Petros Singers are delighted to join forces with Graham Ross for a come-and-sing workshop celebrating the rich and varied world of American choral music. Join us for an inspiring afternoon exploring five outstanding works that trace the evolution of American choral style across the 20th century.

Rooted in early religious traditions, American choral music developed into a vibrant and distinctive art form, shaped by European influences, folk traditions and the musical heritage of indigenous peoples and enslaved communities. As the 20th century unfolded, composers embraced an ever-widening range of styles and texts – sacred and secular, traditional and experimental – reflecting the diversity of modern America.

During the workshop, we will sing five contrasting works that showcase this remarkable breadth:

Leonard Bernstein (1918–90) – composer, conductor and cultural icon – was the first American-born conductor to achieve international fame. Make Our Garden Grow, the radiant finale of his operetta Candide (based on Voltaire’s 1759 novella), offers an uplifting vision of human renewal. Bernstein’s daughter, Jamie Bernstein, describes the soaring chorus as “a metaphor for the flowering of mankind itself”.

James Erb (1926–2014) was an American composer, arranger, musicologist and conductor best known for his exquisite arrangement of the beloved folk song Shenandoah. Tender and timeless, this much-loved setting – sung by choirs across the United States and now by us in Hammersmith – captures the song’s deep sense of yearning and beauty.

Morten Lauridsen (b. 1943) is one of America’s most celebrated choral composers. His O magnum mysterium (1994), a setting of a traditional Christmas Matins text, is pervaded by warmth and refinement. Lauridsen himself described the work as “an affirmation of God’s grace to the meek – a quiet song of profound inner joy”.

Randall Thompson (1899–1984) was a hugely influential composer and educator, whose students included Leonard Bernstein. Alleluia, commissioned for the Tanglewood Music Festival in 1940, is a quiet and introspective response to the unfolding war in Europe. It has since become Thompson’s best-known work and a cherished choral classic.

Eric Whitacre (b. 1970) is one of today’s most recognisable choral composers, whose pioneering Virtual Choirs have united over 100,000 singers worldwide. His a cappella piece Sleep – commissioned in 2000 by attorney and professional vocalist Julia Armstrong as a memorial to her parents – explores the liminal space between wakefulness and rest, its haunting harmonies creating a shimmering, dream-like soundscape.

Whether you’re a seasoned singer or simply love the thrill of making music with others, you’ll find plenty to enjoy. So join us on Saturday 7th February for what promises to be an inspiring, energising and thoroughly enjoyable afternoon of music-making. We look forward to welcoming you!

The workshop will be led by Graham Ross who has established an exceptional reputation as a sought-after conductor and composer of a very broad range of repertoire. He is co-founder and Principal Conductor of The Dmitri Ensemble, and Director of Music and Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge. In demand as a regular guest conductor in the UK and abroad, recent collaborations have included performances with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, BBC Singers and BBC Concert Orchestra and, in 2025, he directed the Danish National Vocal Ensemble at the BBC Proms. Graham brings deep expertise and enthusiasm for American choral music, and his 2024 album Rolling River received glowing reviews from Gramophone and BBC Music Magazine.




Timetable Registration is from 1.30pm, and the workshop will run from 2.00–6.00pm. We will have a break for tea-time refreshments which are included in the ticket price; please bring a reusable cup if you can, and also your own bottle of water. We will end with an informal performance at 5.30pm – friends and family are welcome to come and listen.

Voice parts
Please select your preferred voice part when booking your ticket. If you are booking more than one ticket, give the name of the other singer(s) in the ‘add message’ box of the booking form. Whilst we hope to give everyone their preferred part, depending on numbers we may ask you to sing the other part in your chosen voice (e.g. a Sop 1 might have to sing Sop 2). We will advise you of this when we receive your booking.

Getting there
St Peter’s is less than 10 minutes’ walk from Ravenscourt Park and Stamford Brook underground stations (District line) or a 20-minute walk from Hammersmith (District, Piccadilly and Hammersmith & City lines). We advise checking with TfL in advance in case of any line works. There are also several buses that run between Hammersmith and Chiswick (Goldhawk Road stop), and some free street parking in the surrounding area.

Workshop tickets
£30 full price | £20 age 16–30
Includes loan scores and refreshments
All tickets must be booked in advance