What a privilege and pleasure it was to be able to take part in Petros Singers’ workshop on the Monteverdi Vespers on Saturday. I was completely unfamiliar with the work, but left with a sense that I had got to grips with a substantial amount of music. Richard Bannan’s targeted vocal warm-ups led smoothly into the afternoon’s work. Paul McCreesh shared his expertise in early music by providing the perfect blend of hints on vocal technique, discipline in rehearsal and informed historical background. This was an afternoon not to be missed. Looking forward to the next one!
Paul Elliott, participant at the Monteverdi 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.
At our most recent workshop, in October 2024, we explored Monteverdi Vespers with Paul McCreesh, founder and artistic director of Gabrieli Consort and Players, and world-class specialist in this repertoire. In 2023 we celebrated the choir’s 40th anniversary by learning Thomas Tallis’ seminal 40-part motet, Spem in Alium. Composed for eight choirs, each choir was led by a professional singer who joined forces as The Garter Consort to delight the audience at an evening recital, alongside the workshop choir performing Spem in Alium, led by our musical director, Richard Bannan.
Other workshops have included: J.S. Bach’s monumental Mass in B Minor, led by David Bates, one of Europe’s most exciting directors of Baroque music; 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.
