Stile Antico Youth Consort
The Stile Antico Foundation is delighted to be running a non-residential summer school for talented young singers this August.
Over the course of three days, the singers will receive coaching from members of Stile Antico with the aim of developing their ensemble skills, musical interpretation, and knowledge of Renaissance repertoire. This year’s course will focus on the music of two of England’s finest Tudor composers: William Byrd and Thomas Weelkes. Both composers died 400 years ago this year, and we will explore the rich musical legacy they left. Featuring lavish church music written for the Chapel Royal, passionate Catholic church music for the recusant community, and lively madrigals for the burgeoning middle classes, this is music rich in contrasts and supremely rewarding to sing.
Who is the course for?
This course is open to singers who already have experience of choral singing, and who are competent sight-readers. Our suggested age range is 16-22, but we will also consider applications from singers outside this age range. The number of participants is limited to approximately twenty-four to ensure a fulfilling and rewarding experience, so early application is advised.
The course is aimed at:
- singers who enjoy singing in small ensembles, or who have significant experience singing in larger choirs but would like to try singing as part of a smaller group;
- singers with an interest in learning about Renaissance music;
- singers who wish to study and rehearse music in considerable depth, and to explore a collaborative approach to music-making. The group will develop its own musical interpretation, to which all participants will be invited to contribute.
Participants will also be offered the opportunity to work in smaller, one-to-a-part groups to develop their consort singing skills further.
Why study with Stile Antico?
We believe that ensemble singing is most enjoyable when all singers have the opportunity to contribute to musical interpretation. It is most rewarding when singers develop a sense of group cohesion and a high level of responsiveness to other singers. We want young singers not only to improve their vocal technique and accuracy, but to develop a whole range of musical skills.
We also want to demonstrate the full richness of the repertoire we perform. We love to explore Renaissance works in real depth, through engagement with the text and the emotions behind it. We also look at the historical context in which a piece was written, or the way in which compositional techniques have been used to express the text. We hope that by studying with us, you will learn to appreciate this wonderful repertoire as much as we do.
Where and when?
Wednesday 30 August, 4pm – 7pm
Thursday 31 August, 10am – 5pm
Friday 1 September, 10am – 6pm (with performance at 4:30pm)
The VOCES8 Centre (formerly Gresham Centre)
St Anne & St Agnes Church, Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7BX
Nearest tube: St Paul’s (central line)
Cost
The cost of the course is £195, with a discounted rate of £170 for bookings made before 30th June. Lunch and light refreshments are included.
We do not wish for any singer to be excluded through inability to pay, so the Stile Antico Foundation will be funding a limited number of full bursaries. Please indicate when you apply whether you would like to be considered for a bursary, and we will discuss your circumstances with you.
This course is run by the Stile Antico Foundation as part of Stile Antico’s Byrd 2023: ‘Reasons to Sing’ project supported by Arts Council England.
Below is a video round-up of the 2022 Youth Consort to give you a flavour of what it’s all about!
How to Apply
Places for sopranos, altos and basses are now full, but we are still accepting applications from tenors.
Please write to youthconsort@stileantico.co.uk, giving the following information:
- why you would like to attend the course
- your voice part and comfortable range
- details of your previous choral and vocal experience
- an indication of your sight-reading ability and whether you would be happy singing one-to-a-part (and if you would like to)
- details of at least one referee (e.g. singing teacher, choir director or school music teacher)
Please feel free to send an audio recording of your singing if you have one. This needn’t be top quality – a decent-quality phone recording will do.
Applications will be considered on a first-come first-served basis, so apply early to be sure of a place!
