New Choral Course

Lichfield Cathedral is launching a brand new choral course, ‘Lichfield for Singing’, in partnership with the award-winning vocal ensemble, The Gesualdo Six, directed by Owain Park.
The first course will run during the day on Saturday 11 January 2025, and will feature singing workshops, and a session on higher education and careers in music. It will finish with an informal concert in which the course participants will perform alongside The Gesualdo Six.
Aimed at young people aged 13-19, the day-course will focus on developing singing techniques, exploring different genres of choral music and providing experience of working with a professional group. Participants will need to have experience of, and a passion for, singing, whether through individual singing lessons, membership of a choir, involvement in musical theatre, or preparing to apply for choral scholarships at university.
The Revd Andrew Stead, Canon Precentor at Lichfield Cathedral said: “As well as more experienced teenage singers, we want to reach young musicians who may not have had any experience of high-level choral singing, but are keen to develop their talents.
This is an excellent opportunity for young singers to build on their strengths and enhance their CV by working in a collaborative and supportive environment, guided by the exceptional Owain Park and the internationally-recognised Gesauldo Six in the awe-inspiring setting of Lichfield Cathedral.”
Owen Park, Director of The Gesualdo Six, said: “We are incredibly excited to work with aspiring young singers at Lichfield Cathedral, helping them to develop their musicianship and gain valuable experience in consort singing. We’ll be exploring essential ensemble skills, vocal technique, and emotional expression, all within the inspiring and supportive environment of the Cathedral. It's a day designed to ignite passion, enhance skills, and provide valuable insights into the music industry.”
The course costs £85, including lunch and refreshments, and there is the opportunity to apply for funding to help with the cost of the course fee or travel. Applications are open until 2 December 2024, but early booking is strongly advised, as places are limited.
More information and the application form can be found here: www.lichfield-cathedral.org/singing
About The Gesualdo Six
Performers
Guy James countertenor
Alasdair Austin countertenor
Joseph Wicks tenor
Josh Cooter tenor
Michael Craddock baritone
Owain Park director and bass
The Gesualdo Six is an award-winning British vocal ensemble comprising some of the UK’s finest consort singers, directed by Owain Park. Praised for their imaginative programming and impeccable blend, the group formed in 2014 for a performance of Gesualdo’s Tenebrae Responsories in Cambridge and has gone on to perform at numerous major festivals around the world.
The Gesualdo Six is committed to music education, regularly hosting workshops for young musicians and composers. The ensemble has curated two Composition Competitions, with the most recent edition drawing entries from over three hundred composers worldwide. The group recently commissioned new works from Shruthi Rajasekar and Joanna Marsh, alongside coronasolfège for 6 by Héloïse Werner.
The ensemble has harnessed the power of social media to make classical music accessible to millions worldwide, creating captivating videos from beautiful locations while on tour. The group released their debut recording English Motets on Hyperion Records in early 2018 to critical acclaim, followed by seven further albums (Christmas, Fading, Josquin’s Legacy, Gesualdo’s Tenebrae Responsories, Lux Aeterna, William Byrd’s Mass for five voices, Morning Star). Their latest album, Queen of Hearts, was released at the end of June 2024.
About Owain Park
Owain Park was born in Bristol in 1993. As well as directing The Gesualdo Six, Owain is Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Singers, and maintains a busy schedule of conducting projects with ensembles including Southbank Sinfonia, Ensemble la Sportelle and Cappella Cracoviensis.
Owain’s compositions are published by Novello and have been performed internationally by ensembles including the Tallis Scholars and the Aurora Orchestra. While at Cambridge University he studied orchestration with John Rutter, before undertaking a Masters degree in composition. He is composer-in-residence for the London Choral Sinfonia, and was one of BBC Radio 3’s 31 under 31 Young Stars. The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge recorded an album of his compositions which was nominated for the BBC Music Magazine Awards. In 2023, Battle Cry, a collaborative album from Helen Charlston (mezzo-soprano) and Toby Carr (theorbo) featuring Owain’s composition as the title track, won the Gramophone Award for Best Concept Album.
Owain is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists (FRCO), and was awarded the Dixon Prize for improvisation, having been Senior Organ Scholar at Wells Cathedral and Trinity College Cambridge. He was a Tenebrae Associate Artist for two seasons, and has worked with ensembles including The Sixteen, Gabrieli Consort, and Polyphony. Owain is a keen gardener, and when he’s not on stage he can be found raking, pruning, or picking cherry tomatoes.