Genesis Sixteen to collaborate with Oundle organ scholars

Thursday, 21 August 2014

On Saturday 30 August 2014, young organ scholars will get the chance to collaborate with the fourth cohort of Genesis Sixteen at the Oundle Festival’s Advance summer course in the beautiful surroundings of Magdalen College, Oxford.

Every year the Oundle Music Trust runs a summer music course that runs in tandem with the Oundle International Festival, giving students the opportunity to work with renowned professionals to help develop their skills and technique. The Advance course is designed to help bridge the gap from student to professional, much like the aims of Genesis Sixteen. As part of their training the scholars have sessions on improvisation, repertoire planning, advanced technique and choral conducting.

Four organ scholars will have the opportunity to conduct Genesis Sixteen whilst they are also in residence at Magdalen College for one of their weekend courses led by founder and conductor Harry Christophers and Associate Conductor Eamonn Dougan. The organ scholars will be mentored by Harry, Eamonn and the Advance course director William Whitehead to develop their consort training skills, getting half an hour each to conduct the choir in repertoire including Josquin, Palestrina, Howells and Poulenc.

In the same way Genesis Sixteen, the UK’s first fully-funded choral programme of its kind, nurtures the next generation of talented ensemble singers, it is hoped the organ scholars and conductors will also go on to have successful music careers. This collaboration coincides with the recent announcement that the Genesis Foundation is extending its support of young artistic talent with the appointment of Genesis Sixteen’s first ever student conductor, Robbie Jacobs. Read the news story about this appointment here.

To find out more about the Oundle music course and Genesis Sixteen click here.

To read more about the Genesis Foundation’s work with Genesis Sixteen click here.