2011 sees the seventh Jennifer Bate Organ Academy take place once again in the delightful surroundings of St Catherine’s School, Bramley near Guildford. Held in conjunction with Guildford Cathedral, the residential Jennifer Bate Organ Academy is an outstanding opportunity for younger women organists to develop their all-round performance expertise. The course is designed to explore and discover wider performance skills, providing excellent training and a greater breadth of experience, particularly for those considering university scholarships and conservatoire applications as well as candidates for the higher ABRSM exams and RCO diplomas.
The internationally-acclaimed virtuoso Dr Jennifer Bate leads the course, assisted by a team of outstanding specialists. In Jennifer’s words “This is an unusually imaginative and exciting project, which I am delighted to support. It will give participants a unique opportunity not only to master the instrument but also to develop a wide understanding of music in the round through making music with others.” Other course Tutors such as Katherine Dienes-Williams (Organist and Master of the Choristers at Guildford Cathedral) and Stephen Farr (currently Director of Music at St Paul’s Knightsbridge and Director of Chapel Music at Worcester College Oxford) are equally excited about the course. “In recent years it has been a source of great encouragement and satisfaction to all of us to see the emergence of a new generation of talented female organists” says Stephen. “We hope that this well-established course will continue to develop a greater number of gifted young performers.”
Girls who have attended the course over the years are full of praise for its non-competitive family atmosphere, and the fact that all participants are encouraged to take risks and have a go at a variety of new skills within a friendly and supportive framework. The Baroque organ concerto masterclass on the Snetzler organ in the Cobbe Collection at Hatchlands House is one of the regular favourites, as are the masterclasses in Service Accompaniment, Choral Direction, Ensemble Performance, Improvisation and Repertoire. Some participants from previous years have gone on to be Oxbridge Organ Scholars or full-time students at London conservatoires.
Next year’s Organ Academy will run from Friday 30th March to Tuesday 3rd April 2012. The course is residential, offering participants the opportunity to make full use of the facilities at the school. Applicants are encouraged from all ability levels as the course itinerary is flexible and can be tailored to meet individual needs.
Further details and enquiries concerning the course can be obtained from the Course Director, Geoffrey Field, on 01483 899646 or geoff.field@stcatherines.info.
