Adult Early Music Course
Also known as Beauchamp Music Week, our Adult Early Music course is running in 2024.
Malvern 2024
* * * U P D A T E * * *
Bookings have now closed for this course. Waiting list places only.
Beauchamp Early Music Week was started by our founders, Alan and Caroline Lumsden, in their home, Beauchamp House. This residential course is for singers and players of Renaissance instruments and has been running for many years. Enthusiasts of early music come back year after year, enjoying the friendly atmosphere and high standard of music-making.
Our 2024 course will run from 21 to 27 July.
Prices have now been set for 2024 as follows:
The course cost for tuition, use of venue, accommodation in a single ensuite room, and all meals and refreshments is £860* .
If you choose to share a twin ensuite room the price is £825* per person.
People who choose to stay off-site, but join us for meals, will be charged £760*.
Meals will be provided on site in the accommodation block dining room. Those staying off-site (in either campsites or hotels) will be able to book to eat with the rest in the dining room.
* These prices include our £60 'early Byrd' discount. Bookings (with deposit) received on/before 18 February, can take advantage of these prices. Bookings made after 18 February will be £60 higher than the prices shown above (i.e. single £920, shared £885, off-site £820).
A non-refundable (with the exception of course cancellation due to COVID-19 restrictions) deposit of £100 will be required to secure a booking. The full course fee is due by the end of May.
Further details can be found below, in the FAQs section, but for any questions that cannot be answered here, please contact Jane Rothery, the Adult Early Music Course Administrator via Email using the pink 'email us' button.
To book, please click on the button at the bottom of the page.
* * * U P D A T E * * *
Bookings have now closed for this course. Waiting list places only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will the course take place?
In 2024, the course is being held at Malvern College - Malvern, England WR14 3DG. The college is located close to Malvern Town centre.
Those travelling by train will need to pre-book a taxi to transport them from the station to the venue.
When is the course happening?
21 to 27 July 2024
Arrival after 3pm on Sunday 21 July
Departure after breakfast on Saturday 27 July
How much is it?
The costs are now confirmed and include tuition cost, use of venue, all meals and refreshments. There are three options:
- Single ensuite room £860 */£920 per person.
- Twin ensuite room (shared) £825 */£885 per person.
- Off-site (but including meals) £760*/£820 per person.
* Early Byrd prices for bookings on/before 18 February.
How will I Pay?
Payment is independent of the booking form. In order to secure your booking, a deposit of £100 is required. You can pay via internet banking, please contact us for details.
If paying via cheque, please make payable to Gloucestershire Academy of Music.
When does booking close?
Booking will close when the course is full, but we will operate a waiting list - please email for more details.
Course Information
David Hatcher is overall Course Director and David Allinson is our Choral Director.
We are delighted that Jeremy West, Ann Allen, Stephanie Dyer and Jennie Cassidy are confirmed as tutors.
Our days have four sessions:
Session 1 9 -10.30am
Session 2 11-12.30pm
Free time after lunch. Some informal music making happens, others explore the Malvern Hills or even have a rest!
Session 3 4.30 - 6pm
Session 4 7.30 - 9pm
Sessions 1, 2 and 3 are sectional with David Allinson leading the choral participants in the morning. Other tutors work with smaller mixed groups.
The evenings are tutti, with tutors each taking one evening. With a large group of musicians these sessions are very exciting.
Feedback from previous courses:
'Exciting, rewarding and joyful!'
'An enriching experience. So grateful this course exists!'
‘I left the sessions with a feeling of being valued as an individual as well as being uplifted.’
‘It was stimulating to focus on some challenging sightreading and gratifying when we got there!’
'Thank you all. The tutors are always so generous with their time and knowledge'.
'Looking forward to next year!'
Despite all of the challenges of maintaining COVID-safety, and being in a new venue, I rate this year’s Beauchamp as one of the best to date and can’t wait for the next one! I can only imagine the hard work the organisers and
tutors put into making this a success and
offer them my heart-felt thanks. - Wayne Plummer, Historic Brass Today
Wayne reviewed the 2021 course in the Fall 2021 Edition of Historic Brass Today (pp. 32-33), the full version of which you can view here:
HistoricBrassToday_2021-001-Fall.pdf
