Advanced courses

We pride ourselves on offering high-quality, intensive, residential training for music students and those on the threshold of their professional careers. Some instrumental, vocal and ensemble classes are aimed specifically at advanced level students, or emerging professional musicians. These are marked with a single or double * in the brochure. Courses marked * are not selected and can be booked onto by completing a booking form or a financial assistance form. Those marked ** are subject to selection and are detailed on the following pages. Please note the different closing dates for each course.

Baroque Orchestra – Week 1 and 2

The Baroque Orchestra course runs for two intensive weeks and is full time. The course offers expert tutelage from some of Europe’s leading period instrument players, as well as baroque dance instruction (Week 1 only), and is aimed at advanced student and emerging professional musicians. Students may attend for either one or both weeks. The Baroque Orchestra is a period instrument group, and accompanies the main Summer School choir for the main choral concert each week. This year, the Baroque Orchestra will accompany the Advanced Baroque Opera for two performances of Charpentier’s Actéon (Week 2 only).
Closing date for applications: 23 April

Advanced Baroque Opera – Week 1 and 2

The Advanced Baroque Opera course is an invaluable opportunity for singers on the threshold of their professional careers. Students can expect to receive intensive, high-quality training on a major work. This year, Tim Hopkins and Robert Howarth will offer coaching on Charpentier’s Actéon. This coaching will be supplemented in Week 2 with specialist tuition from leading English tenor Robert Murray. The course culminates in two performances with orchestra. Advanced Baroque Opera participants work in close collaboration with the Baroque Orchestra, and shortlisted applicants must be available for audition in London in May.
Closing date for applications: 16 March

Advanced Conducting – Week 3, 4 and 5

This full-time, three week intensive course offers a limited number of places to advanced student and emerging professional conductors. In its history, the course has welcomed many distinguished young professionals, as well as alumni drawn from some of the world’s top conservatoires. Conductors work intensively on orchestral repertoire with a different conductor each week: in Week 3 Ilan Volkov, in Week 4 Nicholas Kraemer, and in Week 5 Pierre-André Valade. There will be opportunities for students to conduct orchestral concerts in Weeks 4 and 5, concentrating on the repertoire on which the directors are respected authorities. Students must be available for all three weeks of the course.
Closing date for applications: 16 March

Advanced Composition – Week 4 and 5

This two week, full-time course is particularly suited to student and emerging professional composers. There are a limited number of places available, and as with the other advanced courses, the standard is very high. This year, six students will be selected to study with Detlev Glanert. In the second week, pieces written on the course will be rehearsed for performance by the Composers Ensemble. The course will culminate in a concert of works composed during the two weeks.
Participants must commit to both weeks of the course.
Closing date for applications: 16 March

Instrumental and Vocal Masterclasses and Workshops – Week 1 or 4

Dame Emma Kirkby – Week 1, Closing date for applications: 16 March
Stephen Kovacevich – Week 4, Closing date for applications: 13 April
Markus Däunert – Week 4, Closing date for applications: 13 April

Applying for Advanced Courses

Please submit:

• Either a booking form with deposit OR a financial assistance form (see page 34 for details)
• Curriculum Vitae
• A covering letter
• Tutor’s reference
• A recording of two contrasting pieces on CD, or mp3 via email only. Please label clearly and check this plays before you send it. If you need your CD returned, enclose a SAE with the correct postage attached. Envelopes with insufficient postage will not be returned.
• Please note: Advanced Conducting students need not submit a recording. Advanced Composition students must submit two scores, along with corresponding recordings. They need not submit recordings of themselves playing.

All applications should be submitted via email or by post. Email applications should be sent in as few emails as possible. Postal applications should be sent in a single envelope to:

Lisa Buckby
Dartington International Summer School
Space, Dartington Hall
Totnes, Devon
TQ9 6EN
Tel +44 (0)1803 847083
lisa.buckby@dartington.org

LATE / INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS, OR RECORDINGS IN AN INCORRECT FORMAT, WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED