Esplanade Presents | Voices Festival Workshop: How I Hear It – Vocal Arrangements by Owen Li

Award-winning vocal arranger Owen Li takes you behind the scenes of his iconic vocal arrangements, ranging from tight three-part harmonies to full a cappella arrangements featuring bass and vocal percussion. Through live breakdowns, demonstrations and hands-on singing, Owen unpacks the choices, intention and musical ideas behind each arrangement, while sharing techniques that bring harmonies to life. Participants get the opportunity to hear, understand and attempt these arrangements alongside Owen and gain practical insight into how different vocal parts work together in an arrangement.

Whether you are a seasoned singer or new to vocal arrangements, you will leave with a stronger arrangement vocabulary, a deeper understanding of harmony, and a fresh appreciation of why great harmonies sound so good.

5 Dec, 1pm: Beginner Workshop — Beyond the Melody This workshop is suitable for anyone with an interest in how vocal arrangement works. Discover the building blocks of vocal harmony through Owen Li's approach to arranging, developed through years of singing, directing and writing for vocal ensembles. Participants will explore the sensation of singing harmony, gain insight as to how Owen approaches note choices and chord structures, and learn to hear how individual parts come together.

5 Dec, 3pm: Advanced Workshop — How I Hear Harmony This workshop is designed for intermediate to advanced singers. Step inside Owen Li's vocal arrangement process as he unpacks a few of his favourite arrangements, featuring pieces that capture his personal balance between technical complexity and emotional expression. Participants will break down the arrangements, explore Owen's creative decisions, attempt the parts themselves and gain exclusive insights through discussion and a Q&A session.