ChoralFest 2024: Dartington Trust announces new-look Summer school at Dartington Hall under Gavin Carr and Mark Stone.

Dartington Hall and estate

Having thrown the music world into a degree of confusion last Autumn by announcing a complete re-think, the Dartington Trust has announced plans for this year's Summer school at Dartington Hall. Baritone Mark Stone is the Dartington Trust's new creative director and this Summer will be Dartington ChoralFest 2024, led by course director Gavin Carr, a noted choral conductor and chorus master of the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus. 

The programme from 3-11 August 2024 will focus on Rachmaninov’s 1915 All-Night Vigil (Vespers), culminating in a public performance on Saturday evening. In addition to the full week’s rehearsals for this major work, participants will be able to take part in smaller consort singing groups, solo masterclasses and one-to-one voice lessons, as well as morning yoga and mindfulness classes to sustain them through a packed week of music making. Thursday evening will give students  a chance to let their hair down and perform their party pieces in an informal cabaret.

Gavin Carr will be joined by tutors and pianists including pianist Kelvin Lim, mezzo-sopranos Sarah Pring, Victoria Simmonds, and Allison Cook, conductor and noted coach Lada Valešová, tenors Daniel Norman and Andrew Rees, and bass James Platt. The teaching team will also give evening recitals throughout the course.

Full details from the Dartington Trust's website.