WEEK ONE 2 – 9 August
Wind Conducting
Mark Heron director with Bjørn Sagstad and Agata Zajac
composer in residence Stephen McNeff
In association with WASBE and BASBWE
This internationally recognised course is for conductors at intermediate and advanced levels with an interest in wind repertoire, or a desire to immerse themselves in issues relating to conducting wind and brass instruments. Up to twenty-five students will be accepted as “active” participants. Observers are also encouraged and will be fully involved in the course, but they will only conduct at the discretion of the tutors.
An integral feature of the week is that all active participants receive podium time with an ensemble each day and a performance opportunity at the end of the week. This year we are fortunate to have the eminent composer Stephen McNeff join us. Stephen will not only spend time with the class but will also assist in the preparation of his works for performance.
“Very knowledgeable staff with a plethora of different ideas, a great course”
The course will begin at 14.30 on Sunday afternoon in order that all participants will have the opportunity to conduct on the first day.
Participants will explore the physical language of conducting, score preparation, rehearsal technique and repertoire knowledge. All conducting sessions are filmed by camcorder and students are asked to bring a standard SD memory card to create a record of their work. This will also be used for regular review sessions during the week. The course runs concurrently with the Wind Ensemble Course and there will be close liaison between the two including the opportunity for selected students to work with that ensemble.
All participants should bring any instruments that they play to accommodate ensemble work within the class. (If for any reason you are unable to bring your instrument[s], please let the summer school office know when you enrol). Students should, as a minimum, prepare thoroughly the works marked with an * before commencement of the course. You may then wish to select further pieces from the remaining repertoire – it is usually more beneficial to know some of the music well, than all of it not so well. More experienced students may also wish to prepare works from the Wind Ensemble repertoire list.
2025 Repertoire
McNeff Monsters Maecenas
Ellerby Paris Sketches Maecenas
*Binney Emerald Breeze (Revised) Maecenas
Jolley Lichtweg/Lightway Jenniferjolly.com (download)
*McNeff Ghosts Maecenas
*Holst Suite No.1 in E flat, Op.28, No.1 Boosey & Hawkes
Baczkowski The Experience of Jamie danbaczkowski.com
Grainger ed. Fennell Lincolnshire Posy Ludwig Masters / Alfred
Strauss, R Serenade in E flat, Op.7 Universal Edition
Please note. The summer school does not have a music shop on site. Students should purchase their course materials before they arrive at the school either from their local music shop or from our nominated internet supplier, Forsyth Music. The following address will take you straight to the Sherborne Summer School of Music section of Forsyth’s website where you will find the music for your course ready to purchase: https://www.forsyths.co.uk/189389-sherborne-summer-school-2025
Background information about this course can be found at http://www.markheron.co.uk/sherborne-summer-school
Other conducting courses at Sherborne this summer
Practical Conducting Course 2 – 9 August
The George Hurst Conducters’ Course 9 – 16 August
The Art of Choral Direction 9 – 16 August