WORLD CONDUCTOR WORKSHOP SERIES 2023
This November, Voices of Singapore will be hosting masterclasses conducted by the established British conductor Neil Ferris.
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There will be 2 masterclasses each focusing on a different facet of choral conducting technique. The first will be focusing on technique and repertoire for children's choirs, featuring the VOS Children's Choir Choral Scholars as the demo choir. The second will be focusing on adult SATB choirs, featuring the VOS Singers. The masterclasses will also feature a series of lectures about choral conducting technique, as well as British choral music.
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Alongside podium time and lectures in the masterclass, participants will benefit from one-to-one consultations which will give them valuable feedback on their technique and opportunities for development. A certificate of participation will also be awarded at the end of the programme. There is also an option to audit the masterclasses and observe the conductors at work, as well as attend the lectures.
ABOUT NEIL FERRIS:
Neil Ferris is Chorus Director of the BBC Symphony Chorus in 2017, Artistic Director of the professional chamber choir Sonoro and Music Director of Wimbledon Choral. He made his BBC Proms conducting debut in 2019, celebrating the 90th Anniversary season of the BBC Symphony Chorus with the premiere of Jonathan Dove’s specially commissioned piece We are one fire.
With Sonoro Neil has appeared at the St Magnus International Festival, the Wimbledon International Music Festival and at King’s Place in London. In demand as guest conductor at some of the finest choirs in the UK, Neil has worked with London Symphony Chorus, Choir of the Age of Enlightenment, BBC Singers, the National Youth Choir, and the National Youth Choir of Wales. In his role as a Chorus Director he has prepared choirs for conductors including Marin Alsop, Sir Andrew Davis, Sir Mark Elder, Edward Gardner, Valery Gergiev, Bernard Haitink, Sakari Oramo and Sir Simon Rattle.
Orchestras that Neil has conducted include London Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Welsh National Opera, Ulster Orchestra, City of London Sinfonia, London Mozart Players and Orchestra of the Swan. He made his Royal Opera House conducting debut in a production of Will Tuckett’s ballet The Wind in the Willows.
Formerly Director of Choral Studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Neil is recognised as one of the country’s leading teachers of choral conducting and has led masterclasses in the UK, USA, Ireland, Denmark, China and Singapore. In the UK he has been invited to lead masterclasses at the Royal College of Music, Royal Academy of Music and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
Recordings include an album of the choral music of Jonathan Dove (Naxos), Fauré Requiem (Convivium), and a regular programme of recordings with Sonoro on the Resonus label. Christmas with Sonoro was Christmas album of choice in the BBC Music Magazine, and followed their debut album Passion and Polyphony featuring works of James MacMillan and Frank Martin. Further recordings include two Choral Inspirations projects and an album of the choral music of Martin Bussey. Signum have recently released the world premiere recording of Cecilia McDowall’s Da Vinci Requiem with Wimbledon Choral and City of London Sinfonia.