di-ve
Sunday, 02 April, 2006
Voice coaches to the stars
John Modi and CeCe Sammy, known to millions of viewers in the UK as the voice coaches and trouble shooters on the hugely popular TV show
Pop Idol, will be coming to Malta between 6th and 9th April to conduct a workshop for established and upcoming Maltese singers as well as to hold a Pop Idol style audition with Maltese singers.
John and CeCe will be coming to Malta on an initiative of the Malta Academy for Performing Arts and the Management of the Young Talent Team with the support of Airmalta and SAS Radisson Baypoint Hotel, St George's Bay.
Details on this initiative were given in a news conference addressed by two of the Malta Academy for Performing Arts Directors Grace Borg and Rolf Zehnpfennig and Young Talent Team Manager Godwin Debattista during a news conference held at the Radisson Hotel.
John Modi and CeCe Sammy have something special -- not only are they hugely talented voice coaches with exceptional vocal ranges of their own, but they are also two of the UK's foremost vocal and performance trainers to the stars.
Their incredible talent is matched with effervescent personalities and a quick wit which has been witnessed on our tv screens many times in recent years. Whether trouble shooting whilst working with the finalists on the hugely popular Pop Idol or coaching and judging singing stars and tv celebrities on the BBC1 hit series Just The Two of Us where CeCe joined Trevor Nelson, Stewart Copeland and Lulu on the judging panel while John worked behind the scenes coaching the stars including Russell Watson, Alexandra O'Neil. Jocelyn Brown and Beverly Knight.
They will be seen again over the next few months on ITV1 and BBC1 in several new tv series and are now recognized by the music industry as two of the UK's top professional vocal coaches and trainers, as well as collaborating with top songwriters and producers in the UK and US on their debut album project of Duets.
Both John and CeCe have been in the music business for many years, with an impressive roster of celebrity clients between them. Prior to their involvement in Pop Idol, John and CeCe worked alongside David and Carrie Grant with Charlotte Church among others and CeCe became involved in the BBC's search for the S Club Junior stars, alongside Pop Idol judge Nicky Chapman after which John and CeCe used their creative talents vocal coaching the S Club and S Club Juniors tours.
Music graduate CeCe toured as a backing singer with the legendary Diana Ross and worked with artists such as Will Young, Gary Barlow, 911, Gareth Gates, Keavy Lynch (Bewitched) and UB40 to name but a few.
CeCe's partner and fellow vocal coach, John Modi, grew up in Canada where he graduated in music and drama. He went on to spend 4 years in a band called United Colours of Sound. John has also worked with many celebrities including Will Young, Gareth Gates, Jessica Garlick and Shane Richie amongst others, as well as working with many top music producers.
CeCe also performed with United Colours of Sound at Commonwealth Games and Buckingham Palace, plus they also recorded several theme tunes for ITV, Channel 4 and Sky Sports including the single "Swing Low", the official England team World Cup Rugby song with UB40.
Their love of music and complementary talents have led to a great collaboration professionally and personally and the duo have several major new tv and music projects starting from Easter through to Autumn 2006.
Grace Borg said that this is only the first of many initiatives the Malta Academy for Performing Arts will be taking in its endeavor to establish itself as Malta's premier incubator of fresh talent. She also said that in the coming months the Academy will be announcing the courses it will shortly be offering.
Rolf Zehnpfennig spoke about the importance of having such experienced vocal coaches in Malta to meet and assess local artists. Rolf is a German who for the past ten years has been the creative director of STARBOOKING, an agency working worldwide (including China, UK, France Spain, Germany) for artists providing promotion, cross-promotion with the music industry, exclusive artist management, dealings with record companies, bookings, tours and media representation. Rolf was involved in events with Lionel Ritchie, Gipsy Kings, Joaquin Cortes, Gianna Nannini etc.
On his part, Godwin Debattista spoke about the Young Talent Team's aspirations to move forward as a group not only in Malta but also beyond the Island's shores. He thanked all those who are making John and CeCe's visit possible in particular the Academy, the Radisson Hotel and Airmalta.
