Midlands Early Music Forum

Palestrina: Missa Tu es Petrus a 18 with David Hatcher on 17th January 2026
2026-01-17 10:30 - 17:00 (Europe/London) | St Nicholas Church, Warwick
The Music: Palestrina’s six-voice motet Tu es Petrus, setting a text from St Matthew in which the pun of Petrus meaning both Peter and rock,was first published in his second book of motets in 1572. The same composer’s six-voice parody mass based on the motet was published by the Venetian printer Girolamo Scotto in 1601 in the Missarum Liber XII, but other parody masses based on the same motet were already known. Orazio Benevoli’s sixteen-part (4 choirs each of 4 voices) has recently been recorded by I Fagiolini and this 18-part, attributed (with some doubt) to Palestrina, is the subject of this MEMF workshop.
It is written for three six-part choirs, but combines the top and bottom parts of each choir in a number of passages to produce four-part choral textures that contrast beautifully with the full sections.
Singers and players of brass, curtals, lower shawms (tenor and below), recorders, bowed strings (viols and violin family) and plucked strings (lutes, harps) and harpsichord & organs are all welcome.

David Hatcher was born in Warwick and upon attaining the LTCL diploma two years after taking up music, he went on to study viola da gamba with Charles Medlam and recorder with Philip Thorby at Trinity College of Music, London. He began his career based in England, touring America, Israel, France, Germany and the Netherlands.
He has broadcast for both the BBC and independent radio and television. In 1987 he moved to Japan where he was to remain for the next 9 years, taking an active part in that country’s flourishing early music scene. He has recorded with Evelyn Tubb, The Consort of Musicke, I Fagiolini, Sprezzatura, and the Japanese ensembles Chelys, Ensemble Ecclesia and the Bach Collegium of Japan.
David now lives in Leominster on the Welsh Marches and has appeared with Fretwork, The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, The Globe Theatre, The Consort of Musicke, Musica Antiqua of London, The Corelli Orchestra, The Harp Consort, Glyndebourne Opera and many other period orchestras and ensembles.
He has taught on numerous summer schools, including the Cambridge Early Music Summer School, the Easter Early Music Course at Monmouth and Sastamala Gregoriana in Finland, and is in demand as a tutor for many weekend and day courses.
Past projects include performing in Damon Albarn’s opera ‘Dr Dee’ and performing and recording with I Fagiolini in their hugely successful interpretation of Striggio’s 40-voice mass. He performed in the inaugural season of the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse in 2014 and in the highly acclaimed production of The Knight of the Burning Pestle in 2014 & 2015. He is a founder member of The Linarol Consort of Viols, the UK’s only consort specialising in the earliest repertoire for that instrument.

St Nicholas Church, Warwick. https://www.stnicholaswarwick.org.uk
St. Nicholas Church is located on the southern edge or Warwick – adjacent to St Nicholas Park and opposite the south entrance to the castle.
There is no church car park, but the St Nicholas Park car park (CV34 4QY) is directly behind the church, accessed via the A425 Banbury Road. This is a ‘pay and display’ car park 7 days a week. The full day charge is £8.00. Payment is by card or the RingGo App.Warwick station is less than 10 mins walk away. From the exit walk to the Coventry Road and turn right. At St John’s junction at the traffic lights, cross straight ahead towards St John’s Museum. Turn right into St Nicholas Church Street – the church is on the left at the end of this road.
Workshop Organiser: Jonathan Spencer 07784 657563 jonathan-spencer@blueyonder.co.uk
Booking is now closed

William Byrd and his Circle with Sally Dunkley on 7th February 2026
2026-02-07 10:30 - 17:00 | Knowle Village Hall, St John’s Close, Knowle, Solihull, B93 0NN, United Kingdom
We welcome the return of Sally Dunkley, show-casing Byrd and his contemporaries. While parts of William Byrd’s large musical output are very familiar to many singers, who were his colleagues and his models? We know that he held in the highest esteem his teacher and friend Thomas Tallis. But he also worked alongside and shared techniques with his contemporaries Robert Parsons, John Sheppard and Allonso Ferrabosco. In this workshop we will explore some of these less well-known discoveries alongside some substantial pieces by Byrd – lots of wonderful music!

The Tutor – Sally Dunkley has enjoyed a long career as a professional consort singer, as a student in the Clerkes of Oxenford, then with the Sixteen from its very first concert, and the Tallis Scholars too. She started making performing editions when few were readily available; some are now published by Oxford University Press (series ‘Musica Dei donum’) and the Church Music Society. She is delighted to share her experience through workshops, summer schools and talks.
The Venue: Knowle Village Hall, St John’s Close, Knowle, B93 0NH https://knowlevillagehall.co.uk/
The Hall is 1.5 miles away from the M42 junction 5 and approximately 3.5 miles to the east of Solihull Centre. Nearby bus stops provide frequent transport links from Solihull and Dorridge stations.
Parking is pretty good around the Village Hall, as it is surrounded on three sides by public car parks owned by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and at the front of the building on the forecourt there is room for four or five cars. The first two hours in the public car parks are free but for longer stays there is a charge.
Workshop Organiser: Marion Thompson – 07436 540608
Booking is now open – book here

Schutz: Psalmen Davids workshop with Bill Carslake on 7th March 2026
2026-03-07 10:30 - 17:00 | Coton Centre, Tamworth, Church Comberford Road, Tamworth, B79 9AA, United Kingdom
Come and celebrate one of music’s finest dramatists, Heinrich Schütz, in four of his great psalm settings in German. Whether Schütz was writing opera, oratorio or these ‘Psalmen Davids’, he prioritised character and intention, and maintained a musical pacing that was close to life. His freedom in word-setting in German and Latin and his use of everyday speech rhythms were as liberating and far-reaching as in the work of his contemporary, John Donne. His introduction of thorough-bass/’basso continuo’ created a musical double commentary – a tension between the sung text and its harmonic underlay. Yet he could be stark and ask the big, bold question. His work transcended religious and national divides, and his travels between Venice and Dresden brought the latest Italian urgency into Germany’s Lutheran church, changing it for ever. Welcome to the German Baroque! We will be ‘going big’ with Zion Spricht, and will also include the joyous Danket dem Herrenn.
Repertoire: Zion Spricht swv 46, Ich freue mich swv 122, Ich danke den Herren swv 111, Danket dem Herren swv 45

This workshop is for voices and instruments:
Continuo: Organ, Harpsichord, Theorbo/lute/chitarrone, Cello/double bass.
Winds: Cornetti, sackbuts, Bassoons, Recorders/flutes, Trumpets (great for Danket SWV 45, where Schütz incorporated the court trumpet ensemble, and for Zion Spricht swv 46, but not for the other two – so it would be good if the trumpets could sing or play something else in those pieces).
Strings: Violins, Viola, Violone

The Tutor, Bill Carslake, composes music inspired by outdoor fieldwork collaborations. He conducts widely, and he is passionate about eco sail. He has a lifelong fascination with Renaissance and Baroque choral music. His latest orchestral work, Carrownagappul (2024) was commissioned for the 25th anniversary of Imperial College Sinfonietta – inspired by fieldwork in Galway, Ireland in collaboration with photographer Tina Claffey. A Finzi Scholarship orchestral piece, Mountain Hare (2022) was premiered by Farnborough Symphony Orchestra; and the travel essay Composing with Hares features in the Finzi Trust podcast series. Bill collaborated with poet Helen Mort on The Singing Glacier (2017) inspired by their climbing expedition in East Greenland – which has featured twice on BBC Radio 4. The current fieldwork project is The Sea of Trees, a sailing voyage to the Faroe Islands to study phytoplankton and sea bird colonies. He is Co-founder of Guild of Ships Ltd – a platform for sailing ship companies that carry passengers and cargo by wind.

Venue: The Coton Centre is on the A315 Comberford Rd on the north edge of Tamworth. The post code B79 9AA will take you to Rawlett school but if approaching from the north on the A513 it is on the left before the school and from any other direction is the next turning after the school. There is ample free parking on site.
Lifts from Tamworth station, a mile and a half away, can be arranged if required – please get in touch with the organiser: Elizabeth Ashby 07892 715401
Booking extended to 24th February – click here.

Composers of the English Reformation 18th April 2026 CANCELLED
2026-04-18 10:30 - 17:00
Unfortunately we have had to cancel this workshop.

!A la Batalla! with Greg Skidmore and Sue Addison on 2nd May 2026
2026-05-02 10:30 - 17:00 | Swallowbeck Methodist Church, Lincoln
The Music for this workshop will comprise Sections from Victoria Missa Pro Victoria and Guerrero’s Missa de la Batalla Escoutez and Spanish Music reflecting battle songs. Singers and instrumentalists will rehearse separately in the morning and together in the afternoon, in preparation for a sing/play through at the end of the day.
10.00 Registration and drinks
10.30 Morning session with short break
1.15 Lunch (bring your own)
2.00 Afternoon session
4.00 (approx) Tea
4.30 Sing/playthrough
5.00 Finish
The Tutors
Born in Canada, Greg Skidmore arrived in England as an undergraduate at Royal Holloway College, University of London. After graduating with First Class Honours in Music, his post-graduate Choral Scholarship at Wells Cathedral led him to Lay Clerkships at Gloucester Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford. He now lives in London and pursues a varied career as a consort, choral, and solo oratorio singer alongside his growing commitments as a conductor and workshop leader.
Greg is one of the UK’s leading consort and choral singers, having appeared with The Tallis Scholars, The Sixteen, The Cardinall’s Musick, I Fagiolini, Tenebrae and The Gabrieli Consort
More recently he was appointed Musical Director of The Lacock Scholars and has performed throughout the UK with them, including ongoing engagements at Westminster Abbey.
He has given workshops and masterclasses in the UK, France, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia in association with The Sixteen, I Fagiolini, and on his own.
Sue Addison is recognised as one of the world’s leading exponents of historic trombones. She currently plays principal trombone with The Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, Academy of Ancient Music, The Sixteen and the Gabrieli Consort. Her experience ranges from being a full time member of the City of Birmingham Orchestra under the direction of Sir Simon Rattle, to recording for the BBC Comedy ‘The Two Ronnies’. She is a founder member of His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts and of The Orchestra of The Age of Enlightenment. She is currently Professor of Baroque trombone at the Royal College of Music, Birmingham Conservatoire, Royal Northern College, and Trinity Laban.
Venue
Swallowbeck Methodist Church, 472 Newark Rd, Lincoln LN6 8RZ
The church has a small car park only at the front so if anyone has mobility problems let me know and I will keep a space for you.
Otherwise the dentist next door has a car park at the back of the building. Drive in and you will see the signs directing you to the car park. Parking well should allow at least 20 cars to park in there. They do have a surgery on that day so there may be people walking from the car park. There is also street parking opposite.
The railway and bus station hub is a good walk away from the venue but it is on a bus route.

Workshop Organiser is Wendy Leonard 07540 560656
Book by 18th April here

The Colossal Baroque with Dr Stephen Bullamore on Sat 20th June 2026
2026-06-20 10:30 - 16:30 | St Mary Magdalene Church, Newark-on-Trent
Experience the wonder of the Colossal Baroque in the magnificent church of St Mary Magdalene, Newark. This workshop day will be led by Dr Stephen Bullamore, Director of Music, Newark Parish Church. We will be exploring poly-choral works (with instruments) by Schütz, Biber and Benevoli, concluding with the famous In ecclesiis by Giovanni Gabrieli. These works require huge forces, of up to 32 parts.
The workshop is for voices and instruments at A=440
Continuo: Organ, Harpsichord, Theorbo/lute/chitarrone (several players welcome)
Winds: Cornetti, Sackbuts, Curtals, Recorders and appropriate period instruments.
Strings: Violins, Violas, Cellos, Violone, Viols
Also trumpets and timpani for Biber
Working with the recently restored building, we will be able to spatially separate the groups of singers and instrumentalists creating a rarely-experienced soundscape.
Music to be performed will be:

Saul, Saul, was verfolgst du mich? Heinrich Schütz (Dresden)
Dixit Dominus a 25 Orazio Benevoli (Rome)
Vesperae a 32 (extracts) Heinrich Biber (Salzburg)
In Ecclesiis – Giovanni Gabrieli (Venice)

The Tutor, Dr Stephen Bullamore is Director of Music (Master of the Song School) at St Mary Magdalene church, Newark. Here he oversees one of the last remaining Parish Church Choral Foundation, made possible by the bequest of Thomas Magnus in the 1530s. He previously held posts at Guildford and Lincoln Cathedrals and was Director of Music at Waltham Abbey for the best part of a decade.
For ten years Stephen was Musical Director of the North Herts Guild of Singers. He is Musical Director of the Leicester Philharmonic Choir and of Bingham & District Choral Society; he previously was Musical Director of Barnet Choral Society. Between these groups he has conducted much of the choral repertoire, including Bach’s major works, several Handel oratorios, Ethel Smyth’s monumental Mass in D and Elgar’s three concert length choral works.
He holds a doctorate in Editorial Musicology (“The Sacred music of John Weldon, 1676-1736”) and has contributed to Grove Online. In recent years he has been drawn to crafting arrangements of pre-existing tunes to suit modern performance demands.
Timetable for the Day
10 am: Registration and drinks
10.30am; Morning Session with a short break
12.45 pm: Lunch (bring your own)
1.45 pm: Afternoon session
2.55 approx Tea break
4.30: Finish – . Church closes at 5pm
Venue: St Mary Magdalene Church, Church Walk, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1JS https://www.stmnewark.org
The church is located in the centre of this historic town with cafes and market adjoining. We have the use of this magnificent and recently restored medieval church, in particular the nave and extended crossing. The Magnus Room, at the west end, will be available for personal belongings and space for lunch and breaks. The church will be open to visitors during the day.
There is no on-site parking but there is a facility to ‘drop off’ instruments.
Public parking nearby (prices may not be accurate)

St Marks Place, Lombard Street, NG24 1XP – NCP Multi-storey, can be pre-booked, £8 for the day. Closest.
London Road / Balderton Gate Car Park NG24 1TN
Lovers Lane Car Park, 12 Lovers Lane NG24 1JD Height restriction 7ft 6Riverside
Arena Outer Town Car Park( off the A46), 22 Great North Road NG24 1BN. Height restriction 7ft 6. A scenic 10 min walk over the river, past the castle into the town centre. £3.70

There are two train stations: Newark Northgate on the LNER East Coast main line, 15 mins walk away, and Newark Castle on the East Midlands line, 10 mins walk away.
Workshop Organisers Jill Davies daviesmusic@btinternet.com 07721 317030 and John Lock.
Booking is now open, click here to book by Monday 8th June.

John Taverner Masses & Motets with Patrick Allies on 25th July 2026
2026-07-25 10:30 - 17:00 | Dorridge Village Hall, Grange Road, Dorridge, B93 8QA
We welcome back Patrick Allies to lead this vocal workshop.
John Taverner was an extraordinarily talented English composer of the Renaissance.
Born in Lincolnshire, his career took him to Christ Church, Oxford, where he worked for Thomas Wolsey. His music makes the most of the new, five-part choirs that had become popular, writing lines from low bass up to high soprano, and everything in between. Taverner’s musical style is at turns virtuosic and ecstatic, but always satisfyingly melodious. The sacred repertoire for this workshop shows off his awe-inspiring choral writing in mass movements and motets; we will exploring the following:
Mater Christi sanctissima (Antiphon to the Virgin Mary)
Sanctus from the Western Wynde mass
Audivi vocem de cælo (Matins Respond for All Saints)
Agnus Dei from the Missa Corona Spinea.

Patrick Allies is a conductor and musicologist based in London. He began his musical education as a chorister at the Temple Church, and sang in Gloucester Cathedral Choir before taking up a choral scholarship to study music at King’s College London. Patrick went on to postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge where he was a member of Jesus College Choir.
In his role as artistic director of the London-based vocal ensemble Siglo de Oro, Patrick has made five acclaimed recordings with Delphian Records of music from the Renaissance to the present day. Under Patrick’s direction, the group has taken up invitations to perform in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Finland, Malta, Canada and the USA.
Patrick is currently conductor of Imperial College Chamber Choir, the flagship choir of Imperial College London. In addition to directing the choir in its regular services and concerts on the college’s South Kensington campus, Patrick has led the choir on international tours to Estonia and Finland, and broadcast on BBC Radio 3’s Choral Evensong.
Alongside his work as a conductor, Patrick is a doctoral student in music at the University of Oxford. Patrick’s research, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, involves fifteenth-century choirs and their performance spaces
Venue: Dorridge Village Hall, Grange Road B93 8QA. https://dorridgevillagehall.org.uk/find-us/
The hall is clearly signed from the end of the road leading to it. The What3Words location is sponge.flopping.wedding . There is ample parking at the hall.
The hall is about a 10 minute walk from Dorridge railway station; from Solihull you can also catch the A7 Solihull South Circular bus – the Hansell Drive stop is 3 minutes’ walk away.
Timetable for the day
10.00 Registration and drinks
10.30 Morning session (with a short break)
1.00 Lunch (bring your own /or use local pubs and cafes)
2.00 Afternoon session
3.30 approx Tea break
4.00 Final session
5.00 Finish
Workshop Organiser on the day is Jane Warren. If, having booked, you need to cancel please text 07472 793531
Booking is now open – Book here
Closing date 17th July

Pentecostal Polychoral Music with Mark Wilson on 12th September
2026-09-12 10:30 - 17:00 | Oddfellows Hall, Stafford
Details to follow.
Booking will open in August.

Workshop for Voices with Anita Datta + AGM on10th October 2026
2026-10-10 10:30 - 17:00 | St.Faith & St.Laurence Church Hall, Balden Road, Harborne, Birmingham, B32 2EL, United Kingdom
We welcome back Anita Datta for another fun workshop!

Details tba

Workshop for Voices and Instruments with Philip Thorby on 14th November 2026
2026-11-14 10:30 - 17:00 | Solihull Methodist Church Hall, Blosssomfield Road, Solihull, B91 1LG, United Kingdom
We welcome back Philip Thorby to lead this workshop in Solihull.
Details tba

Workshop for voices and instruments with Alison Kinder on December 5th 2026
2026-12-05 10:30 - 17:00 | Dorridge Village Hall, Grange Road, Dorridge, B93 8QA
We welcome back Alison Kinder to lead this workshop. Details tba.
