Singing Retreat

28-30 March at Magdalene College, Cambridge

Sidney main court

“A wonderful weekend of learning and music making. It was unforgettable. I’ll definitely be recommending it to my fellow
choir members”

Our Spring Singing Retreat takes place at the stunning Magdalene College, right on the banks of the River Cam, set in glorious gardens by the punt launch. The chapel at Magdalene, dating from the 15th century, is one of the most atmospheric in Cambridge and is a truly inspiring place to sing.

Magdalene College is one of the more intimate and traditional of the Cambridge Colleges, occupying a beautiful position with delightful gardens on the river bank. Notable members past and present include the diarist Samuel Pepys, writer C.S. Lewis and the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.

The Pepys Library is the personal library collected by Samuel Pepys, which he bequeathed to the college following his death in 1703. Over 3,000 volumes, including his diary, are carefully catalogued and indexed, forming one of the most important surviving 17th-century private libraries. The books are preserved in Pepys’s own bookcases for them and organised by size as he had catalogued them. We will enjoy a private talk and viewing by the Librarian, exploring Pepys’ own love of music. 

This course is designed to immerse you in the rich choral life of Cambridge, singing Evensong and Compline by candle-light in historic chapels under the direction of celebrated Cambridge choir directors, with a programme of glorious repertoire, and accommodation in one of the historic colleges. Alongside the choral workshops, you’ll enjoy complementary cultural and educational talks, and a sumptuous formal dinner. You will develop your voice and choral skills with daily vocal health sessions, and enjoy warm camaraderie with a friendly group of people who share your passion for choral music.

This Singing Retreat falls within the season of Lent, and for our Friday Compline and Saturday Evensong we will reflect that, with reflective music by William Byrd (Miserere mei, Deus) and Henry Purcell (Hear my prayer). On Sunday we celebrate Mothering Sunday (also known as Refreshment Sunday, when those on their Lenten fast may have a day’s break); and we will take the opportunity to perform Rachmaninov’s much-loved hymn to the Virgin Mary – Bogorodiste Devo. There will also be settings of the evensong canticles by Pelham Humfrey (a brilliant but short-lived contemporary of Purcell) and Charles Wood.

We’ll also dine in The Wordsworth Room at St John’s College during this course! This 450-year-old room was where William Wordsworth lived when he was an undergraduate in the 1780s, and he described this room in his autobiographical poem, “The Prelude”. The menu certainly looks fit for a setting of such stature!

Experience this extraordinary world from the inside:

  • Ensuite accommodation in beautiful Magdalene College (please bear in mind this is an academic setting rather than a hotel)
  • Sing in iconic Cambridge college chapels, each with a different acoustic, feel and organ – Magdalene, Trinity and St Catharine’s.
  • Evensong and Compline under leading Cambridge choral directors
  • Vocal health sessions to develop and sustain your voice
  • Welcome drinks reception where you will have the opportunity to meet the other participants and the weekend tutors and staff
  • Saturday night formal dinner with fine wines from the College cellar
  • Complementary cultural and educational talks with academic specialists to give context and insights
  • Time out to explore Cambridge

FEES: £795 full board, £570 non-residential

BRING A FRIEND AND SAVE £50 EACH!*

Student Scholars: we’re pleased to offer a limited number of Student Scholarships at reduced fees for singers aged 18-25yrs*. To apply, please email [email protected].

Full course fee includes full board for 2 nights, all tuition, welcome drinks reception, music hire, 3-course formal dinner with private dining and other activities. All rooms are single occupancy and ensuite with tea and coffee making facilities. Bedding and towels are provided.

We have a limited number of double rooms so if you’d like to bring a partner along, there’s lots for them to do in Cambridge while you’re singing. They are welcome to join us for meals and social activities and attend evensongs and concerts. Non-singing guest fees on request.

* Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. To qualify for our “bring a friend” offer, your friend must be new to CCA. 

“Really enjoyed the formal dinner, the food, wine and port were delicious! And, for someone who is usually extremely shy, I felt at ease very quickly and actually really loved meeting everybody on the course; tutors and fellow course attendees alike.
It was a weekend I will never forget.”

We will be seeking to create a balanced chamber choir.  Applicants should be experienced choral singers with good note-reading ability. 

Cambridge Chorał Academy is an independent organisation which contracts with Cambridge Colleges for the use of facilities. This event otherwise has no connection or association with the University of Cambridge or its Colleges

Photography credits: Azeira at English Wikipedia – Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3814375

 

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