Opera Arias | 8 – 14 August 2022

Masterclass course for individual singers, pianists and existing duos with a final recital at Snape.

Antonio Pappano & Pamela Bullock course directors
Julia Faulkner voice teacher
Gweneth Ann Rand vocal coach

Music Director of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Antonio Pappano is one of today’s most sought-after conductors, who, as a pianist, also partners singers such as Joyce DiDonato, Gerald Finley, Nina Stemme, Placido Domingo, Anna Netrebko and Jonas Kaufmann. For this course he joins forces with acclaimed vocal coach Pamela Bullock to explore operatic repertoire in-depth with singers and répétiteurs.

We are delighted that phenomenal voice teacher Julia Faulkner joins us again to support the singers in 1:1 voice lessons throughout the course. Her list of students reads like the who’s who of today’s leading opera houses and the impact of her supportive and thoughtful teaching is sensational. This course will also include masterclasses and tuition from the internationally renowned soprano Gweneth Ann Rand. Widely known for her opera performances, highlights in the current season include recitals at Wigmore Hall, Oxford Lieder and the Howard Assembly Room; Judit Bluebeard’s Castle for Theatre of Sound; 4.48 Psychosis at the Philharmonie de Paris with Ensemble intercontemporain; and the world premiere of The Blue Woman at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

This course will comprise a number of public masterclasses alongside private tuition, group sessions from industry professionals and a recital at the end of the week.

For this course we accept applications from singers (any voice type) and pianists who consider themselves emerging répétiteurs. 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 grateful to the Scarfe Charitable Trust for their support towards this course.

This course is a workshop supported by the ENOA network. For further information about enoa, click here.

Composition & Performance | 19 – 27 November 2022

Course for composers, instrumentalists and singers. Participants will return to the 2023 Aldeburgh Festival to premier the works written on this course.

Colin Matthews, Mark-Anthony Turnage & Claire Booth course directors
Mike Thompson Brass Tutor
Jane Atkins String Tutor
Melinda Maxwell Wind Tutor
Margaret Cookhorn Wind Tutor

Established in 1992 by Oliver Knussen and Colin Matthews, this course for composers, instrumentalists and singers has been a flagship course within the programme and many of its alumni have gone on to become internationally established composers. The intensive week-long course, with composers and performers working together very closely, gives participants a uniquely collaborative and in-depth experience of music-making.

The course operates in two strands: under the guidance of the course directors, six emerging composers are invited to create an original piece (c.5’), which is given daily workshops by the ensemble to help shape and fully realise each concept. Though a series of one-to-one sessions help refine their work, the composers are equally encouraged to take full advantage of the ensemble’s expertise through experimentation - the relatively prolonged nature of the development process creates space both to learn and to make mistakes.

Alongside this the instrumentalists and singers explore 20^th & 21^st century repertoire under the guidance of hugely experienced and knowledgeable tutors. The course culminates in a concert at Snape Maltings and course participants will be invited to perform the new works in the 2023 Aldeburgh Festival.

For this course we accept applications from composers as well as from instrumentalists (list below) and singers (any voice type) with a strong interest in contemporary music.

Instrumentalists:

Flute (doubling Piccolo), Oboe (doubling Cor Anglais), Clarinet (doubling E-Flat & Bass), Bassoon (doubling Contra), Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Percussion, Piano (you will be considered for both orchestral and collaborative elements within this course), Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass.

Chamber Connections | 6 – 12 February 2023

A week-long intensive chamber course for existing ensembles including masterclasses and coaching from a team of leading chamber musicians.

Nicholas Daniel & Isabelle Van Keulen Course Directors
Elena Urioste Violin
Tom Poster Piano

This course is designed to help early-career, pre-established chamber ensembles develop their craft, meet other ambitious ensembles and receive coaching from some of the world’s most inspiring and experienced chamber musicians. Through a mix of private coaching, public masterclasses and an end-of-course recital ensembles will be able to refine their craft and examine what it means to be a 21^st century chamber ensemble. This is the perfect environment for exploring a diverse range of repertoire and the many aspects of being a successful, professional chamber ensemble. Applications will be open to chamber groups made up of any combination of strings, wind, piano and brass. This unique course will create a melting pot of different ensembles and provide opportunity to examine shared values and ideals – the core principles that connect the approaches to chamber music performance.

For this course we accept applications from chamber ensembles comprising of strings, wind, piano and brass only and minimum 3 and maximum 6 musicians. This course is for existing ensembles that have been formed for at least 2 years.

Britten Pears Orchestra

The most recent Britten Pears Orchestra course was due to take place in August 2020, conducted by Antonio Pappano. Sadly, this was one of many projects cancelled or postponed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. It is obviously not possible to plan another orchestral course soon, bringing together a large group of international artists.

We will continue to review the situation and hope to plan another Britten Pears Orchestra course in the not too distant future. In the meantime, as the Britten Pears Young Artist Programme celebrates its 50th birthday in 2022, we have taken the opportunity to re-assess our artist development programme, looking at how we can support young artists in the best way, given our current resources. As a result of the uncertain climate, we are currently focussing on Chamber, Vocal, Piano and Composition and will keep the future programmes under review. The Britten Pears Orchestra has a distinguished history and we hope to put on courses for orchestral players when we are able to do so in a meaningful way that is safe for all participants.