Definitely not the Pope – an online workshop with Rory McCleery

In this workshop, Rory McCleery, Artistic Director of The Marian Consort, examines the music of Clemens non Papa and his elusive biography, including the origins of his intriguing soubriquet.  We will be exploring some of Clemens’ lesser-known Marian motets, including Videte miraculum and O Maria vernans rosa, as well as the famous Ego flos campi and the chanson that seems to have given him his nickname, found in the colourful manuscript songbook of Zeghere van Male. We will be singing these as part of the workshop, with pdf scores circulated in advance.

Rory McCleery began his musical career as a chorister at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh. He gained a double first in music at Oxford University as both Organ and Domus Academic scholar of St Peter’s College, subsequently completing an MSt in Musicology with Distinction.   Rory is the founder and director of The Marian Consort, with whom he performs across the UK, Europe and North America. Under his direction, The Marian Consort has become renowned internationally for its compelling interpretations of a wide range of repertoire, particularly the music of the Renaissance and early Baroque, but also of works by contemporary British composers, and in 2017 was nominated for a Gramophone Award.  As a countertenor, Rory greatly enjoys performing as a soloist and consort singer with other ensembles including The Dunedin Consort, Contrapunctus, The Monteverdi Choir, The Sixteen, The Gabrieli Consort, Le Concert d’Astre?e, The Academy of Ancient Music, The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and The Cardinall’s Musick. He also enjoys a solo career in venues across the UK and Europe, has appeared as a soloist for broadcasts on UK and European radio, and collaborates regularly with the Rose Consort of Viols.  Rory is much in demand as a guest conductor, workshop leader and programming consultant, and has led workshop sessions, study days and singing courses across the UK, Germany, Spain and the USA, working with choirs of all ages and sizes in repertoire from 16th to 21st century. He is a passionate believer in the importance of music education and singing for young people and is director of choral music at City, University of London.

Booking will open in May.