Wondering what the Kurt Thomas Course was like last year? Find out all about it below.
For whom?
You may be a professional or amateur conductor, or a choir singer who wants to explore conducting or focus intensively on singing for a week. You can select the level that suits you, choose the repertoire and the teacher of your preference and choose the workshops that interest and attract you. You are free to decide how long and how intensely you will participate. You can subscribe for the whole week, for separate modules or for a single day; as an active participant, hospitant or chorister. To put it succinctly, you can assemble your very own Kurt Thomas Course!
How and what will you learn?
Under the guidance of an enthusiastic team of experienced and knowledgeable teachers, you can immerse yourself in multiple ways in the various aspects of conducting and choir singing. You gain new ideas and insights and get practical tips and tools about practice techniques, baton techniques and choral formation. The course consists of various modules that each have their own theme and where you are working on a different activity every time. Meanwhile, you also get to know lots of colleagues and expand your network.
Workshop: each day starts with a workshop for all participants, each with a different subject, such as new repertoire, group dynamics, rhythm, etcetera. You start the day with singing, exercises, conducting and listening.
Reveille: during the daily reveille, you practice conducting together with all the other participants, while warming up your voice with Gregorian singing.
Atelier: the atelier form the heart of the course; you take individual turns on the repertoire pieces and form a coir with the other participants and guest vocalists. There are three 75-minute classes each day, with one of the teachers of your atelier. You are also taught by the teachers of vocal development and choir formation.
Schola: in a Gregorian Schola, you sing to unravel the secrets of single-voice music.
Grand choir: all participants sing along in the Kurt Thomas Grand Choir. Here you are guided by the students of atelier 2, under the direction of the teachers of choir and orchestra repertoire.
The teachers of the Kurt Thomas Course all have a strong practical background and offer tons of knowledge and experience. They are experts who are willing to teach you and openly discuss their profession and all related aspects.
This year’s teachers are: Louis Buskens, Rob Vermeulen, Adrián van der Spoel, Boudewijn Jansen, Hans Noijens, Lieke Geraats, Sanne Nieuwenhuizen, Matthijs Overmars, Dennis Broeders, Claudia Franzen and Fokko Oldenhuis. Additionally, we are pleased to be joined this year by guest teacher Ed Spanjaard!
Day schedule
Depending on the atelier you choose, a day of the Kurt Thomas Course looks as follows:
| |
Ateliers 1, 2, 6 |
Ateliers 3, 5, 7, 9 |
| 10.30-11.45 |
Workshop |
Workshop |
| 10.30-11.45 |
Schola |
Schola |
| 12.00-13.00 |
Reveille |
Reveille |
| 13.00-13.30 |
Break |
Break |
| 13.30-14.45 |
Schola |
Class 1 |
| 14.45-16.00 |
Class 1 |
Class 2 |
| 16.30-18.00 |
Grand Choir |
Grand Choir |
| 18.00-19.00 |
Break |
Break |
| 19.00-20.15 |
Class 2 |
Class 3 |
| 20.30-21.45 |
Class 3 |
Schola |
Ateliers 4 and 8 have slightly divergent class times. See below.
The schedule on Saturday 13 July is:
11.30-13.00 Evaluations (only for participating conductors of ateliers 1 to 9)
14.00-17.00 For all participants: general rehearsal (Nicolaïkerk)
19.00-22.00 For all participants: final concert (Nicolaïkerk)
Contact
Questions? Send an e-mail to ktc.muziek@hku.nl.
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