Frances Novillo is a singer and leader of song in its many forms. Frances possesses a remarkable capacity to recognise and develop other peoples' unrealised vocal talents. Her infectious enthusiasm and compelling delivery instils confidence in individuals, groups and even large crowds of 'would-be' singers. For contact details, please click here.
Frances is available to plan, support and lead music and liturgy for churches, schools and religious organisations. Frances is Regional Music Advisor (London and South East) for the Royal School of Church Music.
Frances has acted as cantor, animateur and music director at Westminster Cathedral, St Paul's and Wembley Arena including the annual Mass for Migrants in association with London Citizens.
Courses and Formation Frances leads workshops and courses and delivers addresses on liturgy and music including:
- Songs of Sorrow and Salvation: music for Lent, Holy Week & Easter
- Demystifying Music: learning to read written music
- Liturgy module of Pastoral Skills Course at Mount Street Jesuit Centre
- One-off training events on liturgy and music in Westminster Diocese, Anglican Dioceses, URC Wessex Synod, interfaith
- Addressing an audience with Cardinal Arinze and Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor
- Guest speaker for the Newman Association and London School of Theology
- Speaker at international conference in Rome celebrating women in sacred music
Frances trains lay ministers including singers and musicians, teachers, readers, catechists and ministers of the Eucharist, deepening their understanding of liturgy. Frances supports the delivery of the Royal School of Music's Voice for Life and Church Music Skills training for adults, young people and children involved in Church Music
Ecumenical Frances has sung, played and conducted at large-scale international Taizé worship in London, in Bradford and at the Greenbelt festival. She has led music at the National Assembly of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. She has facilitated guided retreats at Scargill House in north Yorkshire and Iona Abbey, where she was resident musician in 2000.
Churches As Community Musician in the Camden and Kentish Town Catholic Partnership, Frances has a particular passion for developing participatory music in traditional liturgies and contemporary forms. She is a member of the National Network of Pastoral Musicians.
Camden and Kentish Town Frances is responsible for music in two north London parishes, where she plays, sings and plans; recruits, teaches and trains singers and musicians; encourages the song of the clergy and congregations. Frances has strengthened links with the parish schools teaching curriculum music, recorder, piano, guitar and directing the school choirs in liturgies and concerts in venues including St Pancras, Camden Town Hall and the Royal Albert Hall.
Community Frances is a registered MusicLeader and a member of the SoundSense Community Music Network. She can contribute to multi-lingual worship, spoken and sung, including French, Spanish and German and communicates with a deaf-blind clergy colleague at Camden Town including simultaneous translation of his sermons and addresses.
Adult learners Frances is a qualified teacher in Adult and Community Education working with groups of adult learners and individual pupils.
Solo song Frances' solo performances are whole-hearted and sensitive to the occasion, be it worship or entertainment. Her mezzo-soprano range blends beautifully in choirs large and small. She gives regular performances at social events in Camden and Kentish Town including folk music, songs from the shows, music hall and classical repertoire. She is a full member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians.
Recordings Frances sang on Marty Haugen's Turn My Heart, O God in Minneapolis and previously sang and played guitar on John L. Bell’s One is the Body with the Wild Goose Worship Group.
On Screen Frances appeared on BBC Songs of Praise in a weddings episode in June 2009 and has commented on the Proms for BBC Four.
In Print Frances has been published in Accord, ISM Music Journal, Liturgy Planner, ABCD Mastersinger, RSCM Church Music Quarterly, Thinking Faith, Westminster Worship, Spirit of the Season. Read some of Frances's published articles here.
www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/20090202_1.htm
www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/SOS/index.shtml
www.rcdow.org.uk/liturgy/default.asp?library_ref=18&content_ref=1078