| CourseFormat | Repertoire | Membership | Fees | Bursaries l CourseAdministrator | Howtobook |
Rendcomb is a co-educational school with excellent facilities and a reputation for excellence in Art, Music and Theatre. The central manor is set in beautiful Cotswold countryside, and there is a well equipped Music School. Spacious teaching and performance rooms, together with delightful views across the valley and excellent cuisine, provide a perfect setting for learning and relaxation. Other facilities include practice rooms, tennis courts and a bar. It is easily accessible from both M4 and M5 motorways, and within comfortable reach of historic Cirencester and regency Cheltenham.
The course runs at for six days at Easter. It consists of open classes structured around course members choice of repertoire, and the construction of operatic scenes for public performance at the end of the week. There are coaching sessions, voice clinics to pinpoint and address specific technical problems, dance, development of stagecraft and performance skills, plus Yoga and Tai Chi. Alexander Technique classes will also be available. Two in-house concerts are held during the week to help singers gain performing experience.
Singers need to prepare, and preferably memorise, two own choice pieces of repertoire from opera, oratorio, art song or music theatre. These will be worked on in one-to-one sessions, and can be from any period and in any style. Participants are encouraged to observe each other's sessions when they are not otherwise occupied.
In addition, singers are invited to suggest a role from an operatic scene in which they would like to take part. The scenes will be prepared during the week and presented as a staged public performance at the end of the course. All suggestions are considered, and casting is confirmed six weeks before the course, giving the singers sufficient time for roles to be fully memorised prior to arrival.
There will be several house pianists available for individual rehearsal.
Although we don't cater for beginners, we welcome those who have been singing for only a few years - but some experience of solo singing is necessary. It is also beneficial to have had some stage experience, but this is not essential. Minimum age is eighteen years, and there is no upper age limit.
The number of places for performing singers is limited to 30, so early booking is advised. New applicants and those whose voices are not known to us are asked to send a cassette tape/CD of their singing on application, including two contrasting items.
Additional places will be available for those wishing to attend as observers.
The full residential course fees include six nights' standard single accommodation with full board, from Sunday evening to Saturday morning - departure after breakfast. Non-residents' fees and day tickets include all meals except breakfast.
| Performers | Non-Performers | |
| Full residential | £440 | £360 |
| Non-residential | £340 | £250 |
| Per day, non-residential | £60 |
The Rendcomb Bursary is an award of the full course fee to a singer aged between 18 and 25.
One half bursary is available through the generous support of the Concordia Foundation.
Bursaries will be awarded to those aiming towards a professional singing career, and in need of some financial help in order to participate in the course.
Applicants should send a CV, a recent recording of their work (including an operatic aria) and details of their financial circumstances to the course administrator. The deadline for receiving applications is mid January.
Richard
Sharpe, Flat 2, 228 London Road, Cheltenham GL52 6HW
Tel/Fax: 01242 244200 E-mail: MatR@228sundridge.freeserve.co.uk
Please fill out our on-line registration form to apply. (New applicants and those whose voices are not known to us should send a cassette tape/CD of their singing on application, including two contrasting items). This should be sent, along with a deposit of £50 (cheque payable to "Music at Rendcomb") to the Course Administrator. The deposit is refundable if not accepted on to the course, but otherwise is strictly non-refundable.
On acceptance of application an acknowledgement is sent, by email where possible, along with a repertoire choices form. This needs to be returned as soon as possible, and not later than mid-January, in order that casting can be finalised by mid-February.
In the event of cancellation, bookings are not transferable. Although the deposit is non-refundable, refunds of further payments will only be made where a valid reason (such as serious illness) is given.
Please
note: The balance of the fee should be paid no later than one month before
the course.
