The award from the Harmony Foundation enabled me to attend Directors' College 2008, an opportunity for which I am very grateful.

In applying for the award, I had sited the financial benefit my chorus would draw from the funding; we are a new chorus with very limited financial resources and should like to assist our members to attend both Convention and Harmony College 2008. I also knew the significant inspiration and skills I had taken away with me from the previous courses I had attended. Directors' College 2008 proved no different in that respect, and exceeded all expectations.

The whole weekend, from our arrival on Friday evening to our departure on Sunday afternoon, was well organised and very well taught. The only noticeable hitch was the timing of the biscuit arrival during the tea and coffee breaks (a key part of the weekend!).

I have returned to my chorus with a renewed vigour; new concepts for structuring my rehearsals, a clearer vision of my chorus's path ahead, and a determination not to flick my hands at them whilst directing!

The chorus has now experienced, and learnt from, the art of singing really quietly; listening not for the sound of their own voice, but those of everyone else. It has proved an amazing transformation!

It is not only myself who has benefited from Directors' College 2008, but also my chorus, Oxford Harmony, which will continue to develop with the techniques and new-found knowledge that I am able to pass on to them.

Thank you very much for your generosity.

Kate Doherty (CD - Oxford Harmony)