9 – 15 October 2023

“I am still struggling to comprehend all the many profound and exciting changes in my singing and artistry. The specific coaches all somehow offered me exactly what I needed to unlock new realms of potential, and the supportive atmosphere of life at Snape made taking risks easy and fulfilling.”
Britten Pears Young Artist (singer) 2022 – 23

This course is designed to help early-career singers and collaborative pianists who want to really dive inside English song, collaborate with other like-minded emerging artists and challenge their own perceptions of the song repertoire.

We are also recruiting for one early career composer and one poet to be in residence for the week. This is for composers and poets who are interested in building upon the long tradition of English artsong. You will meet singers and pianists, seeing them work in intensive detail, get to know their voices and create a new song cycle in English (c15’) for one of the vocal/piano duos on the course. This new song cycle will be performed by one duo from the course at Britten Pears Arts at a date later in the year.

The course will be led by Gweneth Ann Rand, coaching alongside world-renowned voice teacher Julia Faulkner and pianists Julius Drake & Audrey Hyland. The composer and poet in residence will be mentored by Sally Beamish and David Harsent.

This course will comprise several public masterclasses alongside private tuition from some of the world’s finest performers, vocal teachers and tutors. This will include group sessions from industry professionals, career advice and a recital at the end of the week as part of the long running Britten Weekend at Snape Maltings. You should expect to be challenged, inspired and re-invigorated as a performer.

As a composer or poet you will be able to observe and absorb the work from the performers, receive mentoring from your specific mentor, try out initial sketches with duos and begin writing in the beautiful surroundings of Snape Maltings.

You will need to be able to be at Snape Maltings for the full duration of the course 9 – 15 October 2023.

As with all BPYAP courses, there is no fee to attend, we will cover travel costs, accommodation and most meals. Additionally, we have a small budget to provide financial support, including for those who need support with removing barriers to access or childcare costs.

For this course we accept applications from singers (any voice type) and collaborative pianists who have experience working with singers. Both members of a vocal & piano duo should make separate applications. Applications will be reviewed individually but there will be a space to indicate your duo partner if applicable.

We are also looking for early career composers who are interested in writing for voice and piano and poets who are interested in collaborating with composers on a song cycle in English. We are accepting applications internationally, you do not have to be a resident of the UK or EU in order to apply for this course.

Applications are now closed.