Description
Choir in a week | Falmouth University
CHOIR IN A WEEK includes
- Full singing sessions on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at the Academy of Music and Theatre Arts (AMATA).
- Day trip by coach on Thursday
– Geevor Tin Mine – talks, tours, and an opportunity to sing in various buildings at this fascinating location in the dramatic scenery of the North Atlantic Tin Coast, a stunning World Heritage site. Underground tours also included for those who wish.
– St Just Miners’ Chapel – a singing session in the beautiful acoustics of this cornerstone of the St Just community, originally built for the benefit of the local tin and copper mining families in 1833.
- Optional immersive singing experiences using spatial audio in Falmouth University’s new immersive audio system space on Monday and Wednesday afternoons.
- ‘Scratch band’ workshop for instrumentalists of all levels on Tuesday afternoon.
- Supper on Tuesday evening at AMATA, before the Nos Lowen.
- A Cornish Nos Lowen (literally Happy Night – a Cornish Ceilidh) with a chance to dance, play, and/or listen to live music on Tuesday evening after our supper at AMATA. Learn easy Cornish dances accompanied by the ‘Choir in a week Scratch Band’ (with Jane and Pip on fiddles, and supported by our AMATA technical team).
- Celebration lunch on Friday at AMATA.
- Recording session on Friday morning at AMATA, to create a lasting memory of the songs for you to access following the course.
- Refreshments: tea, coffee, biscuits, and cake each day we are at AMATA.
- Bespoke songbook with scores, lyrics and background for the songs.
- Sheet music with chords and sound files provided in advance for instrumentalists wishing to take part in the Scratch Band.
- Access to the delightful Falmouth University campus grounds and gardens.
- Sign-up sheets will also be available for those who wish to socialise together on Monday, Wednesday or Thursday evenings when there are no ‘hosted’ evening activities, to enable easier get-togethers.
REPERTOIRE
Pip and Jane are passionate about the music they teach and love to share it: harmonies that lift us up; powerful songs that draw us together and go straight to the heart; songs that tell stories and songs that create a sense of stillness and peace. Choir in a Week will feature a rich variety of music. Discover new singing styles and develop your voice as we sing together through the week.
The repertoire will include songs celebrating the beauty and power of the natural world as well as songs from Cornwall’s rich mining heritage, including links with South Africa and America. The programme will also feature original compositions by Pip and Jane and songs led with double fiddles.
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Academy of Music and Theatre Arts (AMATA), Falmouth University
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Geevor is on the dramatic West Cornwall coast near Lands End
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Count House Cafe at Geevor Tin Mine
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Nos Lowen – Cornish Ceilidh
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St Just Miners’ Chapel
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Falmouth
TUTORS
Jane Harris, Director of Songways and Pip Wright, a singing leader, teacher and community musician based in West Cornwall.
“Loved the way Jane and Pip worked together – and with us – in such a supportive and empowering way”
“Loved the variety of songs and appreciated the vocal training and tips”
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 Falmouth Choir in week 2025 Buckfast Abbey weekend in 2022 and singing weekends at Halsway Manor in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
“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”
VENUE
This course is based at our Academy of Music and Theatre Arts on our Penryn Campus. You’ll be singing in a large, light, purpose-built studio with break-out space in our lovely AMATA café and campus gardens. The Academy of Music and Theatre Arts is fully accessible.
This course includes a trip to West Cornwall to visit Geevor Tin Mine and St Just Miners’ Chapel on Thursday, for which coach travel is included with pick up and drop off from the Penryn Campus.
Car parking is available on the Penryn Campus and is included in the cost of this course.
“Very well organised, very warm and hospitable university hosts, excellent programme and venue.”
“Excellent – one of the best organised choir courses I’ve attended”
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation is not included and needs to be booked separately. More information about accommodation options.
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.
