to take this opportunity to extend a very special thank you to Christina Santana, who joined us as a guest pianist. Christina learned more than 100 pages of music in her own time and had only a single 40-minute rehearsal with us on the day — yet she delivered a truly fabulous performance. We are so grateful for her musicianship and generosity, and I very much look forward to the possibility of working together again in the future.

Performing outdoors was a new adventure for Castle Voices, and one that reminded us of both the beauty and challenges of making music in the open air. Most of all, it was a joy to share our singing with the community in such a vibrant setting.

— Vanissa Law, Music Director