I lead early music workshops all over the UK, mainly under the auspices of regional Early Music Fora (EMFs). From Cornwall to Liverpool, Herefordshire to Kent, I explore diverse a cappella programmes with enthusiastic amateurs. These events usually attract 40-60 participants, but often more - in 2005 I conducted more than 100 people singing Eton Choirbook antiphons in Tewkesbury abbey!
I have led workshops for every regional EMF in England as well as EMF Scotland. I'm proud to say that every forum I've worked for has offered a repeat booking. Many workshops have become annual events. (Information on the National network of Early Music Fora here.)
I am proud to be on the tutor roster of the Lacock courses. This organisation, run by Andrew Vanderbeek, offers residential choral courses in historic locations all over Europe, mostly with early music programmes. Clicking on the 'Lacock musicians' link will show you that I am in illustrious company. My Lacock CV includes week-long summer schools and a 'winterschool' in Lacock village itself; week-long courses in Obidos, Portugal and Jimena, Spain; and several 'Anglican evensong weekends' in the Netherlands, at Doesberg and Dordrecht.
I also offer private coaching to choirs: regular clients include Quorum, a fine early music chamber ensemble based in Milton Keynes, and Kantus Kobenhavn, an excellent quartet (sometimes quintet) of professional singers based in the Danish capital.
Repeated visits to these choirs (and several others) allows an intense creative relationship to develop. I love spending time working in detail on tuning, blend and ensemble as well as 'troubleshooting' issues such as problematic relationships within the choir and improving the ways in which a group rehearses. |
