Come and Sing Weekends

These are designed for all who love a good sing, regardless of age or experience. We begin on Friday evening with the first of seven sessions and the course ends at tea-time on Sunday.

There are three weekend courses planned in the near future:

Click on the highlighted titles to get further information:

The weekend in Whitby in October 2009.You can view/print an application form here
The weekend at Wortley Hall in January 2010. You can view/print an application form here
The weekend in Whitby in September 2010. You can view/print an application form here

What is a “Come and sing” weekend?
It’s a wonderful weekend designed for all who love a good sing, regardless of age or experience. You will also enjoy wholesome food, tremendous friendship and the outstanding locations. Details of each of the courses can be found via the pages/links above. As always friends and relatives will be most welcome either to stay in the accommodation with you or to attend the final concert at the end of the course.

Who will be directing the weekend?
The weekends will be directed by our two “Come and Sing” favourites.

Andrew Padmore has been a Director of Music in Secondary Schools and a Cathedral Organist & Master of Choristers, but now divides his time between choral conducting and singing teaching. As a choral director he has conducted on 3 continents; he has worked with diverse forces from small chamber choirs at the BBC, to the largest of choral societies e.g. Huddersfield Choral Society. He is Conductor & Artistic Director of the Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir and has recently become Conductor of the Harrogate Choral Society. He is in great demand as a guest conductor and master-class clinician. As a singing teacher he coaches a wide range of vocal abilities and is frequently consulted by professional singers with vocal problems. He adjudicates and has judged at International Choral Competitions, and is also an examiner for ABRSM grades and diplomas, as well as mentoring on their professional development course for singing teachers. Away from music, Andrew enjoys driving fast sports cars, is the proud owner of an ebullient Springer Spaniel called 'Morgan' and two rather special tortoises.

Gareth Green achieved his first musical diplomas at the age of fifteen. Three years later he collected the Dixon and Turpin prizes for FRCO and was already engaged as a recitalist around Europe. Gareth held Organ Scholarships at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London; Worcester College, Oxford University; Canterbury Cathedral. In 1983 he became Assistant Organist at Wakefield Cathedral. In 1985, he was appointed Director of Music at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield, leaving in 1990 to pursue his free-lance interests as an organ recitalist, choral conductor, accompanist, adjudicator, composer/arranger and Associated Board examiner. Gareth is also now an Associated Board trainer and an international co-ordinator. He has worked for BBC Religious Broadcasting as a musical director for `Daily Service` and as an organist & pianist on `Songs of Praise`, `Sunday Half Hour`, BBC Chorister of the Year finals etc. Gareth has released various recordings, both as a soloist and choral accompanist, and his musical endeavours have taken him as far a field as America, Bermuda and Singapore. He offers consultation lessons at his home in South Yorkshire and also teaches theory of music online. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, walking, swimming and consuming blue Yorkie bars.

Comments from singers on past courses

A selection of comments made by people who have attended recent courses:-

I really enjoyed the weekend. I'll come to `Come and Sing` where-ever the venue. (Janet Roberts)

I met such lovely people and the music brought tears to my eyes. I may be the Granny of them all but I love to come back to these weekends time after time. They are the highlight of my year.(Phyllis Baker, aged 87)

Come and Sing is great. You get to stay in a castle, you can play pool and the grub is good. The singing is good too and they make it really funny so you really want to sing your best. (Sam Burnage, aged 12)

As a newcomer to singing, I cannot imagine a better or more enjoyable way to learn than working our way through the music with such able leaders. Brilliant. (Anthony Blackmore)

The ultimate de-stress! (Val English)

Even if you have performed the work previously, Andrew and Gareth always manage to add interest and put a new slant on the performance (Cathy Nash)

I just wanted to thank you again for the fantastic opportunity you gave me this past weekend to sing. I learnt so much from you. I felt welcomed from the very start and it was wonderful to be surrounded by so many enthusiastic singers. It really came together and sounded beautiful in St. Hilda's Church. It will be a performance that will stay with me forever. Your passion and enthusiasm was really inspirational to me. Again, thank you! (Dennis Maher, aged 18)

For anyone who enjoys music and singing, this is surely one of the best places to come - wonderful people, fabulous music and a super atmosphere, made especially great by an enthusiastic conductor and brilliant accompanist (Alex Cranfield)

It was a pleasure to be here and the weekend was all too short. I have been to several choral weeks but find the atmosphere on these `Come and Sing` weekends better & the people are much more friendly (Anne Wilkinson)

Thank you for the very enjoyable singing weekend. I loved every minute of it. (Jean Thornton)

The weekend is one FANTASTIC package - singing, accommodation, food and friends. It's one of the highlights of my year (Hannah Rodger, aged 12)

I have really enjoyed the `Music Matters` events I have attended - great fun, lovely people, wonderful music, inspirational musical direction (Ruth Turner-Mattingley)

A very enjoyable weekend with an excellent balance of music and social time (Barbara Baker)

Our third thoroughly enjoyable `Music Matters Come and Sing` weekend - hard work but very good fun (Neil Cherrett)

These weekends have so much to offer - a friendly atmosphere, a chance to learn intensively and perform, and to sing with different people. I have learned new skills and have improved my singing (Chriss Webb)

`Come and Sing` does what is says on the tin - plus it is huge fun and leaves you with a real sense of achievement (Caroline Westgate)