inspiring tomorrow’s singers
28th October 2024
Choral courses for 2025 and a new recording for the Rodolfus Choir in our 45th anniversary year
The Rodolfus Foundation will be running 6 Junior and Senior Courses for children and young people from ages 8 to 21 in 2025. We have a number of distinguished figures from the choral singing world coming to direct and visit our courses and inspire young singers.
Steven Grahl conducts evensong at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford 2023
We are pleased to announce that Steven Grahl will direct a senior course for the first time. We will also be welcoming back Katherine Dienes-Williams, Sarah MacDonald and Simon Toyne to direct our other senior courses, and James Bartlett, Charlotte Corderoy and Martyn Ford to direct our junior courses, all ably supported by a team of highly experienced singing teachers, accompanists and course assistants.
Founder and Artistic Director, Ralph Allwood started the courses in 1980 since when over 12,000 young people have enjoyed an experience which, for many, has been life-changing. Rodolfus alumni include Edward Gardner OBE, Roderick Williams OBE (who is President of the Foundation) and mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston. The courses are not auditioned, and in 2024 a third of participants received financial assistance. This means that children and young people from every community can access what has been described by Times music critic Richard Morrison as “the best week of music education”.
Choral Weekend (previously the Adult Choral Course), 2024
In 2025 Ralph Allwood will visit all six senior and junior courses for a day giving all course participants the chance to experience his magic. Ralph will also be directing a Choral Weekend 3-6th April 2025 for choral singers over the age of 22 with evensong in Westminster Abbey and a performance of the Brahms Requiem as a celebration of his 45 years as the Founder and Artistic Director.
The Rodolfus Choir, which is comprised of course participants aged 16 to 23 who have successfully completed an audition, celebrated its 40th anniversary this year. To mark this milestone the choir has plans to make for a recording of works by Cecilia McDowall in the spring of 2025.
Ralph Allwood, said “I am delighted to be able to welcome Steven Grahl as course director to join the team of outstanding choral professionals who direct and staff our courses. I am proud that we have been able to produce such excellent choral singing from our non-auditioned courses and our leading youth choir and help transform the lives of so many children and young people for the past 45 years”.
Ralph Allwood conducting the Choral Course in York, 2024