A day’s workshop for singers and instrumentalists focusing on music by William Byrd & Thomas Weelkes - both celebrating joint 400th anniversaries - alongside music by their English contemporaries. These were turbulent political times in English history, with both composers adapting in their own colourful, and at times controversial ways to contemporary events through brilliant music. ECSE Academy (members of ECSE) and The Choir of Holy Sepulchre will lead singers and instrumentalists in workshops throughout the day, with an informal recital at the end to which guests are invited.

For singers, a reasonable level of sight reading/musicianship is important. In addition, music can be provided in advance of the day.

Featuring: Byrd, Ne Irascaris Domine, When David Heard, Thomas Weelkes, Wilbye Weep, Weep, Mine Eyes

Led by: The ECSE Academy (members of ECSE) & Peter Asprey, Director of Music, Holy Sepulchre London

Pricing:

Full day workshop including an informal performance at 4pm - £35 plus booking fee (please select the right ticket for what type of singer you are or whether you are an instrumentalist)

Student Concessions - £15 plus booking fee using the code 'STUDENT20' (please bring your student ID with you on the day)

Informal Performance - £5 plus booking fee for guests, no fee for workshop participants as above

Programme for the day: Full programme to be confirmed, the workshop day will start at 9.30am with the recital at 4pm.

Practical information: Tea and coffee will be provided during the breaks and at the start of the day. Lunch will not be provided*

Biographies:

The English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble

The virtuoso period instrument ensemble regularly perform recitals at major Music Festivals throughout the UK & Europe as well as partnering with some of the world’s leading choirs and solo vocal ensembles such as I Fagiolini, Resurgam, The Taverner Consort & Players, The Marian Consort and Westminster Cathedral Choir, and has received a host of awards and accolades to its name for their recordings. As part of their residency, ECSE will be partnering with the professional choir of Holy Sepulchre in a series of services, concerts & educational days in the coming year.

Peter Asprey

Peter Asprey is in demand both as a conductor, chorus master, singer, workshop leader and singing teacher. He is the Director of Music at St Sepulchre-Without-Newgate, the National Musicians’ Church in the heart of the City of London and the Musical Director of Ealing Choral Society. He has been a guest Chorus Master for the London Symphony Chorus, London Philharmonic Choir, Brighton Festival Chorus, The Whitehall Choir and the St Endellion Festival Chorus, working alongside conductors such as Michael Tilson Thomas, Sir Andrew Davis and Edward Gardner. Former posts include Musical Director of the Berkshire Youth Choir and Henley Choral Society. Recent performances include Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Mozart’s C Minor Mass at Cadogan Hall with the English Chamber Orchestra and Handel’s Messiah at Reading Town Hall. He has performed premiers on BBC Radio 3 with the Berkshire Youth Choir and initiated educational events for the students with the BBC Singers. He has conducted at places such as Wigmore Hall, The Sheldonian Theatre and Cadogan Hall and taken choirs on tour to France Germany, Italy, Belgium and Spain.

Peter was a founder member and singer in the Renaissance Music vocal ensemble Stile Antico, achieving during his time with the group a number of awards including a Gramophone Award for Early Music, a Grammy nomination and two Diapason d’Or. He also sang on a European Tour with Sting for his Dowland lute song project Songs from the Laybrinth. He sings in various church choirs around London.

Peter completed his studies at the Royal College of Music having been a Choral Scholar in the choir of Clare College, Cambridge, where he read Music. He has given educational evenings on music at the Royal Academy of Art in London and master classes on Renaissance Music at the Music College in Dubrovnik. He has a particular interest in music and faith and has given talks on the spirituality of classical music and retreats on Haydn’s Creation. At St Sepulchres, he has initiated a residency with the English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble and started programmes for music and spirituality and music and education, outreaching to local schools and music colleges. He teaches singing privately in London, having been a singing teacher at Eton College for fourteen years and member of staff on the Rodolfus Foundation Choral Courses.