Signed Songs with Paul Whittaker OBE

Service Description

Enjoy a taste of music, signed song, laughter and deaf awareness with Paul Whittaker OBE. Paul will talk about his life and experience of being a deaf musician and lead us in signed songs and music games. Everyone is welcome – of any age or ability and with or without any previous experience of music, deafness or signing. You’ll be moved and inspired whilst having a lot of fun along the way You’ll learn that signing songs isn’t just about signing the words but about expressing the rhythm and emotion of the music too. This workshop has been organised by Settle’s Langcliffe Singers to raise money for an exciting Dales-based project. The choir has commissioned locally-born composer Vahan Salorian to write an original piece of music depicting the seasons in the Dales, inspired by hundreds of interviews with farmers, auctioneers and schoolchildren. The piece will be premiered on 4 July 2026. The performance will be signed by Paul Whittaker OBE. To book your place via the Langcliffe singers website visit: https://www.langcliffesingers.org.uk/the-season/ Places Cost: £10, including refreshments £5 for under-18s, students and those in receipt of state benefits About your Tutor: Paul has been profoundly deaf all his life yet pursued a career as a musician. A pianist and organist, he has a music degree from Wadham College, Oxford, a postgraduate performance diploma from the RNCM and holds ALCM and ARCO diplomas. In 1988 he founded "Music and the Deaf", a charity to help deaf people enjoy music, which he ran for 27 years. In 1992, Paul began giving signed theatre performances, working on shows such as Les Misérables, Cats, Phantom of The Opera, West Side Story, Carousel, My Fair Lady, and many more. He has also signed for The Sixteen Choir, Rambert Dance Company, Opera North, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and at the Edinburgh International and Aldeburgh Festivals. In 2007, he was awarded an OBE for Services to Music and holds Honorary degrees from the University of Huddersfield and the Open University. In 2010, he gave the first ever signed BBC Prom - Sondheim at 80 - in the presence of Stephen Sondheim and with performers such as Judi Dench, Bryn Terfel, Simon Russell Beale and Maria Friedman. Testimonials: “Paul is the most inspiring speaker I’ve ever heard. He is funny, warm and engaging and he captivated the audience from the moment he started speaking.” (Darryl Wideman, Headmaster, Silcoates School, Wakefield)