Events

Conducting USA – conductors’ workshop of Barber, Copland and Whitacre

Fri 1 May ‐ Sat 2 May 2026

St Mary's Bourne St and St Magnus the Martyr

Update: ONE place left, don’t delay!

Following the success of Epiphoni’s inaugural conducting weekend, we return with our first conducting workshop of 2026 on the May Day Bank Holiday weekend (Friday and Saturday) with lush and epic American choral music of the 20th Century.

This unique format is an opportunity for established conductors to

  • trial new tools or techniques with an accomplished and responsive ensemble
  • prepare for an audition or project
  • get some light training from facilitating conductors Tim Reader and Daniel Collins
  • get honest, informed feedback from the ensemble on your strengths and growing edges
  • introduce yourself to Epiphoni, in view of our growing guest conducting roster

Learn more about our first Conducting Weekend last November including reviews from the conducting participants.

Repertoire

  • Reincarnations – Samuel Barber
  • Four Motets – Aaron Copland
  • When David Heard – Eric Whitacre
  • i thank You God for most this amazing day – Eric Whitacre

This was genuinely one of the most gratifying musical experiences of my entire life… I feel so grateful to have had the privilege of learning from you, Noah, and the choir.

Conducting participant, Nov 2025

Course facilitators

Tim BAC concert conducting - photo Helena Marion

Tim Reader

Tim has directed Epiphoni since the choir’s founding in 2014, most recently leading the choir to competition success in the 2025 Tallinn Choral Festival.

Tim has been trained by some of the best in the business including Robert Hollingworth, Neil Ferris and Peter Hanke.

Tim’s teaching draws on the “client-led” and holistic approach of his life coaching practice, with a refreshing, philosophical and pragmatic take on the role of the choral leader.

Daniel Collins

Daniel Collins is a professional choral and orchestral conductor, singer, and organist. Awarded a choral and academic scholarship – and later a first-class honours degree – at Magdalen College, Oxford, he later studied vocal performance at The Royal College of Music.

He has sung with many of the world’s top ensembles, including Tenebrae and The Gabrieli Consort, and is currently a regular member of world-renowned The Sixteen. As a soloist he has performed recently at the Sistine Chapel, Wigmore Hall, Barbican theatre, and the Wien Konzerthaus.

Daniel has held posts as Director of Music at St. Mark’s, Hamilton Terrace and St. Mary le Strand and guest conducted The Sixteen, The Marian Consort, and Epiphoni Consort, alongside his work with his own ensemble, Peregrine.

This is a remarkable opportunity to hone one’s conducting skills by working with a choir who can truly listen, adapt, and respond. I can’t think of any other environment more perfect for a choral conductor: it’s a friendly, but high quality, sandpit in which to experiment with the craft.

Patrick Dunachie, The King’s Singers

Weekend structure

  • SESSION 1, Friday 4.30pm – c.6pm – St Mary’s Bourne Street, upstairs choir room
    Weekend starts here. We’ll sing through moments from the repertoire, giving all conductors a turn (including some of our alumni joining), set intentions for the sessions ahead, and open the floor to any thoughts, questions, or topics you’d like to explore around conducting.
  • 6-7 BREAK
  • SESSION 2, Friday 7pm– St Mary’s Bourne Street, main church
    Chamber rehearsal – conductors will be joined by around 12-16 of the Epiphoni Consort ahead of a full choir session on Saturday. Rehearsal includes podium time for all.

PUB – unwind, get to know each other, and reflect on the opening sessions

  • SESSION 3, Saturday 11.30am – St Magnus the Martyr
    Masterclass 1 (15-20 mins for each participant) with full choir
  • 13:30-14:30 (approx) – BREAK
  • SESSION 4, Saturday afternoon 14:30-16:30 approx – St Magnus the Martyr
    Masterclass 2 (15-20 mins for each participant) – followed by a run / informal performance subject to time

PUB (c. 5pm) – relax, reflect, celebrate

Fees

  • Conductor early bird: £200 – apply by 23:59 Mon 23 March
  • Conductor standard rate: £225 – applications from 24th March on
  • Observer: £35 per session or £100 for all four

Apply now

(one place left!)

One week on from the course, I’m still smiling just thinking about it. I can’t recall a more engrossing recent experience, and so I wanted to thank you both again for making it happen

November masterclass participant

Related reading:

Reviews and feedback from our November course

How our workshops are different

Tim and Harvey at workshop

Programme

Reincarnations – Samuel Barber
4 Motets – Aaron Copland
When David Heard – Eric Whitacre
i thank You God – Eric Whitacre

Getting there

Nearest station: Sloane Square (Friday) and Monument (Saturday)

Apply now

Note: there is no payment at this step. Please submit your application, which we'll review and share payment info when places are offered.

We'll only use this as a fallback option (such as – if we think emails have gone astray).
At the opening sessions, the choir will be formed by the conductors so this is to ensure balance (and so we can supplement any missing voice parts). The rest of the time it will be optional to sing or observe.
In 2 or 3 sentences, let us know which choirs you currently conduct (or any signficant previous experience) and any training that's relevant (previous formal training is not essential).
Repertoire you'd like to conduct
Tick any/all that appeal and please note any preferences below.
Anything else you'd like us to know about you as part of your application, or any requests/preferences regarding your participation (including repertoire).
Agreement(Required)