World Conductor Workshop Series: Neil Ferris

This November, Voices of Singapore will be hosting masterclasses conducted by the

conductor of the BBC Symphony Chorus Neil Ferris.There will be 2 masterclasses each
focusing on a different facet of choral conducting technique. The first will be focusing on
technique and repertoire for children's choirs, featuring the VOS Children's Choir
Choral Scholars. The second will be focusing on adult SATB choirs, featuring the VOS
Singers.

The masterclasses will also feature a series of Artistic Discussions facilitated by Neil
Ferris. These discussions will ask pertinent questions about the role of a conductor, the
impact of good conducting technique, and the changing face of the choral scene as a
whole, and will feature insights from Neil's experience as a long-standing conductor of
the most established ensembles in the United Kingdom.

Alongside podium time and artistic discussions in the masterclass, participants will
benefit from one-to-one consultations which will give them valuable feedback on their
technique and opportunities for development. A certificate of participation will also be
awarded at the end of the programme. There is also an option to audit the
masterclasses and observe the conductors at work, as well as attend the discussions.

EVENT DETAILS:

MASTERCLASS A: SSA Children's Choirs (ft. VOSCC Choral Scholars)

23rd Nov (9am-4pm):Masterclasses and Artistic Discussions

24th Nov (10am-4pm):Masterclasses and Artistic Discussions

27th Nov (10am-3pm): One-to-one consultations (30min slots)

MASTERCLASS B: SATB Adult's Choirs (ft. VOS Singers)

25th Nov (9am-4pm): Masterclasses and Artistic Discussions

26th Nov (10am-4pm): Masterclasses and Artistic Discussions

27th Nov (10am-3pm): One-to-one consultations (30min slots)

VENUE:
Voices of Singapore Sky Studios (L3), Capitol
17 Stamford Rd, #03-06, Singapore 178907
Registration Fees

Type of Participation Registration Fee Details

Podium Participant $1200 - Full 2-day workshop pass

(Maximum of 7 participants - 30min private

for all podium applications) consultation with Neil
Ferris
- Podium conductor for
2-days (40mins podium
time)
- 3h of lectures
- certificate of participation
- printed materials pack
- Tea break provided

2-day Observer $288 - Full 2-day workshop pass

- 3h of lectures
- Tea break provided
- Printed materials pack

4-day Observer $398 - Full 4-day workshop pass

- 3h of lectures
- Tea break provided
- Printed materials pack

*prices not inclusive of GST

To register, visit: https://forms.gle/7fJ4wgJ28y5CRUkp9

For any inquiries, please contact [email protected]

MASTERCLASS A: SSA Children's Choirs
Featuring the Voices of Singapore Children's Choir Choral Scholars, the session will
focus on conducting technique and repertoire for advanced children's choirs.

Repertoire List:

Ave Maria, Franz Biebl

Cantate Domino, Giovanni Croce

Non Nobis Domine, Rosephanye Powell

Esenvalds Lux Aeterna, Ēriks Ešenvalds

Day 1: 23rd November 2023, Thursday (Children’s Choir Session 1)

0900-1000 Artistic Discussion 1: Introductions and Influences

1000-1010 Break

1010-1110 Conducting Session 1

1110-1120 Break

1120-1220 Conducting Session 2

1220-1320 Lunch

1320-1340 Conducting Session 3

1340-1440 Artistic Discussion 2: Good Conducting Technique– Is it Important.. Or

Not?
Day 2: 24th November 2023, Friday (Children’s Choir Session 2)

1000-1100 Conducting Session 1

1100-1120 Break

1120-1200 Conducting Session 2

1200-1400 Lunch

1400-1440 Conducting Session 3

1440-1540 Q&A Session

1540-1600 Closing Ceremony

Day 3: 27th November 2023, Monday

1000-1500 One-to-one consultations

*Some consultations are also available on the afternoon of 23rd & 24th November.
The consultations will be arranged with podium participants, and individual slots will be
assigned.

About the VOSCC Choral Scholars

The VOS Choral Scholars Programme is dedicated to nurturing some of the country's
most gifted singers, offering a comprehensive music education spanning various
genres. With only a limited number of vacancies available each year, this programme
represents an extension of the VOSCC Concert Choir, which celebrated a milestone
achievement in June 2023 with their debut performance at Carnegie Hall in New York.
MASTERCLASS B: SATB Adult's Choirs
Featuring the Voices of Singapore Singers, the session will focus on conducting
technique and repertoire for adult's choirs.

Repertoire List:

Deliverance, Darius Lim

Farewell My Joy, Charles Villiers Stanford

With A Lily in Your Hand, Eric Whitacre

Kyrie & Agnus Dei, Requiem, Gabriel Faure

Ave Maris Stella, Edvard Grieg

Three Madrigals, Emma Lou Diemer

Day 1: 25th November 2023, Saturday (Adult Choir Session 1)

0900-1000 Artistic Discussion 1: The Conductor as Leader

1000-1010 Break

1010-1110 Conducting Session 1

1110-1120 Break

1120-1220 Conducting Session 2

1220-1320 Lunch

1320-1340 Conducting Session 3

1340-1440 Artistic Discussion 2: The Old and the New: Sonoro's Choral
Inspirations Projects
Day 2: 26th November 2023, Sunday (Adult Choir Session 2)

1100-1210 Conducting Session 1

1210-1310 Lunch

1310-1410 Conducting Session 2

1410-1430 Break

1430-1450 Conducting Session 3

1450-1550 Q&A Session

1550-1600 Closing Ceremony

Day 3: 27th November 2023, Monday

1000-1500 One-to-one consultations

*Some consultations are also available on the afternoon of 23rd & 24th November.
The consultations will be arranged with podium participants, and individual slots will be
assigned.

About the VOS Singers

The VOS Singers are Voices of Singapore's professional chamber group, comprising
choral conductors, singers, and music educators from various sectors of the Singapore
choral community. The ensemble comes together to foster excellence in choral music
making and professional development. Under the direction of Artistic Director Dr. Darius
Lim, the VOS Singers have performed at prestigious occasions, including performing in
Josh Groban's inaugural Singapore concert, premiering original compositions, and
collaborating with local artists.
About Neil Ferris
Neil Ferris is Chorus Director of the BBC Symphony Chorus
in 2017, Artistic Director of the professional chamber choir
Sonoro and Music Director of Wimbledon Choral. He made
his BBC Proms conducting debut in 2019, celebrating the
90th Anniversary season of the BBC Symphony Chorus with
the premiere of Jonathan Dove’s specially commissioned
piece We are one fire.

With Sonoro Neil has appeared at the St Magnus

International Festival, the Wimbledon International Music
Festival and at King’s Place in London. In demand as guest
conductor at some of the finest choirs in the UK, Neil has
worked with London Symphony Chorus, Choir of the Age of
Enlightenment, BBC Singers, the National Youth Choir, and
the National Youth Choir of Wales. In his role as a Chorus
Director he has prepared choirs for conductors including
Marin Alsop, Sir Andrew Davis, Sir Mark Elder, Edward
Gardner, Valery Gergiev, Bernard Haitink, Sakari Oramo and
Sir Simon Rattle.

Orchestras that Neil has conducted include London Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia,
Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Welsh National Opera, Ulster Orchestra, City of London
Sinfonia, London Mozart Players and Orchestra of the Swan. He made his Royal Opera House
conducting debut in a production of Will Tuckett’s ballet The Wind in the Willows.

Formerly Director of Choral Studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Neil is
recognised as one of the country’s leading teachers of choral conducting and has led
masterclasses in the UK, USA, Ireland, Denmark, China and Singapore. In the UK he has been
invited to lead masterclasses at the Royal College of Music, Royal Academy of Music and the
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Recordings include an album of the choral music of Jonathan Dove (Naxos), Fauré Requiem
(Convivium), and a regular programme of recordings with Sonoro on the Resonus label.
Christmas with Sonoro was Christmas album of choice in the BBC Music Magazine, and
followed their debut album Passion and Polyphony featuring works of James MacMillan and
Frank Martin. Further recordings include two Choral Inspirations projects and an album of the
choral music of Martin Bussey. Signum have recently released the world premiere recording of
Cecilia McDowall’s Da Vinci Requiem with Wimbledon Choral and City of London Sinfonia.