Dartington Music Summer School Week 1

About Dartington’s Summer School

Four weeks of shared music-making, learning and listening, from early music to jazz at one of the world’s most renowned Music Summer Schools. Courses for all ages and abilities, accompanied by over 70 concerts and events, set against the backdrop of a beautiful medieval estate in the heart of Devon.

Build your own personalised timetable from our selection of over 20 courses a week (costs for one week start at £540, not including accommodation and meals), or join us for one course (tickets for individual courses will be released in March, with costs starting at £135). We offer a range of accommodation, from camping and basic hostel-style rooms to more comfortable rooms overlooking our medieval courtyard, depending on your budget and needs.

Generous bursaries are available for our advanced courses, and the deadline for bursary applications is 5pm GMT Friday 11 March 2022.

About week 1

Week 1 celebrates the watery Venetian beginnings of Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610, with Andrew Griffiths directing our Summer School participants alongside musicians from Fretwork, Stile Antico and The City Musick.

The artists in this week move fluidly between the old and the new, and the courses on offer combine a focus on early instruments with contemporary music inspired by ancient forms. We are delighted to welcome legendary composer Gavin Bryars to share his love of Medieval and Renaissance music, and lead a unique performance of his iconic work Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet with viols and early wind/brass. We also welcome two acclaimed British tenors: Bryars’ regular collaborator John Potter, who coaches lute songs with Jacob Heringman, and James Gilchrist, who leads a vocal masterclass.

Sam Evans returns with his popular song class, and adventurous harpsichordist Jane Chapman is back to teach early keyboards. We also welcome music broadcaster and curator Fiona Talkington for a deep dive into the delights of the written word. The brilliant pan-European Ensemble Meridiana coaches chamber music, and Rhiannon Evans leads our popular orchestral workshop.