I am currently in the Philippines, seeking the services of at least five vocalists (two sopranos, one contralto, a tenor and a baritone) to rehearse and record a three-CD album of some of my songs for international release. Click on the "Pinas Auditions" link on the left.

You can see many of my hymns at my SibeliusMusic website (http://members.sibeliusmusic.com/tomeslam), including the thirty songs proposed for my three recordings (click on the bottom four 'books' starting from "I Give You My Life", then click on any of the song titles listed there under which have a small blue-coloured MIDI symbol attached. To hear the sheet music play, click the play button. To hear the MIDI file arrangement click on "Play MIDI file" near the bottom of the webpage).

The best way to audition a song is to listen to the MIDI file while following the words on the online sheet music. You will notice that on the MIDI arrangements, the vocal parts are performed using a synthesized voice. This is the General MIDI voice 'oohs' and will obviously be replaced by the final real-life vocal dubs.

Please don't be deterred by the sound quality which is the product of the synthesizer in your own computer. The final recordings shall be state-of-the-art. To give you a hint of what I mean, I have reluctantly uploaded two MP3 files of my compositions, “No-one can Love Me Like You!” which you can download (try this link: www.sibeliusmusic.com/cgi-bin/show_score.pl?scoreid=50938  and scroll down near the bottom of the page under “Score details/Audio/Download MP3 file”). The reason I say ‘reluctantly’ is due to the fact that the woman who recorded the demo for me sang every single note incorrectly and with very little emotion at all.

The demo below, "I've Been Keeping a Secret", was sung by Australian Idol 2007 finalist Miss Alana Krost. Unlike the above demo, this one is actually in tune but again, with no emotion. If you have a slow internet connection, right-click and select "Save Target As...".

http://www.sibeliusmusic.com/mp3/4/2/5/42524.mp3

If you like those songs mentioned above, you are invited to submit a demo tape or CD (perhaps Amazing Grace) to me at the address on my Contact page.The demo need not be particularly good audio quality. If you are submitting a demo before the 10th of September 2008 please do so by email (by attaching a short MP3 file).

I am also looking for first-rate songs of a religious or inspirational nature to be arranged, recorded and released on compact disc and on the Internet. If you know anyone who has composed any hymns (preferably in a modern style) please invite them to submit their pieces in either sheet music, cassette tape, CD or MP3 format to the address on the “Contact Me” page.

If you know anybody else who may be interested in this project you are welcome to pass my details on to them. I am prepared to pay a genuine AUD$500 (PHP20,000)  finders fee for any suitable vocalists you refer to me. The finders fee shall be paid to you on signing a contract with the singer(s) you refer.

At this stage, it seems that the vocal parts will be recorded sometime during 2009. The financial terms will be disclosed closer to the time of signing the contract. Vocalists will also be eligible to purchase recordings at wholesale price, which they can then sell in whichever way they like.