All times and seasons – A Summer Sing in Salisbury

Salisbury singing holiday

29 August to 2 September 2021, Salisbury

Join David in Sarum College, Salisbury for five days of music making, organised by singing holiday specialists, Run By Singers. Celebrate the seasons of the sacred and secular calendars with a range of British choral music through the ages – from plainsong and anthems by Tallis, Gibbons, Wesley and Howells to folksongs, madrigals by Morley and part songs by Elgar, Holst and Stanford. 

During the week there will be opportunities to sing in St Martin’s Church, Salisbury, Romsey Abbey and Salisbury Cathedral. Transport to and from Romsey will be arranged and is included in the course fee.

This will be a residential week based in the Sarum College conference centre where participants will stay as a group, sharing meals, music and fellowship. 

This course is for experienced singers who want to improve their choral technique and enjoy exploring a rich mix of repertoire in a convivial social setting. Singing couples and individual singers are all welcome. Music will be sent out in advance and, while nobody is expected to be note-perfect on arrival, singers are expected to familiarise themselves with the music beforehand. This is not a course for beginners, but if you are singing regularly in a choral society or church choir you should find it comfortable and well-paced.

Sarum College is in the heart of the City Centre and the amount of walking and standing involved during the week should not challenge anyone of average fitness. If you have concerns about the required level of activity please contact Run By Singers in confidence before you book.

Book online at www.runbysingers.org

David contributes to announcement of Bristol Beacon

David appears as part of the team announcing the new name of Bristol’s concert hall – Bristol Beacon. A huge moment for the arts in Bristol, as the hall looks to the future as a symbol of hope and community, a focal point for music in the city, a gathering space, illuminating the way ahead, a place of welcome, warmth and light, an open invitation to the city for everyone to come and share in the joy of live music.

New publication: RSCM Carols for Sopranos, Altos and Unison Lower Voices

A fantastic new collection of carols for Advent and Christmas, selected and edited by David, is being published on Monday 14 September. Resources include rehearsal and backing tracks available on demand. This superb new collection of 42 carols by 26 composers has been specially compiled to appeal to church and school choirs of all kinds and sizes. Choirs and those who listen to them will love the 30 new carols in a wide range of tempos and styles (from plainsong to funk), as well as twelve arrangements of well-known favourites.

Available from the RSCM shop

Run by Singers: Lincoln, August 2021

Lincoln

23 – 28 August 2021, Lincoln

Join David and fellow singers for a contemporary choral music Summer School in the beautiful city of Lincoln, featuring music both by established and less well-known living composers. There will be a visit and lecture by one of the featured composers.

The Run by Singers course begins with dinner on Sunday evening, and finishes on Friday where participants perform the new repertoire at a lunchtime concert, followed by afternoon tea by the lake.

The music includes:

Eric Whitacre Sainte Chapelle
Janet Wheeler Beati Quorum via
James MacMillan The Gallant Weaver
Bob Chilcott Like a singing bird
Bob Chilcott Lovely tear of lovely eye
Judith Weir Drop down ye heavens from above
David Ogden All shall be well
Morten Lauridsen Sure on this shining night
Philip Moore Morning Prayers
Ian Carpenter Ave Verum
David Bednall The souls of the righteous
James Whitbourn Pure river of the water of life
Billy Joel And so it goes

For full details and to book, visit www.runbysingers.org. Bookings open on 8 January 2021.

The power of singing at work

David was interviewed by the news website Quartz about the huge benefits of singing at work. As conductor of workplace choirs at Airbus, Arval, Royal Mail and Sawday’s, David is passionate about the benefits of singing as part of the working day, drawing on a long history of workers using songs to commune during the day, from plantation slaves, to fishermen, to coal miners.

Read what David has to say about singing at work in the article here: https://qz.com/work/1613520/brits-are-fighting-burnout-by-joining-workplace-choirs/

Exultate Singers: A European Easter

Saturday 30 March at 7.30pm, St George’s Bristol

Exultate Singers and the internationally renowned early music ensemble His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts  join forces for a celebration of baroque choral and instrumental music from the powerhouses of Europe including music by Gabrieli, Schutz, Zielenski, de Vivanco and Ximenez. Tickets £12 to £24 from St George’s box office on 0845 40 24 001 and online at www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

Run By Singers: The Glory of Venice

 

singing-holidays

Wednesday 25 – Sunday 29 October, Venice

David is delighted to be leading his first Run By Singers singing holiday in the exquisitely beautiful city of Venice in the Autumn. Experienced singers are invited to join David for the 5-day singing break which includes performing in a concert on the Saturday night in San Trovaso Church near the Accademia museum on Venice’s Dorsoduro. The course will begin with supper at 7.30 pm on Wednesday evening with rehearsals starting in earnest on the Thursday morning. More information can be found at the Run By Singers website