Summer School

Oundle for Organists Summer School

Courses for young organists during the Oundle International Festival

15-21 July at Oundle, Northamptonshire

Playing the organ can be a solitary sort of experience: there may not be many or even any other organists at your school. But on Oundle for Organists courses you’ll soon make new friends – kindred spirits with the same interest – in an informal, non-competitive environment, and leave with valuable awards to encourage your musical progress!

Because the Summer School takes place during the Oundle International Festival, students have a free pass to many festival events. This presents a unique opportunity to broaden your musical horizons, hearing a broad range of music, while simultaneously being immersed in organ repertoire.

In our Festival, the organ takes its rightful place at the heart of musical life!

Courses

Exploring New Repertoire

typical age range 14-17

If you are relatively new to organ playing and have reached about grade 6 standard, this popular annual course, with its winning formula, will give you such a boost! You will enjoy the chance to play to the tutors in small class groups, and there are many excellent organs in and around Oundle for your practising.

Style & Technique

typical age range 16-22

This programme caters for more advanced students – either those in the sixth-form, considering taking their organ studies further, or those already embarked on university or conservatoire courses. Grade 8 is the benchmark. If you are already pretty fluent, you’ll benefit from the close attention of our expert tutors; whether your enthusiasm is for baroque, romantic, or contemporary repertoire, we have a tutor to help you.

If you could do with practical help on accompaniment, organ management, or improvisation, we will give that close attention as well.

The all-inclusive fee for the ENR/ST courses is £600. Once we have offered and you have accepted a place, a deposit of £200 will be due within two weeks and the balance (£400) by 15 June.Fees

Bursaries

You may be able to persuade your school or church to contribute, or perhaps we can offer bursaries to help support those who cannot afford the fee. (See General Information section).

Trips Out

There will be days out to Peterborough where you will play the great Cathedral organ, and to Cambridge for workshops at the consoles of the wonderful College Chapel organs.

Festival Events

Students will have free admittance to many musical events of the Oundle International Festival.

Awards

Oundle courses are non-competitive but the tutors assess your standard, progress and potential. Following the course each student receives a written report from our tutors. Awards are offered to further encourage students in their organ studies.

Books and Scores: all students receive books, scores or magazine subscriptions thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and individual supporters.

Presentation Recital: students will be selected to play in an end-of-course composite recital which will take place in Oundle School Chapel on Sunday 21 July.

Recital Awards: each year we offer selected students the opportunity to play at cathedrals, churches and colleges throughout the UK.

Accommodation

Students will live in one of the Oundle School boarding houses, all of which are comfortable and well-equipped. Full board is provided, and the Festival Club will be the focus for social events including the popular quiz night.

Tutors

	Margaret Phillips One of Britain’s outstanding concert organists and teachers • internationally sought after as recitalist, teacher and jury member • Professor of Organ at the Royal College of Music • recordings include highly acclaimed complete Bach series
	Gordon Stewart superb and experienced teacher • dynamic and entertaining recitalist • Kirklees Borough Organist – maintains one of the few Town Hall organ recital series • a great advocate for the organ and its repertoire
	William Whitehead prize-winning organ virtuoso • international performer • several recordings released to critical acclaim • full of musical insights and technical help
	Mark Williams Director of Music at Jesus College, Cambridge • Continuo player with numerous groups including the King's Consort and the Sixteen • prolific concert and recording artist, including film scores and crossove
	Jesus College Choir brilliant undergraduate ensemble • participating in Festival performances and masterclasses with OfO students • experience top-class choral music at first hand
	Johannes Geffert leading international musician • Professor of organ and improvisation Cologne Hochschule • founder of period-instrument ensemble Johann ChristianBach-Akademie • expert interpreter of German and French Romantic repertoire
	Catherine Ennis Organist & Director of Music at St Lawrence Jewry in the City of London, where she is often to be heard in recital • President-Elect of The Royal College of Organists • engaging and energetic teacher
	Robert Quinney Director of OfO • Director of Music at Peterborough Cathedral from April 2013 • formerly Sub-Organist of Westminster Abbey • organist for many state occasions and other televised services • highly praised recordings including ‘finger- and foot-perfect performances’ in Bach’s Trio Sonatas
	James Lloyd-Thomas stalwart OfO tutor and choir director • Organist at the University of Sussex • many years’ experience of young organists • yet still has a smile on his face!