Choral Workshop

Saturday 18th May 2019

Time Registration 9.30am; finish approx 4.30pm.

Four jewels and an outstanding director – that’s the plan for 2019.  Paul Brough is one of the country’s leading choral conductors, and he will work with us on four little masterpieces of choral writing –  short in length but huge in’ singability’ and effect.  The earliest piece is Robert Parsons’  16th century “Ave Maria”, traditionally sung by all three choirs together as the closing piece of music in the annual Edington Music Festival.  Then two pieces of magical Henry Purcell; “Thou knowest Lord”, from the Funeral Sentences for Queen Mary, and “I was glad” – which couldn’t be more different from the version by Parry which we sang last year.  Finally, into the 19th century with the “Ave Maria” by Anton Bruckner, passionate, thickly scored and a great sing.

Paul himself has conducted over sixty broadcasts of choral music from all over the world spanning seven centuries, with the BBC Singers (Principal Guest Conductor 2011-16), and his recordings include Britten with the BBC Concert Orchestra and Richard Rodney Bennett with the BBC Singers. He continues to contribute to the Royal Academy of Music postgraduate choral conductors’ class. He lectured in the Department of Music at King’s College, London for sixteen years, where he met the late David Trendell, and has been Guest Chorus Master at English National Opera, Acting Organist of New College, Oxford and Principal Conductor of The Hanover Band (2007-10). In his parallel activities as a church musician he has developed the musical traditions at All Saints’ Margaret Street in London, Sheffield Cathedral and Tewkesbury Abbey. He now directs the music at St Mary’s Bourne Street, London, in succession and tribute to David Trendell. He was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in 2007 in recognition of “a significant contribution to the music profession”.

There is a word document and pdf version of this year’s application form below. Places £20, 10% discount for Edington Angels, £10 for full time students.  Copy hire (all) £2 in total.

Application form 19  Application form 19