The fifth Harrogate Festival Choral Course will run from Tuesday 21st to Sunday 26th August 2012.

Registration is between 3.00pm and 5.30pm and the course begins officially with a warm welcome and dinner followed by the first full choir rehearsal. The evening will conclude with a champagne reception, accompanied by ‘Jazz in the Bar with Harry and Ellie’, as old friendships are renewed and new ones are formed.

Throughout the course, rehearsals for both the full choir and chamber choirs will take place in the morning, late afternoon and early evening.

We are also pleased to offer additional musical activities in the afternoons for those who wish to be involved. These have been very successful in previous years and we hope that they will be as popular in 2012. Singers can come together informally for part song singing or to participate in a conducting master class. All afternoon activities are optional and singers can use their free time as they wish but some may like to avail themselves of the excellent sport’s facilities available at the on-site St. Alban’s Sports Centre which includes a 25m heated pool which will be available solely for the use of those of our singers wishing to swim before breakfast. There will be public swim sessions available in the afternoon for a nominal sum alongside squash, tennis and badminton.

Harry and Ellie are planning a new social event for Wednesday evening and then on Thursday we host ‘Ample Talent’ which gives a platform to any individuals who wish to showcase their talent. This was a tremendous success in 2011 and we hope for an equally entertaining evening in 2012.

Vocal master classes led by Tom Asher and Sarah Ogden, for which there is no additional charge, will take place on Friday afternoon. Singers can volunteer to take part or sit back and relax as members of the audience.

On Friday evening at 7.30pm in the College Theatre, we shall hold ‘A Night at the Opera’ which will involve everyone, singers and soloists, in highlights from the world of opera, operetta and the musical. This gala event will be open to friends and family at £10 a ticket.On Saturday evening at 7.30pm, the Harrogate Festival Chorus and Orchestra will perform Haydn’s in the magnificent setting of the Abbey Church in Ampleforth Abbey. Rehearsals will be held in the venue during the day.

Departure is after breakfast on Sunday 26th.

Participants are encouraged to enjoy all aspects of the course by attending on a residential basis. Single or twin-bedded accommodation is available, all ensuite, and there are a small number of single rooms that share facilities with an adjacent room. However, we appreciate that singers from the local area may wish to take part in the excellent music-making opportunities without the need for accommodation on site. For full details of non-residential and all other rates for the course please refer to the 'Rates (Singers)' page.

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