Courses

Sunday 25th - Thursday 29th July, 2010

SUMMER CHORAL WORKSHOP

directed by
MALCOLM ARCHER
with DAVID BEDNALL (organ)
and HILARY JONES (vocal coach)

  Download a poster (A4)

AIMS OF THE COURSE

• to study and perform choral works by Jean Langlais, his contemporaries and those who influenced him
• to bring experienced singers together in the Breton village where Langlais was born
• to work intensively with living composers who are professionals of the highest calibre
• to perform two concerts in the Langlais International Festival

STRUCTURE OF THE COURSE

There will be two rehearsal periods each day at 3 rue de Moulin, la Fontenelle, and the course will culminate in two concerts, the first in la Fontenelle and the second in Dol Cathedral nearby.

MUSIC

We will be focussing on the following works (subject to amendment):

Langlais - Messe d'Escalquens and Lauda Jerusalem
Widor - Messe in F (opus 36)
Stanford - Beati Quorum, Justorum Animae and Coelos ascendit
Holst - Nunc Dimittis
Archer - O quam gloriosum
Bednall - The Law of the Lord
Howells - Te Deum from Collegium Regale

A basic level of sight-singing ability will be essential, and singers should try to learn the music before the course begins.

COURSE FEES

The course will cost £120/120€.
You are expected to make your own arrangements for travel and accommodation.

HOW TO BOOK

Apply in the first instance by filling in the application form (click on right) and returning it together with your returnable deposit of £25/25€ (cheques made out to 'Brenda Dean – Choral Course') by 31st March 2010.

THE COURSE LEADERS

MALCOLM ARCHER
Malcolm Archer, organist, conductor and composer, is renowned as one of the foremost church musicians of his generation. From 2004 to 2007 he was Organist and Director of Music at St Paul's Cathedral, London, and, prior to that, he was organist and Master of Choristers at Wells Cathedral for eight years as well as being the musical director of Wells Cathedral Oratorio Society.

Further information can be found at www.malcolmarcher.com

DAVID BEDNALL
David is a busy composer and organist, combining an extensive freelance career with the position of Sub Organist at Bristol Cathedral and PhD Studies at the University of Bristol. He studied with Dr. Naji Hakim and David Briggs and between 2002 and 2007 was at Wells Cathedral, initially as Sub Organist and then as Assistant Organist.

Further information can be found at www.davidbednall.com

HILARY LLYSTYN JONES
Having studied singing, piano and harp at Chethams School of Music, Manchester, Hilary continued her studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London with Noelle Barker.

Hilary has taught the choral scholars and students of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and young singers in the Junior Department of the Guildhall School of Music. She is the only female who specialises in vocal training with many cathedral and other choirs in England including Westminster, Wells, Bristol, Winchester, Salisbury, Winchester College, Ely, Lincoln, Tewkesbury Abbey, Jesus College Cambridge, York Minster, St. Mary’s Warwick and St George’s Chapel Windsor.

BRENDA DEAN
Brenda Dean is a retired teacher who has sung in choirs all her life. A trained singer, she has set up choirs and directed choral and stage productions in the UK and the Middle East. She is a consultant with the Learning and Skills Network in London, organising Citizenship training events throughout England, and she is Events Coordinator for the Wingrave Singers in Buckinghamshire (www.bucksinfo.net/wingravesingers).

Brenda is President of the Association 'Les Amis de Jean Langlais' (www.jeanlanglais.eu) in la Fontenelle and, with the help of her French committee, she has organised over 45 concerts in Brittany during the Langlais International Festivals of 2005 to 2009, including two very successful choral courses.