One of the most innovative ideas that the team at Tapestry do is to put on a “Singers Concert” usually twice a year,

usually in May/June and November/December. This is usually held at one of Wellington’s top bars “Public” owned and

operated by Nick and Gina Mills, long time friends and supporters of what David and the team are trying to achieve. It is

a standing room only event, is always sold out, and is where Tapestry invites agents and record companies, recording

studios and industry gurus to come and listen to the Tapestry stable of singers. There are intensive twice weekly

practices for three weeks leading up to the concert and each singer is expected to sing one song each which they can

set as a goal leading up to the concert, plus be prepared to learn harmonies on about 4 – 6 other songs being

performed by fellow students. It is not a concert and each student is only allowed one/two runs through with the

band, much the same as in real life. That makes the whole concept as realistic as possible. The band consists of Drums,

Percussion, Guitar, Trumpet, Trombone, Keyboards, Bass and Saxophone and all the band members are top musicians at

each of their disciplines, most of them having a music degree, and virtually all of them also teaching music. The concert

reflects the styles the students are singing and consist of two sets of music which can be made up of any numbers of

styles of music from heavy metal to soft ballads, jazz to funk, blues to reggae; anything goes! It is a great night and

always receives rave reviews and often leads to work for the students in shows, bands, recordings etc.

In 2012 David intends to introduce a third concert, which will be slightly different. It will be acoustic only and each

student will attend an intensive workshop over two weekends with a concert at the end of the second weekend,

delivered in a cabaret style, no microphone, with accompaniment only by piano or acoustic guitar, no harmonies, and

no embellishments. It is specifically designed for those students wanting to take their craft further into cabaret or small

club situations, rather than a band/electronic situation, and the project will include self awareness, song delivery,

emotion, projection without the use of a mic, stage presence, diction, control, etc. It is something the Tapestry team

have been contemplating for some time and are really looking forward to.