The Rachmaninoff Vespers’ workshop surpassed my high expectations, and it was a joy to sing a work that I love in friendly company and at a venue where the acoustic so well suited the piece. Neil Ferris’ knowledge and enthusiasm were inspiring, and Frank Althaus’ coaching in Church Slavonic was fantastically helpful and a great aid to more confident singing. Given the constraints of safe singing, the behind-the-scenes organisation was impressively careful, thorough and cheerfully efficient. The satisfaction of singing through several movements again at the end of the afternoon and being able to hear just how much progress we had made was tremendous. Thank you!
Mairi Mackinnon, participant at the Rachmaninoff Vespers’ workshop
In addition to our performance schedule, we organise annual singing workshops which are open to all singers. These inspirational events are led by pre-eminent vocal musicians including Bob Chilcott, Stephen Cleobury, Ken Burton, David Lowe, Deborah Miles-Johnson, Giles Underwood, Sue Waters and Edward Caswell. Taking part in a workshop also provides a good introduction to the choir if you are thinking of joining us.
Our most recent workshop, in October 2022, explored J.S. Bach’s monumental Mass in B Minor and was led by David Bates, one of Europe’s most exciting directors of Baroque music. Other workshops have included: Rachmaninoff’s seminal choral masterpiece, The All-Night Vigil, commonly known as the Vespers, led by professional conductor, Neil Ferris; music written for royal occasions, led by James Vivian, Director of Music at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, who conducted at both the 2018 royal weddings; an afternoon exploring the music of Thomas Tallis, led by Rory McCleery, artistic director of the Marian Consort; and a session on singing Bach, led by soprano Miriam Allan.
