Milton Abbey Choral Course Verified listing

We will begin the course at 11am on Friday 5th August and finish with an informal concert of the music on which we have worked, on the afternoon of Sunday 7th. We will also have a service of plainsong Compline on the Friday evening, an organ recital from our splendid organists, and a recital from our musical director, Jeff Stewart with accompaniment from Ben Saul.

You will be staying in the school, where you will receive all your meals and will have access to the tennis courts, golf course and swimming pool. There will be the option to arrive on the previous evening on a bed and breakfast and evening meal basis.

he accommodation is the school accommodation, but this is of a good standard. This does not mean dormitories. The rooms are mostly twin, but we are easily able to accommodate those who wish to have a room to themselves. The rooms are not en-suite. The surroundings are stunning and the food sumptuous. Your accommodation, food and all drinks at mealtimes are included in the price. If you would prefer to stay off-site, we have a daily rate available for lunch and dinner.

We look to find a balance in the music that will challenge people and provide them with the opportunity to work on vocal and performance technique.

There is no actual requirement to learn the music before coming on the weekend, but it goes without saying that the more familiar everyone is with the music before arriving, the more we will achieve and the more fun everyone will have.

There is a lower limit on numbers. We have to have at least 45 people, so, if you are nervous about booking, fearing you might be the exposed, don’t be. Assuming the numbers continue to rise, you will be part of a large crowd.

All we ask is that you arrive with a sense of adventure, prepared to be challenged but also to have a great deal of fun. We want you to leave feeling better equipped to express yourself through music and with new ideas on vocal technique and performance technique which will enrich not only your singing but life in general.

The Milton Abbey weekend promises, once again, to be a truly uplifting experience in this most wonderful of English locations.

The repertoire will include the usual wide variety of pieces, with something to please everyone. We return to an idea which we have used before: a “Mix and Match Mass” including a Kyrie from Mozart’s Requiem, Gloria from Haydn’s Missa Sancti Nicolai, Credo from Gounod’s St. Cecilia Mass, Sanctus from Rheinberger Mass in Eb, Benedictus from Dvorak’s Mass in D and finally the Agnus Dei from Gabrieli’s Missa Brevis in F. In addition to this we will have Justorum Anaimae by Orlando di Lasso, Haydn’s Insanae et Vanae Curae, Pergolesi’s Magnificat, Wesley’s Blessed be the God and father, & Pearsall’s Lay a Garland . There are bound to be additions to this.