Harmonies of Essence Singing Retreat

Hi, I'm Mike Robeson and like many people, I was of the belief that I couldn't sing and so avoided going anywhere where I might be exposed to being heard in that way. That was until I visited Findhorn Spiritual Community in 2012. It was there that I discovered harmonies and was drawn to singing, although at that time I would hide in the Bass section where I felt I could not be heard. But I felt the beauty of the harmonies was important, so I kept going back to Findhorn to experience something that was opening my heart to song. Mike Robeson in a post singing workshop huddle In 2013 I went back to Findhorn and met Susie Ro Prater for the first time. On walking into the group, I went to hide myself in the Bass section when one of my friends invited me over to the Tenor section. It was there that I truly discovered my voice and my inhibitions started falling away. After this I joined some of Susie's Alchemy (improvisation) weekends and did her Sharing the Music Teacher Training and she also directed me to John Bowker, a singing teacher in Ireland. John created a safe environment where I started to unravel some of my issues around being seen and heard. In 2017 I joined a small group called Companion Voices, who provide singing for the end of life. It was there, that I first needed to hold a harmony by myself and started hearing how they fit together. Lovingly held by the founder, Judith Silver, I began to feel the strength of my own voice. I then started experiencing various teachers from the Natural Voice Network​, who are a group of people who work with voice and song and who believe that singing is everyone’s birthright, regardless of musical experience or ability. During this time, I had sung so many incredible heart opening and inspiring songs, that I felt I needed to share them with the world. So, in September 2017, I started Harmonies of the Heart in Rickmansworth and began sharing all the songs that have touched me deeply over the years. Various London groups followed in June 2019. In 2022, after a major refurbishment, I moved the Rickmansworth group to my home in Chorleywood. I have also been called to sing in various places in the UK and around the world. I'm here to share these songs with you all and welcome you to join my singing groups to experience all of this for your​self. Thank you to these wonderful people for all the inspiration they have given me!