News
This article by Alex Stevens first appeared in the June 2010 issue of Music Teacher magazine:
Eton Choral Courses have developed a unique reputation as summer schools for young choral singers. Little has changed since Ralph Allwood set up the first course in 1980 aside from a gradual expansion and an ever- lengthening list of alumni. Allwood will step down from his position as Director of Music at Eton College itself in 2011, but hopes to continue running the choral courses. So why did he set them up in the first place?
‘I was aware that where I then taught, at Uppingham, they all knew about choral scholarships because they had me and several others to help them, but in other schools – where there were good, talented singers – they didn’t know, and so they needed some way of finding out. And the idea of getting together the most talented singers of about 17 or 18 years old from around the country appealed to me because we’d form a really good choir: which indeed we did.’
This year's courses will mark the 30th anniversary of the Choral Courses, and we'll be holding a celebration Evensong on Friday 30 July, in Eton College.
Course 7 of this year's choral courses is being held at St John's College and St Chad's College, Durham, 20th – 28th August. There are still places remaining for alto, counter-tenor, tenor and bass.
Course 2 of this year's choral courses is being held at Cheltenham College, 10th – 18th July. There are still places remaining for all voice parts, particularly bass. The course ends with a recital for the Cheltenham Festival, which will be very exciting. Highlights include:
