Program Overview

Choir in a Week

Course Overview

Immerse yourself in a creative week of unaccompanied harmony singing in Cornwall, led by two experienced choir leaders, in professional-standard facilities.

Key Details

• Location: Penryn Campus
• Course duration: 5 days
• Price: £650
• Deposit: £200

Course Programme

This is an outline of what to expect and is subject to change. There will also be plenty of time to socialise and get to know fellow singers.

Day 1

• The course starts at 9.30 each day with tea / coffee and arrivals at AMATA, followed by our first singing session at 10am.
• We’ll sing all morning with a break for coffee and cake.
• After lunch, we’ll have the first optional ‘Songs with Spirit, Songs for the Soul workshop’ at a local church (or free time).
• Free time in the evening.

Day 2

• After tea/coffee and arrivals, we’ll be singing at AMATA again until lunchtime.
• After lunch, there will be an optional ‘Scratch band’ workshop – open to anyone who plays an instrument - learning the easy tunes for our Nos Lowen in the evening (or free time).
• From 6pm we’ll have a shared supper and then a Nos Lowen with a caller.

Day 3

• Singing all morning following the same pattern as previous days.
• After lunch we’ll have the second optional ‘Songs with Spirit, Songs for the Soul workshop’ at a local church (or free time).
• Free time in the evening.

Day 4

• On Thursday we will travel to St Ives (with coach pick up from Falmouth University included).
• We will have a morning singing session in the CORE Building at the St Ives Community Orchard.
• After plenty of time for a lunch break and exploring St Ives, we’ll reconvene at the Tate St Ives to sing some of the songs we have learning in the beautiful acoustic of the Rotunda.
• Tate tickets are included for those wishing to explore the gallery and exhibitions, or free time.
• Coach travel back from St Ives to Falmouth University late afternoon.
• Free time in the evening.

Day 5

• On our final day we will spend the morning singing following a similar pattern to previous days, then move to a music studio at AMATA to record the songs so that you have a record of what you’ve learned to take away.
• Mp3 downloads of this recording will be available to you following the course.
• We will then have a late lunch together at 1.30pm and a celebration to end the week.
• The course will finish at 3.00pm so that there is time to travel home.

Course Leaders

• Pip Wright: a choir leader and musician from Trevurvas, West Cornwall where she runs two established community choirs: the Dawn Chorus and Levow an Bys (Voices of the World in Cornish).
• Jane Harris: an experienced choir leader and Director of Songways, based in Bath. She leads singing workshops and singing retreats in beautiful places and thriving choirs in Bath and Bradford on Avon.

Who is this course suitable for?

• Experienced amateur singers who enjoy singing music of different genres and are confident to be able to hold their part with 5 or 6 other voices in an unaccompanied (a cappella) choir.
• Those who currently sing in a choir and would like a new challenge.
• Those who used to enjoy harmony singing and find that day to day life doesn't give you time to sing in a regular choir - and you fancy having that experience again.
• Those who are planning on visiting Cornwall and would enjoy spending some of your time diving deeper into local culture while meeting like-minded singers.
• Those who play an instrument - and would enjoy being part of a scratch folk band - to learn some new tunes and play for dancing, or just for fun.

Fees, costs & funding

• Rate: Standard
• Price: £650
• Deposit: £200
• Course date: 21-25 July 2025

Discover our facilities

• The Academy of Music and Theatre Arts (AMATA) is a purpose-built live venue on the Penryn Campus housing an assembly of flexible theatre spaces, performance, rehearsal and recording studios, a box office and exhibition areas.