Description
Halsway Manor Singing Weekend
TUTORS
The weekend will be led by Jane Harris, Director of Songways and Pip Wright, a singing leader, teacher and community musician based in West Cornwall. Jane and Pip love to collaborate and lead singing events together. They both play the fiddle and have a special musical bond, bringing much joy to all their music-making.
Wonderful teaching… inspiring
Jane and Pip are two of the most gifted singers I have met… very enabling in so many ways
Read about last year’s Songways singing weekend at Halsway
TUTORS
Jane Harris is an experienced choir leader and Director of Songways, based in Bath. She leads singing workshops and singing retreats in beautiful places, and thriving choirs in Bath and Bradford on Avon. With her lively, clear and enabling teaching style, Jane brings out the best in singers’ voices, with open, resonant, heart-felt singing. Jane teaches by ear and loves to explore songs in different ways to enrich and deepen the singing experience.
Jane writes original songs for choirs and has released her own album, One touch of nature. She also plays the violin which she will use to introduce some of the songs, and performs with her own vocal group, Rolling Harmony.
She is excited to be working with Pip again after their hugely successful Buckfast Abbey weekend in 2022 and the Halsway weekends in 2023 and 2024.
An exceptional teacher with a wonderful choice of songs
Pip Wright is a choir leader and musician from Trevurvas, West Cornwall. She runs a couple of large community choirs: the Dawn Chorus and Levow an Bys (Voices of the World in Cornish). As well as teaching adults musicianship, Pip is passionate about singing for wellbeing and community. Having trained in Singing for the Brain and Singing for Lung Heath, she led the first groups in Cornwall for both fields.
Pip enjoys playing and singing many different genres of music including fiddling in Cornish bands, sessions and festivals and leading informal ‘Shout’ (traditional song) sessions in local pubs. Pip loves collaborating – especially with Jane their in shared love for songs and live music making.
An excellent teacher – heart-warming, fun, uplifting, moving, inspiring
Singing weekend includes:
- Full programme of singing and live music from Friday 4:30pm to Sunday 1pm
- All singing tuition led by Jane Harris and Pip Wright
- Full group and smaller ensemble singing sessions
- A Nos Lowen (Cornish Ceilidh) on the Saturday evening. If you play an instrument you are welcome to join the band – sheet music with chords will be available.
- Special Sunday morning sunrise session – Songs with Spirit, Songs for the Soul – meditative harmony singing with Pip
- 2 nights’ accommodation in the manor or the mews (or non-residential option – limited numbers)
- Full board from Friday evening dinner to roast lunch on Sunday. Departure 2:30pm after Sunday lunch
- Spacious singing space in the Long Room
- Cosy and atmospheric bar and lounge
- Specially produced songbook with words for all the songs and some scores
- Tea and coffee refreshments
- Access to the delightful grounds
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation is on site in the manor and its mews building with full board home-cooked local food. The manor includes the spacious Long Room where we will sing, the magnificent Great Hall, the fascinating folk library, and a fully licensed bar, the site of many an evening session. The friendly team of staff will help to make your stay an enjoyable and memorable experience.
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Halsway Manor
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Halsway gardens
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View from the hill behind Halsway – about 15 minutes walk
ABOUT HALSWAY MANOR
Halsway Manor is the heart and home of folk music. The manor hosts residential courses in folk music, song, dance, musicianship, folk art, storytelling, wellbeing and instrument making all year long. If you haven’t been before you are in for a treat! The medieval manor offers a unique space in which to learn from the professional artists who tutor here, develop your interest and meet like minded souls who share a love of folk music, dance and musicianship.
Halsway offers a warm and friendly welcome to guests staying for weekend or mid-week courses, and to visitors to special events (gigs, exhibitions and fayres). There are beautiful views of the surrounding area and six acres of beautiful grounds and gardens with direct access to the Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
There is free parking on site and Wifi.
LOCATION
Halsway Manor. National Centre for Folk Arts. Halsway Lane, near Crowcombe, Somerset TA4 4BD
01984 618274
halswaymanor.org.uk
Halsway Manor is set just outside the West Somerset Village of Crowcombe. Getting here is easy either by car, bus or train. We are only 20 minutes from the M5 motorway and have a regular bus service and a train station in nearby Taunton with easy access to the rest of the country. More information and map
Halsway Manor is set at the base of the Quantocks AONB with many great walks on the doorstep. Its a stone’s throw away from many places of interest, including Dunster Castle, NT Selworthy Village, the West Somerset Steam Railway, Hestercombe Gardens, Coleridge Cottage. Exmoor and the West Somerset coast are just minutes away. It is also close to many places of interest to folk enthusiasts – including Watchet where Cecil Sharp collected many sea shanties, the ruins of the cottage where folklorist Ruth Tongue lived and the village where William Winter wrote down many fiddle tunes in the early 19th century. History is all around you with prehistoric sites on the Quantocks to fossil remains on the beach near Kilve. There is plenty to do all year round.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
- Do not attend if you have any Covid-19 symptoms, a recent positive Covid test or if you feel unwell.
- Please bring your own bottle of water.
DISCLAIMER
You are responsible for your own health and safety at all times.
