O p e n W o r k s h o p s
Our open workshops allow anyone with some experience of singing and an interest in Renaissance repertoire the opportunity to explore this music in depth alongside members of the Renaissance singers, under the direction of leading experts in the field. A basic level of ability to read music is helpful as we cover quite a lot of music during the evening.
English Madrigals
A live workshop with Greg Skidmore
Monday 24th April 2023
7:00 - 9:30pm
St Stephen's, Rochester Row, London SW1P 1LE
£14 full price, £12 concessions
In this Byrd year, for a bit of a change, come and spend an evening singing English music mainly NOT by Byrd. This workshop will focus on the rich English madrigal repertoire, focusing on John Wilbye, but also including Orlando Gibbons, John Ward, Thomas Tomkins, Thomas Weelkes (who also died 400 years ago this year), and more.
Wilbye's famous Draw on sweet night will certainly make an appearance, as will perhaps lesser-known wonders such as Come, sable night, by John Ward or Weelkes' lament for Thomas Morley, Death hath deprived me of my dearest friend. While we will certainly wallow in English melancholy, it won't all be doom and gloom and you will definitely have a chance to get your fa la la on! Some Byrd may also sneak in by the back door...
Born in Canada, Greg Skidmore arrived in England as an undergraduate at Royal Holloway College, University of London. After graduating with First Class Honours in Music, his postgraduate Choral Scholarship at Wells Cathedral led him to Lay Clerkships at Gloucester Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford. He now lives in London and pursues a varied career as a consort, choral, and solo oratorio singer alongside his growing commitments as a conductor and workshop leader.
While at Christ Church in Oxford, he began a course of doctoral research in Musicology at the University of Oxford and started his own men’s voices consort, I Dedicati. More recently he was appointed Musical Director of The Lacock Scholars and has performed throughout the UK with them, including ongoing engagements at Westminster Abbey. In August 2021, he was appointed Musical Director of Brighton Consort and in 2023 is presenting a full year of concerts honouring the 400th anniversary of the death of William Byrd.
Greg is increasingly engaged in Canada as a guest conductor, clinician, and record producer, founding The Canadian Renaissance Music Summer Schools in 2018. 2023 sees an expansion of his work in Canada with the organisation, with two courses running this summer.
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