Come and Sing!
Mozart’s Requiem
A wonderful opportunity to learn or refresh this beautiful work with a full day of world class tuition.
The chorus workshop is under the baton of award-winning Music Director James Davey
Or
Join our Soloist Masterclass with world renowned soloist, Monteverdi Choir member and tutor Ali Ponsford- Hill.
Time and Location
Saturday 21st September 2024
St Nicholas School, Hobbs Cross Road, Old Harlow, CM17 0NJ
About Amici Cantate
Amici Cantate is a friendly amateur choir based in Bishops Stortford, we rehearse Saturday mornings and sing a wide variety of music with James Davey our Music Director. New members are welcome, feel free to come along and ‘sing in’ for a few weeks to try us out, no commitment needed for the first month. Speak to Kate Foxwell 07885 796152.
Music Version – We will be singing the Novello or Barenreiter version of Requiem (Not new Novello version)
Chorus Workshop Information
Amici’s Music Director and our chorus master for the day is the award-winning James Davey. James has a unique and inspirational style which brings out and encourages the best performance from his singers, and throughout the day he will add anecdotes and background information about this wonderful piece of Mozart’s work. If you haven’t had the pleasure of working with James, check out his biography below, you’re in for a treat!
We will be working our way through all chorus parts of the Requiem, in a very comfortable, relaxed environment. We welcome singers of all standards, although expect our choral members to read music to an adequate standard for the day. Our accompanist for the day is Jonathan Ngai, a very friendly talented conductor, singer and accompanist, we know you will feel very well supported.
We will end our day joining with the Masterclass soloists for a Scratch Concert.
Masterclass Information
We are so proud to have the renowned Soprano Ali Ponsford-Hill as our Masterclass tutor. Ali is that rare breed of stunning soloist, ensemble singer and inspirational tutor. When one can list appearance venues such as Philharmonie de Paris , Teatro alla Scala and Carnegie Hall, and singing with The Monteverdi Choir, Polyphony, Tenebrae, The Sixteen and The Tallis Scholars, there’s really not much more to be said!
Places to join the soloist Masterclass with Ali are limited, so book early to avoid disappointment.
The Masterclass will run throughout the day with a focus on the four Requiem quartets solos, (we will not be working on the soprano Requiem Aeternam and Agnus Dei solo parts). All participants will get a chance to sing a solo (or solo excerpt) in the scratch performance, to showcase what they have been working on.
When not working with Ali, soloists are welcome to join in the main chorus workshop.
Our soloists must already know the four quartet solo pieces and arrive prepared to focus on technical work and refinement of style.
If you would like to opt out of working on any of the solo parts, then we need to know which parts upon booking.
About our professionals!
James Davey – Music Director
James is one of the UK’s most distinguished and respected choral directors, in demand for his work as a conductor, choir trainer, choral education practitioner, arranger and adjudicator.
He is also Musical Director of Chantage, winners of the Malta International Choral Competition Grand Prix 2015 and BBC Radio 3 Choir of the year 2006, and 4Tunes, the award-winning staff choir at Channel 4 TV in association with Music in Offices.
More recently he has been appointed Chorus Master of Saffron Opera Group, preparing Wagner’s epic opera scores for concert productions, including Tristan and Isolde, Parsifal and Tannhäuser.
Formerly the chief choral advisor for the BBC’s sheet music archive, James has delivered projects for the BBC Singers Education Department as well as regularly conducting and preparing choirs for broadcasts on television and radio.
James is also a conducting tutor for the Association of British Choral Directors and the Association of Irish Choirs and is on the ABCD’s Council of Practitioners. In 2018 he co-founded the London International Choral Conducting Competition (LICCC), the first of its kind in the UK.
Ali Ponsford-Hill
Ali Ponsford-Hill (soprano) is much in demand as a teacher, conductor, soloist and ensemble singer throughout the UK and abroad. She is proud to have taught hundreds of young people to sing through her work at Westminster Under School, Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School and now at Eton College and University College in Oxford. As a conductor, Ali has chorus mastered for The Monteverdi Choir, conducted the Tower of London choir in services and runs her own U3A singing for pleasure group in Amersham. This year she took up the position of Musical Director of the High Wycombe Choral Society.
As a singer, Ali has toured the world, performed as a soloist and made multiple CDs with groups such as The Monteverdi Choir, Polyphony, Tenebrae, The Sixteen, The Tallis Scholars and Stile Antico. She enjoyed singing as a soloist for the Irish show ‘Riverdance’ for two years and more recently has sung on a host of film soundtracks with London Voices including ‘Aladdin’ and ‘Spectre’.
Alison also regularly performs as a soloist across the UK, with notable performances including Josabeth in Handel’s Athalia at the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford and Bach’s Johannes-Passion in Salisbury Cathedral where she was previously a chorister. Recent step-out performances have included ‘Endless Pleasure’ from Handel’s Semele at the Philharmonie de Paris and Teatro alla Scala with The Monteverdi Choir as well as arias from Handel’s L’Allegro at Carnegie Hall.
Jonathan Ngai - Accompanist
Jonathan is Amici Cantate’s accompanist and deputy MD. Born in Hong Kong, he is a music educator, choral conductor and piano accompanist. He received his Bachelor of Education (Music) with first-class honours from the Education University of Hong Kong and Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, with full scholarships. He was also a choral tutor at the Hong Kong Children’s Choir.
Susie Savage - Accompanist
Susie has been part of our Amici family for many years and has been working professionally with singers for 25 years. She studied Music at Bristol University, and then worked as a Musical Director and pianist in regional theatres and London’s West End for ten years. She also worked as a vocal tutor and MD at Mountview Conservatoire, Rose Bruford College, Arts Ed and East 15 drama schools.
Shows include Little Shop of Horrors, Into the Woods, Oliver, Bugsy, Grease, West Side Story, Me & My Girl, 42nd Street, My Fair Lady, The Wiz, Sweeney Todd, Grand Hotel, Hairspray, Blood Brothers, Peter Pan, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Sister Act. As a theatre accompanist she has played for Maria Friedman, Vanessa Redgrave, Jane Horrocks and Dame Edna!
Schedule for the day
More information:
A free light buffet lunch is included; unfortunately we are unable to cater for individual diets or food allergies.
Please bring a reusable mug with you for your tea and coffee.
Tap water will be available, please bring a water bottle.
Getting there
We will be singing in a modern, comfortable environment and there is plenty of free parking on site.
The M11 junction 7 is just 3.5 miles away
Harlow Mill Station is 1.5 miles
Harlow Town Station is 3.6 miles
Mozart’s Requiem
A wonderful opportunity to learn or refresh this beautiful work with a full day of world class tuition.
The chorus workshop is under the baton of award-winning Music Director James Davey
Or
Join our Soloist Masterclass with world renowned soloist, Monteverdi Choir member and tutor Ali Ponsford- Hill.
Time and Location
Saturday 21st September 2024
St Nicholas School, Hobbs Cross Road, Old Harlow, CM17 0NJ
About Amici Cantate
Amici Cantate is a friendly amateur choir based in Bishops Stortford, we rehearse Saturday mornings and sing a wide variety of music with James Davey our Music Director. New members are welcome, feel free to come along and ‘sing in’ for a few weeks to try us out, no commitment needed for the first month. Speak to Kate Foxwell 07885 796152.
Music Version – We will be singing the Novello or Barenreiter version of Requiem (Not new Novello version)
Chorus Workshop Information
Amici’s Music Director and our chorus master for the day is the award-winning James Davey. James has a unique and inspirational style which brings out and encourages the best performance from his singers, and throughout the day he will add anecdotes and background information about this wonderful piece of Mozart’s work. If you haven’t had the pleasure of working with James, check out his biography below, you’re in for a treat!
We will be working our way through all chorus parts of the Requiem, in a very comfortable, relaxed environment. We welcome singers of all standards, although expect our choral members to read music to an adequate standard for the day. Our accompanist for the day is Jonathan Ngai, a very friendly talented conductor, singer and accompanist, we know you will feel very well supported.
We will end our day joining with the Masterclass soloists for a Scratch Concert.
Masterclass Information
We are so proud to have the renowned Soprano Ali Ponsford-Hill as our Masterclass tutor. Ali is that rare breed of stunning soloist, ensemble singer and inspirational tutor. When one can list appearance venues such as Philharmonie de Paris , Teatro alla Scala and Carnegie Hall, and singing with The Monteverdi Choir, Polyphony, Tenebrae, The Sixteen and The Tallis Scholars, there’s really not much more to be said!
Places to join the soloist Masterclass with Ali are limited, so book early to avoid disappointment.
The Masterclass will run throughout the day with a focus on the four Requiem quartets solos, (we will not be working on the soprano Requiem Aeternam and Agnus Dei solo parts). All participants will get a chance to sing a solo (or solo excerpt) in the scratch performance, to showcase what they have been working on.
When not working with Ali, soloists are welcome to join in the main chorus workshop.
Our soloists must already know the four quartet solo pieces and arrive prepared to focus on technical work and refinement of style.
If you would like to opt out of working on any of the solo parts, then we need to know which parts upon booking.
About our professionals!
James Davey – Music Director
James is one of the UK’s most distinguished and respected choral directors, in demand for his work as a conductor, choir trainer, choral education practitioner, arranger and adjudicator.
He is also Musical Director of Chantage, winners of the Malta International Choral Competition Grand Prix 2015 and BBC Radio 3 Choir of the year 2006, and 4Tunes, the award-winning staff choir at Channel 4 TV in association with Music in Offices.
More recently he has been appointed Chorus Master of Saffron Opera Group, preparing Wagner’s epic opera scores for concert productions, including Tristan and Isolde, Parsifal and Tannhäuser.
Formerly the chief choral advisor for the BBC’s sheet music archive, James has delivered projects for the BBC Singers Education Department as well as regularly conducting and preparing choirs for broadcasts on television and radio.
James is also a conducting tutor for the Association of British Choral Directors and the Association of Irish Choirs and is on the ABCD’s Council of Practitioners. In 2018 he co-founded the London International Choral Conducting Competition (LICCC), the first of its kind in the UK.
Ali Ponsford-Hill
Ali Ponsford-Hill (soprano) is much in demand as a teacher, conductor, soloist and ensemble singer throughout the UK and abroad. She is proud to have taught hundreds of young people to sing through her work at Westminster Under School, Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School and now at Eton College and University College in Oxford. As a conductor, Ali has chorus mastered for The Monteverdi Choir, conducted the Tower of London choir in services and runs her own U3A singing for pleasure group in Amersham. This year she took up the position of Musical Director of the High Wycombe Choral Society.
As a singer, Ali has toured the world, performed as a soloist and made multiple CDs with groups such as The Monteverdi Choir, Polyphony, Tenebrae, The Sixteen, The Tallis Scholars and Stile Antico. She enjoyed singing as a soloist for the Irish show ‘Riverdance’ for two years and more recently has sung on a host of film soundtracks with London Voices including ‘Aladdin’ and ‘Spectre’.
Alison also regularly performs as a soloist across the UK, with notable performances including Josabeth in Handel’s Athalia at the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford and Bach’s Johannes-Passion in Salisbury Cathedral where she was previously a chorister. Recent step-out performances have included ‘Endless Pleasure’ from Handel’s Semele at the Philharmonie de Paris and Teatro alla Scala with The Monteverdi Choir as well as arias from Handel’s L’Allegro at Carnegie Hall.
Jonathan Ngai - Accompanist
Jonathan is Amici Cantate’s accompanist and deputy MD. Born in Hong Kong, he is a music educator, choral conductor and piano accompanist. He received his Bachelor of Education (Music) with first-class honours from the Education University of Hong Kong and Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, with full scholarships. He was also a choral tutor at the Hong Kong Children’s Choir.
Susie Savage - Accompanist
Susie has been part of our Amici family for many years and has been working professionally with singers for 25 years. She studied Music at Bristol University, and then worked as a Musical Director and pianist in regional theatres and London’s West End for ten years. She also worked as a vocal tutor and MD at Mountview Conservatoire, Rose Bruford College, Arts Ed and East 15 drama schools.
Shows include Little Shop of Horrors, Into the Woods, Oliver, Bugsy, Grease, West Side Story, Me & My Girl, 42nd Street, My Fair Lady, The Wiz, Sweeney Todd, Grand Hotel, Hairspray, Blood Brothers, Peter Pan, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Sister Act. As a theatre accompanist she has played for Maria Friedman, Vanessa Redgrave, Jane Horrocks and Dame Edna!
Schedule for the day
| Chorus Schedule 09.15 – 09.45 Registration 10.00 – 10.30 Warm Up 10.30 – 11.45 Chorus Session - Hostias - Requiem & Kyrie - Lacrymosa 11.45 – 12.00 Tea Break 12.00 – 1.15 Chorus Session - Confutatis - Dies Irae 1.15 – 2.00 Lunch 2.00 – 3.30 Chorus Session - Benedictus & Hosanna - Sanctus & Hosanna - Rex Tremendae 3.30 – 3.45 Tea Break 3.45 – 4.45 Chorus Session - Agnus Dei & Cum Sancto 4.45 – 5.15 Quartets / Chorus run-through 5.15 – 5.30 Break 5.30 – 6.30 Scratch Performance |
Masterclass Schedule 09.15 – 09.45 Registration 10.00 – 10.30 Warm Up 10.30 – 11.45 Tuba Mirum 11.45 – 12.00 Tea Break 12.00 – 1.15 Recordare 1.15 – 2.00 Lunch 2.00 – 3.30 Domine Jesu 3.30 – 3.45 Tea Break 3.45 – 4.45 Benedictus 4.45 – 5.15 Quartets / Chorus run-through 5.15 – 5.30 Break 5.30 – 6.30 Scratch Performance |
More information:
A free light buffet lunch is included; unfortunately we are unable to cater for individual diets or food allergies.
Please bring a reusable mug with you for your tea and coffee.
Tap water will be available, please bring a water bottle.
Getting there
We will be singing in a modern, comfortable environment and there is plenty of free parking on site.
The M11 junction 7 is just 3.5 miles away
Harlow Mill Station is 1.5 miles
Harlow Town Station is 3.6 miles
