Event cancelled

With great regret we have had to cancel this event. We hope to organise something similar soon.

If you are interested in joining CoMA Singers or would like to hear about future vocal events, please contact singers@coma.org.

About

Join CoMA Singers in a day’s workshop, exploring your voice and the world of contemporary classical vocal music. Led by performer and composer Janet Oates, with special guest tutor Sarah Leonard, we’ll work in groups of varying sizes, with a final session sharing – very informally – our work of the day.

We will encounter three very varied pieces from CoMA’s newly-published Choral Partsongs book: the dramatic and moving Breathe by Shirley Thompson, the fascinating open-score As and When by Andrew Toovey, and the ethereal Blue Bird’s Tune by Jurg Frey.  Then you’ll choose between working with Sarah on the score of the classic work by Judith Weir, King Harald’s Saga (usually a one-woman, eight-character unaccompanied opera, telling the story of the battle between Harald of Norway and Harold of England) or devising your own saga in a group led by Janet. Sarah has worked with Judith on the work, and has performed it many times, while Janet is experienced at devised opera and theatrical performance, conjuring wonders out of nothing!

We welcome singers of all styles and abilities, though some music-reading ability is necessary; be prepared for the unexpected, and to throw yourself into the drama!

The day will begin at 10.00 am and finish at about 4.30 pm; there will be tea-breaks, and we encourage you to join a bring-and-share lunch to eat informally together.

Tutors

Sarah Leonard is one of the world’s leading interpreters of Contemporary Classical music. She has performed all over the world giving first performances by distinguished composers, in opera, and concert and has made over thirty recordings. Sarah is passionate about British music, championing young composers and forgotten gems, through workshops, master classes and recitals, and combines all this with a thriving teaching practice. She is a regular tutor at the CoMA Summer School. http://sarahleonard.me

Janet Oates divides her time between teaching, conducting, performing and writing music. She has written two operas (one for amateur singers), an oratorio, prize-winning songs, and many small-scale works. Janet considers music-making to be a social activity that should be accessible to all. Her ongoing composition project is called Closet Music producing two volumes of music intended for private reading and ‘imagined performance’. Janet is Musical Director of COMA Singers. http://www.janetoates.co.uk

Booking

The standard cost of the workshop is £40 – please pay this if you can.
A concessionary rate of £30 is also available.
The early bird rate (available to 1 June) is £35.

We regret that the event has been cancalled.

Music

All music will be provided on the day. No preparation is needed in advance.

Three of the works are from the CoMA Choral Partsongs book, which you can purchase with 20% a discounted price if ordered when booking the workshop and no delivery charge if collected at the workhop. More details about the book are available here.

There are many recordings of King Harald’s Saga available, such as this performance on YouTube by Carina Tybjerg Madsen.