LACOCK
courses for choral and consort singers
Lacock music courses are for amateur and student musicians who are serious about their ensemble singing.
They are held in interesting places often connected with the chosen repertoire, which is naturally centred on early music – the Renaissance being the great age of unaccompanied choral music. The tutors are leading specialists in
their field and many are internationally-known performers. The general aim is to stimulate international contact and broaden enthusiasm for music, in a relaxed and convivial setting. Lacock courses have also played a significant
role in introducing young professional singers to the directors of some of the world's leading vocal ensembles: a week-long informal course being a better setting than a nervous ten-minute audition to reveal the full extent of
one's vocal and musical talents. The course fees for these professional participants are usually much reduced. Lacock courses have been held in most countries in western Europe, and as far afield as Cyprus and
Mexico. The full list of courses until February 2011 is now on the The criteria for joining vary slightly from course to course, but in general you should be a good reader, have a blending, straight
voice (or one with a controllable vibrato) with full dynamic range, be used to normal choral discipline and be able to respond quickly to direction – the intention being to combine professional pace of work with amateur enthusiasm.
The first Lacock course, held in 1986, was directed by Harry Christophers. Since then, many eminent musicians have made regular appearances as directors, including Andrew Carwood, Robert Hollingworth, Andrew
Parrott, Jeffrey Skidmore and Paul Spicer. Lacock courses have also introduced several continental conductors to English musical life, among them the Belgian Erik van Nevel, director of the ensemble Currende, the Spaniard Carlos
Fernández Aransay, an authority on Hispanic and Latin-American music, and the Dutchman JanJoost van Elburg, who subsequently became the director of London's specialist early music choir, the Renaisssance Singers. You will find more
information on these directors and many other musicians associated with Lacock courses on Lacock course are run by Andrew van der Beek from Cantax House, Lacock, Chippenham, Wiltshire, UK, SN15 2JZ.