Choral Singing and Choral Conducting

Tutors Keith Orrell and Stephen Williams, with Yvette Bonner
No. of students Choral: 45; Conducting: 6
Age range All ages
Experience Any experience
Teaching time 3 sessions per day working in large and small groups
Preparation Choral students will need to familiarise themselves with the set repertoire in advance if possible. Choral Conductors will be expected to have their own music and be well prepared.
Performance Two concerts at the end of the Summer School provide the opportunity for Choral Singers and Conductors to perform the pieces studied during the week.

Choral Singing
This course is aimed at anyone who enjoys choral singing and wants to develop their understanding and repertoire. Singers can expect to be working with tutors for the majority of the time, with some input from the most proficient student Conductors. Yvette Bonner, our Vocal Coach, will be available to offer choral singers one-to-one personal advice on voice production.

Choral Conducting
This is a practical rather than theoretical course, and at the discretion of the tutors, conductors showing sufficient aptitude will be invited to conduct the Chorus and any ensembles in rehearsal and performance. While podium time will be allocated to students who can best enrich the experience of the choir, less experienced conductors are also welcome. One session a day is normally devoted to topics such as interpretation, gesture and critical listening either as a group or individually. Students will be expected to know the repertoire and sing with the choir. You may be asked for a reference when you apply.

Choral repertoire
Byrd Ave verum corpus (OUP)
Chilcott The Making of the Drum (OUP)
Haydn Insanae et vanae curae  (Novello)
Ireland These things shall be (Boosey & Hawkes)* Le Jeune Revecy venir du printans (Salabert)
Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle (Part 1) (Ricordi)*
Skempton My Love is Gone Down (for men's voices) &  How fair is thy love (for men's voices, from Rise Up My Love (OUP)  

* There are opportunities for Solo Singing students to audition for the following solos:
– baritone (or tenor) solo part in These Things Shall Be
– solos and solo ensembles from Petite Messe Solennelle as follows:
Gloria (SATB soli)
Gratias (ATB soli)
Domine Deus (T solo))
Qui tollis (SA soli)
Quoniam (B solo)

South American Singing Workshop

Tuesday 11 August
Tutor Jeffrey Skidmore
No. of students 100
Age range 12 years upwards; you will need to be musically aware; being able to read music would be an advantage
Teaching time 10 am - 5.30 pm Singing Workshop (lunch, tea and coffee optional), (optional extra: 7 pm dinner followed by student recital)
Preparation No advance preparation
Performance Informal performance at the end of the workshop (starting 5.30 pm)
For this new Summer School venture, we have invited Jeffrey Skidmore to run a one-day Singing Workshop, focusing on the music of South America. The Workshop will appeal to anyone who is musically engaged and enthusiastic - we anticipate a lively and exhilarating day with a fresh approach to Latin American Baroque music.