Education

The Chorus of Westerly's Summer Choral Workshops at Ogontz with Richard Marlow and Sir David Willcocks

Now in its 21st season, the Chorus of Westerly's Summer Choral Workshops at Ogontz (formerly known as the "Choral Symposia"), offer extraordinary opportunities for singers, church musicians, and choral conductors to work on repertoire and choral interpretation with some of the world's leading choral directors.  The program is two weeks in length with each week featuring an acclaimed conductor and a specialized voice faculty member.  Participants can choose to attend one or both weeks at Ogontz.  Registration is open to anyone and no auditions are required (registration and tuition payment is required). Past Ogontz participants have come from across North America and have included singers and musicians of all backgrounds.  At Ogontz, these participants (with the featured guest artists), learn together, rehearse, relax, and sing for one or two glorious weeks in an intimate and unspoiled retreat in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

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About the July 2010 Sessions –
This coming July, the Chorus of Westerly will offer TWO six-day sessions at Ogontz.  Session 1, July 18 to July 24, will be led by Richard Marlow (formerly of Trinity College, Cambridge, UK).  Session 2, July 25 to July 31, will be led by Sir David Willcocks (formerly of King's College, Cambridge, and the Bach Choir, London, UK).  Each session also includes opportunities to work with Chorus of Westerly music director George Kent and a specialized voice faculty member.  Individuals may choose to attend one or two weeks as a RESIDENT participant (staying at Ogontz - tuition, meals, special events, lodging included) or as a NON-RESIDENT participant (not staying overnight at Ogontz - tuition, meals, special events included).  "Camp Followers" (or RESIDENT NON-PARTICIPANTS - family members who want to stay at camp but not participate in the sessions) can also attend.  If you already know all about the weeks and simply want to register, click here!  Otherwise keep reading!


Here is an overview of this year's sessions and conductors:


SESSION 1 - Sunday, July 18, 2010 to Saturday, July 24, 2010
Choral Workshop Week
with Richard Marlow
The first session will be directed and led by acclaimed English choral conductor, organist, and recording artist Richard Marlow.  Dr. Marlow's impressive career as a choral conductor and organist began at Selwyn College, Cambridge, UK, where he studied organ with Thurston Dart.  After teaching at Southampton University, Dr. Marlow returned to Cambridge in 1968 as Fellow and Director of Music at Trinity College, as well as a lecturer in the University Music Faculty.  The following year, Marlow founded the critically acclaimed Cambridge University Chamber Choir.  In 1989, Dr. Marlow disbanded the group to devote more time to the newly formed mixed choir of Trinity College (formed in 1982).  With the mixed choir of Trinity, Dr. Marlow established the choir's prominence with many high profile radio and television broadcasts, recordings, and foreign tours.

In addition to his choral work and teaching, Dr. Marlow is an active editor and writer, and has conducted and lectured across Europe, Asia, Australia and North America.  Dr. Marlow retired from his post as Director of Music at Trinity in 2006, but he remains a Fellow of the College. July 2010 will mark Dr. Marlow's 11th season as a director in the Chorus of Westerly's Ogontz program.

Other faculty for the Marlow Session
Chorus of Westerly Music Director – George Kent
Voice faculty – Freda Herseth of the University of Michigan

Works to be rehearsed and studied
BACH, JS – Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden
BYRD – Laudibus in sanctis
KODALY – Missa Brevis
MENDELSSOHN – Sechs Sprüche, Op. 79

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SESSION 2 - Sunday, July 25, 2010 to Saturday, July 31, 2010
Choral Workshop Week with
Sir David Willcocks
The English conductor, organist and music educator Sir David Willcocks began his musical training as a chorister at Westminster Abbey. He was a music scholar at Clifton College, Bristol, and then the organ scholar at King’s College, Cambridge (1939-1940). Following a five-year period of war military service, in which he was awarded the Military Cross, he returned to King’s College for two years (1945-1947). He was elected a Fellow of King's College, Cambridge, and appointed Conductor of the Cambridge Philharmonic Society.

From 1947 to 1950 David Willcocks was the organist at Salisbury Cathedral and from 1950 to 1957 at Worcester Cathedral. During his years at Worcester he was principal conductor of the Three Choirs Festival (1951, 1954 and 1957) and conductor of the City of Birmingham Choir (1950-1957), with whom he gave his first British performance of Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem in 1952. From 1956 to 1974 he was also conductor of the Bradford Festival Choral Society. From 1957 to 1974 he was Director of Music at King’s College, Cambridge, where he maintained the glorious tradition with distinction. He made numerous recordings that gained international popularity through television and radio. With King's College Choir Cambridge he gave concerts in many European countries, Canada and Africa. At Cambridge he also served as University Organist, University Lecturer and Conductor of the Cambridge University Musical Society. From 1960 to 1998 he was Musical Director of The Bach Choir (London) which, since its foundation in 1875, has given first performances of several important works.

With The Bach Choir, Sir David Willcocks gave the first performances in Italy of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem at Perugia, Milan, La Scala and Venice in 1963 and later introduced the work in Japan, Hong Kong, Portugal and the Netherlands. From 1974 to 1984 he was Director of the Royal College of Music in London. He appears frequently as a conductor in the USA, Canada and European countries. He has also paid many visits to New Zealand and Australia, giving concerts with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Orchestras of the Australia Broadcasting Corporation; to Hong Kong for concerts with the Hong Kong Symphony Orchestra and to South Africa for concerts with the South African Broadcasting Corporation Choirs and Orchestra. David Willcocks was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1971, and was Knighted in 1977 in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Honours List. He is currently Music Director Emeritus of King's College Choir Cambridge.

Other faculty for the Willcocks Session
Chorus of Westerly Music Director – George Kent
Voice faculty – Paula Rockwell of Acadia University

Works to be rehearsed and studied
BACH, JS – Magnificat
BEETHOVEN – Mass in C Major
BRAHMS – Requiem
PALESTRINA – Missa Papae Marcelli
RUTTER – Magnificat
Psalms of David, Anglican Chant, (King's College settings)


CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - Register by March 15 (or make a deposit) and SAVE!

Typical Ogontz Choral Workshop
Daily Schedule –

Each session typically runs in this format (with some variations on given days):
- Breakfast (provided)
- Morning warm-up session with voice faculty
- Morning sing with the featured conductor (Marlow or Willcocks)
- Lunch (provided)
- Afternoon master class or warm-up session with voice faculty
- Afternoon sing with the featured conductor
- Free time or group events as planned,
sometimes there are afternoon teas and cookie breaks!
- Dinner (provided)
- Evening sing with the featured conductor
- Late night social activities or bed!

All parts of the day are optional.  You do not have to go to every sing or warm-up (though most do), and you can craft your day to fit your needs.  There are a few days where the schedule is adjusted to fit special events (such as evening concerts, afternoon teas, or nighttime dessert receptions), but the above schedule is the typical day.



Types of Registration and Participants –
This year, the Chorus of Westerly is pleased to offer the following ways to participate in the Marlow or Willcocks sessions.

Resident Participant
Includes accommodations at Ogontz, meals at Ogontz, recreation, tuition/singing sessions, special events
Regular cost for one session/week: $660.00
Regular cost for both sessions/weeks: $1200.00

 Non-Resident Participant
Includes meals at Ogontz, recreation, tuition/singing sessions, special events
Regular cost for one session/week: $570.00
Regular cost for both sessions/weeks: $1040.00

 Resident Non-Participant (Camp Follower)
Includes accommodations at Ogontz, meals at Ogontz, recreation, special events
(singing sessions are not included!)
Regular cost for one session/week: $480.00
Regular cost for both sessions/weeks: $860.00

 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Please note: Scores for each week will be available to purchase and, in a few instances, to rent.  As soon as that information is available we will add it to this page and the registration page.  Please keep in mind that this will be an additional expense.

More About Ogontz –
Camp Ogontz is a magnificent 300-acre facility in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The camp overlooks Lake Ogontz, a very small, semi-private lake with a spectacular view of the mountains beyond.  Ogontz is owned and operated by Lynn and George Kent (music director of the Chorus), and is home to a variety of short, week-long, arts related summer camps and workshops throughout the summer.  The camp itself is over 350 acres.  There are over a hundred buildings on the premises including a large rehearsal hall, a boathouse, and a fabulous dining hall.  Visit this link for info on Ogontz facilities.

Accommodations
Living space at Ogontz varies from several medium sized indoor log cabins (with indoor plumbing and enclosed bedrooms), to about 45 Adirondack style cabins (with three open sides, roll down heavy flaps, tables, personal cubbies, beds, chairs, electricity) that are all close to shower rooms and toilet facilities.  These Adirondack cabins are a little bit more rustic, but recent renovations have drastically improved their quality and comfort.  All cabins are shared by one to four people depending on your preferences (during the Choral Workshops, these cabins rarely have more than two people and solo cabins are possible).  If you choose to be a "resident" camper, you will be given a housing preference sheet prior to your attendance.  Visit this link for info on accommodations at Ogontz.

Dining
Marlow and Willcocks participants are treated to full and delicious meals three times a day. The food at Ogontz is prepared daily in the camp's large kitchen and the Ogontz chefs are legendary. The Dining Hall can seat about 200 people at a time and has a warm rustic charm to it with wooden floors and large windows looking out over camp from three different sides.

For warm afternoons and evenings where an outdoor meal is planned, there is a large wrap around deck connected to the Dining Hall that can accommodate the entire camp. Also outside the deck is a special grill and smoker. On occasion during the sessions, meals are often held at other camp locations such as on a hill or next to one of camp's beautiful waterfalls.

The Ogontz Bakery, another impressive facility that is connected to the Dining Hall, prepares bread, desserts, and other tasty items daily, ranging from the famed Ogontz Chocolate Chip Cookies to large and rich cakes.

Camp menus are set by the Chorus in collaboration with Ogontz.  A main dish is always featured and a vegetarian option is always available.  At this time, Ogontz is not able to accommodate special dietary concerns, but the kitchen staff is always willing to talk with participants about ingredients in that particular days meals.

The Ogontz General Store has snacks and goodies available for purchase. A Shaw's Grocery Store and Walmart are also located about fifteen minutes away in Littleton.

Both Marlow and Willcocks Resident and Non-Resident Participants (and Non-Participants) have all meals provided as part of their costs/tuition.

Recreation
During your time at the Marlow or Willcocks weeks, outside of singing, you have a lot of optional to rest, relax, have fun, or explore. 

Ogontz Recreational Features:

Ogontz is secluded in the woods but a short drive to Littleton where guests are able to find:

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