Contact and
Booking
0
To book a place at Oxenfoord International 2014 please complete the enclosed
Application form and send with your deposit as detailed below.
Applications for the Masterclass, Song Cycle and Opera Scenes should be received no later
than Friday 25th April 2014. Parts for the Opera Scenes will then be allocated in time to be
studied and memorised. Please note that only advanced students will be accepted onto the
Masterclass, Song Cycle and Opera Scenes and a recording (made within the last year and
sent to the administrator) will be required from any singer not well-known to the organisers.
Opera Scenes are allocated according to the variety and strength of applicants each year
and previous involvement is no guarantee of being shortlisted.
All other applications should be received by Friday 27th June 2014 and the balance paid by
Friday 4th July 2014. To ensure you get your preferred selection of classes and
accommodation it is advisable to apply as early as possible. Classes will be allocated on a
'first come, first served' basis and, due to very limited accommodation at Loretto School,
bedrooms will be allocated according to the distance from your home address and the date
your application is received. Following application, further details about the week will be
emailed or posted by request.
Sun 27th July – Sun 3rd August 2014
Loretto School,
Musselburgh, Edinburgh
Artistic Director Malcolm Martineau leads a team of distinguished
tutors in this summer school for singers based outside historic
Edinburgh
An at-a-glance view of the application process is as follows:
“The thing that
strikes one most
about Oxenfoord
is the warm,
friendly
atmosphere
amongst staff
and students.”
Fri 21st March 2014 Print brochures available by request
Fri 25th April 2014
Fri 9th May 2014
Fri 23rd May 2014
Fri 30th May 2014
Photography by:
Dillon Rose Group
Joan Coull,
Student
Masterclass, Song Cycle and Opera Scenes application deadline
(with recordings and/or references as appropriate)
Masterclass, Song Cycle and Opera Scenes singers confirmed
Opera Scenes repertoire confirmed and singers informed
Fri 6th June 2014
Bursary request deadline
Opera Scenes outline rehearsal schedule issued for week
Fri 13th June 2014
Opera Scenes music sent to singers
Fri 27th June 2014
Final application deadline
Fri 4th July 2014
Balance of payment to be made
Fri 18th July 2014
Final course details emailed (or posted by request)
Sun 27th July 2014
Arrival day
N.B. Please photocopy your completed application form to keep a record of your class
selections. Although every endeavour will be made to send invoices for final payment,
please send balance of payment by the due date if an invoice is not received.
Contact Us
Steve Phillips,
Administrator,
Oxenfoord International Summer School,
C/O Opera North Grand Theatre, 46 New Briggate, Leeds, LS1 6NU
info@oxenfoordinternational.co.uk
07720 773 910
Find us on Facebook: Oxenfoord International Summer School
Follow us on Twitter: @Oxenfoord
“A lovely encouraging atmosphere and brilliant teaching!”
Course participant
www.oxenfoordinternational.co.uk
Welcome to
Oxenfoord
An inspiring, challenging and
welcoming summer school
Join us this summer as we build on 33 years of coaching, workshops
and masterclasses on the outskirts of Scotland's capital. With new
classes and tutors for 2014 we offer an inspiring setting for singers
and accompanists to make new friends, meet old ones and share
music through performance.
Fees and
Bursaries
Details of fees and bursaries for 2014 are included below. Cheques should
be made payable to Oxenfoord International Summer School and payments can also be made
by bank transfer:
Oxenfoord International Summer School, Lloyds TSB Scotland, 30-25-83 01323979
BIC code: TSBSGB21276
IBAN number: GB26 TSBS 3025 8301 3239 79
You'll see that a number of resident, non-resident, observer, day and whole week options are available, allowing
you to choose the option that best suits you:
Fees
Resident
This year we're delighted to welcome Marie McLaughlin as our Masterclass
guest tutor, with Robin Bowman taking French Song and Janis Kelly, Linda
Ormiston and Susanna Stranders producing Opera Scenes. I'll be offering
classes in Song Repertoire & Accompaniment and will be introducing a new
Song Cycle class for 2014. Our expert tutors have also introduced a number
of new classes with Simon Over making a welcome return and Matteo Dalle
Fratte joining us for the first time. See the website for updated biographies,
class lists and class descriptions.
Now in its second year The Sam Hutchings Pianist Prize will be awarded to
a young accompanist of outstanding ability. This includes a place on the
course with accommodation, a £250 bursary and an opportunity to work with
tutors and student singers during the week. We'll continue to offer partfunded course fees in 2014 and all bursary requests (including applications
for the Sam Hutchings Pianist Prize) should be sent via a bursary letter with
your application form.
With new classes for 2014, Loretto's suite of All-Steinway pianos and many
opportunities for staff and students to perform together, we're expecting yet
another rewarding year. Do let us know if you have any questions, we'd love
to hear from you.
Malcolm Martineau,
Artistic Director,
Oxenfoord International Summer School
www.martineau.info
Per day of
attendance
Per night of
attendance
Whole course
5 days (4 nights)
£95 (includes lunch
and dinner)
£45 (bed and
breakfast)
£735 (save 25%)
£525 (save 20%)
£790
£555
£355 (save 20%)
£270 (save 10%)
Resident (single £95 (including lunch £55
supplement)
and dinner)
Non-Resident
£60 (excluding lunch N/A
and dinner)
N.B. Non-residents please add £20 per day to include lunch and dinner which is passed on at cost.
In addition to classes included in the course fee, extra classes may be chosen at a cost of £35. These classes
may be requested either in advance or once the course has started and will be allocated according to availability.
A deposit of £200 must be sent with your Application Form (which is non-refundable if accepted onto the course).
You may wish to take out personal insurance if there's a chance you might cancel your booking.
Observers are welcome to attend and can purchase tickets for £15 per half day and full-time music students may
observe for free. Visitors are encouraged to attend all performances, but a donation of £5 is requested towards
the Oxenfoord International Bursary Fund. Visitors and non-resident students may also purchase daily delegate
meal tickets at £20 which is passed on directly from the catering team at Loretto School.
Bursaries
Bursaries are available up to £400 and are only available at this level if attending the course for a full week as a
resident. We're committed to supporting those applicants who are in need of it most. Please submit your bursary
request with your Application form, with a covering letter explaining your circumstances. The Hope Scott Trust
also awards funds to applicants who are Scottish by birth, or live permanently in Scotland and may be able to help
towards costs of attending Oxenfoord International. Visit their website to find out more
(http://www.hopescotttrust.co.uk).
It is important for us to maintain our unique and intimate mix of talented amateur, aspiring professional, long time
music lover and student performer. To make this possible we would welcome any financial contribution to our
bursary scheme. It allows anyone with a passion to join Oxenfoord International regardless of their ability to pay.
There are a number of ways you can make a contribution. Please get in contact with us if you think you might be
able to help.
Accommodation
There are a limited number of bedrooms at Loretto School and priority will be given according to distance from
your home address and the date your application is received. All bedrooms are study bedrooms for twin or
multiple-use with shared bathroom facilities. There is an additional supplement for single-use bedrooms but, as
these are very limited, please ensure early application. Although bedding is provided, you'll need to bring your
own towel and toiletries. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is available to all residents and non-residents are able to
purchase daily delegate passes at £20 (per person) to include lunch and dinner which is passed on at cost.
Morning and afternoon tea and coffee is available to everybody attending the course. If you have any specific
requirements regarding accommodation or catering please do let us know as early as possible.
Prior to each evening concert there will be a bar outside the Music School and afterwards in the boarding house
to wind down at the end of the day.
Musselburgh also offers a variety of nearby accommodation, including hotels, guest houses, B&B, flats and a
caravan site. Further details may be obtained from the local Tourist Information Office or this page on Visit
Scotland: http://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/musselburgh-p240751
The Week
Oxenfoord International takes place at Musselburgh's Loretto School, just a few miles east of
Edinburgh. The school is set in spacious grounds providing convenient accommodation and
excellent music facilities. With its suite of All-Steinway pianos, and headed by international
accompanist Malcolm Martineau, it offers a rare opportunity for singers and accompanists,
from the inexperienced to those at the highest level, to study with specialist tutors in their field.
Our professional accompanists play for all classes and concerts and will help to rehearse
repertoire. If you wish to bring your own accompanist there will be many opportunities to
perform together and fine tune repertoire you may have been working on for some time. Please
let us know at the point of application if applying as a duo.
Upon arrival at Loretto you'll receive your welcome pack at a registration desk in the Music
School (with timetable template, door codes, catering times etc). Directions to the Music
School will be sign-posted from the main school gates. The Music School notice boards will
display course information throughout the week and any important announcements will be
made during morning warm-ups and evening concerts. Arrival time will be from 11am on
Sunday 27th July 2014, with a light buffet from 1.30pm and welcome meeting at 2pm.
You may choose one class for each day you're attending the course and the list of classes can
be found on Our Tutors or you can download the Application Form. Outside scheduled class
times you can observe other classes or organise your own practice, rehearsal and coaching.
You can also request extra classes and these will be allocated at a cost of £35 according to
tutor availability. There are many opportunities to tailor the course to suit your own
requirements and you'll usually be involved in one or more of your chosen classes every day.
Before classes begin there will be a vocal and physical warm-up each morning, a proven way
for staff and students to prepare for the day ahead. Workshops and seminars will also be
scheduled during the week and will cover a wide range of topics including Estill voice training,
EFT, audition technique and ultrasound video feedback.
There are also opportunities to perform in one of the many evening concerts. As you may be
asked to perform please bring suitable dress appropriate for performance. Be sure not to miss
Linda Ormiston's mid-week Lollipops concert (and see students and staff in a completely new
light) followed by a traditional Scottish Ceilidh. The Chapel Concert is a real highlight of the
course and many students take part in the Oxenfoord Choir; rehearsing early evening each
day and performing a range of choral repertoire in the beautiful setting of the School Chapel.
The course culminates in the Opera Scenes performance - a high point of the week for many.
Details of all the evening concerts are as follows:
Sunday 27th July 2014
Monday 28th July 2014
Tuesday 29th July 2014
Wednesday 30th July 2014
Thursday 31st July 2014
Friday 1st August 2014
Friday 1st August 2014
Saturday 2nd August 2014
Public Masterclass - Marie McLaughlin
Student Showcase Concert
Student Showcase Concert
Lollipops concert followed by a traditional Scottish Ceilidh
Student Showcase Concert
Song Cycle Class performance (afternoon)
Chapel Concert
Annual Opera Scenes Performances
Generally speaking, you should prepare one relevant piece per class with a second piece
available should the tutor want to work on different repertoire. A selection of pieces will also
give you more choice if asked to perform at an evening concert. You can really take as little or
as much from the course depending what you want to get out of it.
Our History
Early Beginnings
Following a successful trial of Masterclasses with Laura Sarti at Edinburgh's
Queens Hall in 1980, 'Music at Oxenfoord' was launched in 1981 as a week's
course held at Oxenfoord Castle School near Edinburgh. We attracted 28 students
in our first year with a staff of six teachers - Laura Sarti (vocal studies & opera),
Paul Hamburger (repertoire for singers & accompanists), David Roblou (early vocal
music, solo harpsichord repertoire & accompaniment), Mary Carmichael, the then
headmistress of Oxenfoord Castle School, (Choral course) and Joan Busby & Jane
Gregson running a singing workshop. The staff accompanists included Hester
Dickson & Malcolm Martineau and founding patrons included Roderick Brydon,
Neil Butterworth, Joan Dickson and Robin Orr.
Changing Places
When Oxenfoord Castle School closed in September 1993, we became associated
with Napier University and moved to St Leonard's School in St Andrews. Because
around 20% of students were coming from Europe and further afield (America,
Australia and Japan) we changed our name to Oxenfoord International and
continue to attract international applicants to this day.
In 2002 the Public Masterclass was launched with Sir Thomas Allen and has since
included such notable teachers and performers as Ivor Bolton, Ryland Davies, Paul
Farrington, Della Jones, Janis Kelly, Yvonne Kenny, Patricia MacMahon, Jane
Manning, Marie McLaughlin & Ann Murray.
Joan Busby retired as Artistic Director in 2005 and was succeeded by Malcolm
Martineau. We stayed at St. Leonards until 2008 (with a gap of only one year due
to Millennium refurbishments) and in 2009 moved to our current location of Loretto
School, Musselburgh, conveniently sited on the outskirts of Scotland's historic
capital.
Inspiring excellence
Our success is rooted in the very high quality and reputation of our tutors and
pianists. Young professionals, student singers and gifted amateurs are attracted
to the course, and there are several classes and workshops suited to the
inexperienced. Everyone who loves singing is welcome to apply and many
students return year after year.
Today singers from all over the world come to share the wealth of musical
experience at Oxenfoord International - which retains its intimate and supportive
ethos that has become a feature for so many over the years.
In 2014 we're looking to increase our family of supporters who provide the
valuable funds to maintain our excellent standard of staff and to offer
bursaries for those most in need. If you think you may be able to help please
get in contact.
Our Location
Oxenfoord International is now enjoying its sixth year at Loretto School, a
distinguished Scottish boarding school set in 85 acres of leafy campus in
Musselburgh, just on the eastern outskirts of Edinburgh and ideally placed
to explore Scotland's historic capital.
Musselburgh is an accessible, attractive town which has retained a
racecourse, harbour, and spectacular views across the River Forth
towards Edinburgh. At low tide the water retreats nearly a mile to expose
a sandy beach with scattered shingle...leaving lots to explore between
classes. There are also plenty of shops, banks and cafes on Musselburgh
High Street within easy walking distance of Loretto School.
From its foundation in 1827 Loretto School has excellent facilities and a
strong musical tradition. The school chapel houses an exceptional organ
(built by Kenneth Jones in 1988) and the Music School, opened in 1990,
contains a suite of practice rooms and the Peter Wood Memorial Concert
Hall with a brand new Boston Concert Grand. Last year the Concert Hall
underwent extensive refurbishment and is used for the Public
Masterclass, student showcases and end-of-week Opera Scenes
performance. The awarding of Loretto's All-Steinway status came in 2010
and is an important feature of the course:
"The high levels of music making throughout the week are enhanced by
Loretto's wonderful stock of pianos. This creates a professional working
environment for our staff and an unrivalled learning experience for the
singers."
Malcolm Martineau,
Artistic Director,
Oxenfoord International
How to get to us...
Main line rail travel is to Edinburgh Waverley and bus services 26 and 44
take you close to Loretto's main reception from York Street in Edinburgh
City Centre (near Edinburgh Bus Station). Trains from Edinburgh Waverly
also run to Musselburgh train station, which is either a 20 minute walk or
a short taxi ride from Loretto School. Air travel is to Edinburgh Airport and
we can provide airport transfers for a small fee as indicated on your
application form.
Our Tutors and
Classes
In 2014 our expert tutors and accompanists will join Marie McLaughlin and
Malcolm Martineau for the 33rd year of Oxenfoord International. Please
visit the website for tutor's biographies, class outlines and, where specified,
repertoire requirements. Where no class outline or repertoire requirements
are given you may bring any suitable own-choice repertoire to the class.
Although we expect classes and tutors to be as listed, we reserve the right
to make changes as required. Note that, due to increasing demand,
successful applicants will usually be selected for Marie McLaughlin's
Masterclass or Opera Scenes (i.e. it's unlikely that a place on both classes
will be awarded to any one student).
Lorna Anderson Cantata & Baroque
Robin Bowman French Song, Open
Joan Busby Enjoy your singing (New Class for 2014), Vocal
Technique, Open
Fiona Dobie Swedish/Italian Singing Technique (New class for
2014), Emotional Freedom Technique.
Matteo Dalle Fratte A new approach to sung Italian (New class for
2014)
Alisdair Hogarth American Song
Janis Kelly Vocal Technique (New class for 2014)
Jamie MacDougall Lieder, Scots Song, Open
Malcolm Martineau Song Cycle (New class for 2014), Song
Repertoire, Accompanists
Gary Matthewman Early Lieder, Accompanists
Linda Ormiston Cabaret, Performance
Simon Over Oratorio (New class for 2014), Accompanists, Open
Jo Ramadan Part songs
David Roblou Baroque to Bel Canto (Updated class for 2014),
Accompanists, Open
Sergey Rybin Russian Song
Ingrid Sawers Effective Learning Techniques for Singers and
Accompanists (New class for 2014)
Susanna Stranders Opera Scenes, Opera Coaching, Playing Opera
Reductions
Clare Sutherland Accompanists
William Vann English Song, Accompanists, Open
This year Susanna Stranders will work with Janis Kelly and Linda
Ormiston on Opera Scenes and, in addition to those taking classes above,
the team of staff coaches and accompanists will include Christine Gough,
Dr Hester Dickson, Fiona MacLeod and Alice Turner.