The historic spa town of Harrogate hosted a very successful annual choral week from 1995 to 2006. To meet the continuing demand from singers for a residential summer course based in North Yorkshire, the Harrogate Festival Choral Course has been held since 2008 and brings singers together from across the country to this beautiful part of the country.

Lynn Hudson and Thom Meredith are delighted to offer a further five day choral course in August 2012 (21st – 26th) at Ampleforth College which is located on the edge of the beautiful North York Moors National Park, four miles from Helmsley and twelve from Thirsk. The participants will form the Harrogate Festival Chorus to perform, with orchestra, Haydn’s , in the Abbey Church of Ampleforth Abbey.

The course will provide a full range of choral and performing opportunities, including rehearsals (both as a full SATB choir and in chamber groups), master classes (both vocal and conducting) and informal part-song sessions, as well as two main concerts.

We are also looking to extend our range of social events, such as ‘Jazz in the Bar with Harry and Ellie’ which was really well received in 2011, and, due to its continuing popularity with course members, we shall also be maintaining our highly entertaining talent show under its new title of ‘Ample Talent’.

We are pleased to welcome back Stephen Connolly to HFCC in 2012 as the bass soloist in and are delighted to welcome, for the first time, Sarah Ogden (soprano) and Tom Asher (tenor) who will join him as soloists, perform with Thom Meredith in ‘A Night at the Opera’ and lead our vocal master classes.

The timetable will allow participants plenty of opportunity to enjoy the delights of the surrounding area which include the abbeys of Rievaulx, Byland and Rosedale, the market towns of Helmsley, Thirsk, Kirkbymoorside, Pickering and Malton, the historic City of York and the coastal town of Scarborough, and, for the more adventurous, the many walks around Sutton Bank, the Hambleton Hills, Ryedale and the North York Moors.

Delegates, however, may not even feel the need to leave the confines of Ampleforth College and the Abbey. Ampleforth Abbey has been home to a Community of Benedictine monks since 1820 and is set in extensive grounds which include beautiful lakes, trails and woodlands. The Abbey Church is open to visitors as is the Shop, the Tea Room, the Orchard and the Visitor Centre. A full range of sporting activities, including swimming, is also provided on site at the St Alban’s Sports Centre.

Creation

Creation