Creative Lab Academy

Elliot Bennett Monday 9.30-10.30

Masterclass – ‘Everything is about the build’ Elliot outlines and demonstrates concepts focusing on Builds, Fills and Grooves.

Elliot Bennett is a UK based Drummer, Clinician and educator. He has performed in plethora of musical situations and genres, working with the likes of UK number 1 selling artist Sian Evans (formally know as Kosheen), Jim Mullen, Bobby Shew, Keith Tippett, Slowly Rolling Camera. Similarly, Elliot has appeared on multiple album recordings. When not on the road playing internationally, Elliot has a thriving Remote Session business playing and recording drums at his studio.

Elliot has been a lecturer for over 15 years teaching at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama to both the Bachelor and Master Degree students. Similarly, he is head of drums at the University Of South Wales teaching on both the BA and BMus undergraduate degree courses and drum tutor at Cardiff University.

Elliot has been asked to present his ideas at various drum clinics, opening up for some of the worlds best drummers. Some of which include: Steve Smith (Journey), Carl Palmer (Emerson, Lake & Palmer), Ian Thomas (Seal, Eric Clapton), Chad Smith (RHCP), Terry Bozzio and Jo Jo Mayer.

Chris Carpenter Guitar Tutor – Tuesday 11.00-12.00

Masterclass – ‘Playing Spontaneously’ - Chris discusses concepts for playing spontaneously in worship (Improvisation)

Starting a professional career at the tender age 16 and graduating from the Royal welsh college of music and drama a few years later, Christian is a vastly experienced performer and educator. His performance career has taken him all over the Globe, touring with shows like abba mania, chess and little shop of horrors (USA, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Luxemburg, France to name a few). As well as his international career, Christian also works extensively in the UK with many many musical theatre tours as well as a busy TV career, working regularly for the BBC, ITV, S4C and Sky. He has performed with a wide range of stars from Michael Ball and the national orchestra of Wales to pop acts like Gareth Gates and Jimmy Osmond. As well as Christians very busy performing career he also has a passion for music education and head up "The Music Academy" at Neath Port Talbot College, and has been teaching for over 20 years now.

Jon Goode Bass Masterclass Tutor – Wednesday 9.30-10.30

Masterclass – ‘How to Develop your Bass Lines in Worship’ - Jon discusses concepts around the creation of bass lines within a worship context

Bass player & Synth Bass player for multi-platinum selling artist Sian Evans (of Kosheen). Fortunate enough to play with various worship artists from the UK and USA. Blessed beyond measure to work closely with the incredible Worship Academy at Watoto, Kampala, Uganda. Lucky enough to have published tracks with Song Solutions and grateful to have previously worked with Elevation records. Recent tours and appearances at international festivals include the USA, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Uganda, UAE, UK, Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Holland, Austria, Romania, Hungry, Croatia, Slovakia, Serbia, Poland and the Czech Republic. Jon has previously taught music at University for over 10 years and has a Masters Research Degree in Worship Music……which is one of his passions…….

Watoto Worship Academy – Thursday 9.00 - 10.30

Guest Speaker – ‘The Watoto Story’ One of the Watoto Founders James Skinners, alongside Watoto Graduate Ben Kalimini, explain the Watoto story and how this amazing church is raising leaders for their nation and for their nations

Watoto Worship Academy teaches our children how to use their God given talents to edify and build up the local church. With over 300 students in music, dance, media and fine arts, we are equipping young leaders with skills and fostering their passion for worship. Thanks to our international partners, we have a creative arts studio where our children are taught by top professors in the field through formalized online courses.

WORSHIP HEALS HEARTS, AFFIRMS IDENTITY AND CREATES COMMUNITY

We’re helping our children use their gifts to tell their own stories—and find healing in the process. We encourage them to communicate creatively through movement, visuals and sounds, as they explore their African heritage and other genres and styles. To broaden their exposure, we host annual worship camps that bring creatives, musicians, dancers and media producers from around the world to equip and encourage them.

Tim Williams – Songwriting Masterclass – Friday 9.30-10.30

Masterclass – "Unlocking Your God-Given Creativity" Tim discusses how every single one of us has creativity written into our DNA because we are made in the image of the ultimate creator.

Tim Williams is a worship leader, pastor and songwriter from Chelmsford in Essex. He is the former front man of SOUTHVILLE Music where he saw massive success with their debut album, Freedom’s Tree, hitting number 1 in the UK Christian Charts two months running and a 10/10 review from Cross Rhythms. SOUTHVILLE Music was founded through the desire to engage the local church in creativity and Songwriting. The project saw all ages of people from the church, as young as 13 and as old as 94, take part in the Songwriting process. The album really was written “by the church, and for the church!"
Tim has a desire to see people unlock the creativity that is inside each and every one of us. He is also on the Core Team of the Elim Pentecostal Church worship movement, Elim Sound, and has been writing and recording with them for the last 5 years.

Kevin Swartwood – Musical Director Masterclass – Friday 11.00-12.00

Masterclass – ‘Musical Director Top tips’ In this session Kevin discusses and demonstrates approaches to running rehearsals and managing live performance.

Kevin spent 10 years playing in a band signed to an indie label just outside of Chicago and toured all over Canada and the US. Since moving to England Kevin got involved at St.Peters church with Bright City and then started playing with Martin Smith and his daughter Elle Limebear, also had the chance to play with Tim Hughes and Kathryn Scott. In addition to this Kevin undertakes a fair bit of studio work (production) with producer Jonny Bird. Kevin also does a podcast about Ableton called Ableton Cast. In this, Kevin interviews high level users like Joe Clegg (Ellie Goulding), Martin Vinje (Sigrid), Adam Marcello (Katy Perry), Dave White (who runs Ed Sheeran's playback rig) and KoJo Samuel musical director for just about every big artist in the UK https://kojosamuel.com

Mark Bovee – Keys tutor

Daily lessons with Mark Bovee

Mark T. Bovee has over 30 years of experience in the music industry as a keyboard player, arranger, orchestrator, producer, worship leader, music engraver and teacher. He received his master's degree in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas in 1992. Mark travels to Nashville several times a year to produce projects. Mark is comfortable in all styles of music, having taken classical and jazz lessons as well as playing in rock, jazz, and country groups. Mark's heart is to encourage and equip musicians towards excellence and to pastor and prepare them for ministry as authentic and effective worship leaders. He and his wife Christi own and operate the Pikes Peak Arts Academy in their town, Woodland Park, CO.

Marcia Alverson - Vocals Tutor

Daily lesson with Marcia Alverson

Vocal & Piano Coach, Worship leader, Published Songwriter, Author, Assistant Director of Charis Bible College and founder of Hqy2Zion Music based in Colorado Springs. Marcia is a graduate of The King's University in California and has served local church for many years as an instructor, choir / vocals director and an international itinerate worship leaver. Marcia is a published songwriter and travels as a vocalist within the USA, Japan, France, UK, Germany, Canada, Barbados, Truks & Caicos.