Mozart
A Life in Choral Works
Led by Ben England BEM
AROUND SOUND
presents
a course of five lectures by Ben England BEM:
Mozart
A life in choral works
Mozart is a legendary composer whose legacy and influence continues to impact on our lives today. Join us as we take a unique look at Mozart’s life through the lens of his writing for choir, from his earliest works to his final masterpiece.
We will enjoy listening to and exploring Mozart’s choral music before diving in and hearing it as never before - by bringing out different parts and combinations as only Choir of the Earth can do.
Join us for
Mozart Around Sound
The Programme
Session One: the young Mozart and his early masses (Orphanage Mass and Sparrow Mass)
Thursday 17th March, 19:00 BST
Exploring Mozart’s earliest works written when he was still a child along with discussing his greatest influences in these formative years.
Session Two: Coronation Mass and Solemn Vespers
Friday 25th March, 19:00 BST (Friday not Thursday this week)
Examining Mozart’s choral works as a young man, and his life on returning to Salzburg following his extensive touring.
Session Three: The Great Mass in C Minor
Thursday 31st March, 19:00 BST
The history of the Great Mass in C minor, along with looking at Mozart’s unprecedented move to Vienna as a freelancer with his new wife Constanze.
Session Four: Late works: Kyrie in D minor, Masonic Funeral Music
Sunday 10th April, 19:00 BST
Mozart’s late period produced some of the most innovative and forward-thinking choral works of the 18th century. We shall explore these works and discuss Mozart’s struggles at the end of the 1780s.
Session Five: Requiem in D minor
Thursday 14th April, 19:00 BST
Mozart’s final year was also one of his most productive. We shall look at this great composer’s last works with a focus on his most famous choral work - the Requiem in D minor.
Course Director
We are delighted to have Ben England BEM back to teach us this Around Sound course.
Ben England BA (Hons), PGCE, BEM is a music graduate of Bristol University, where he specialised in musical analysis, composing and musical direction. He trained as a conductor with Dr Alan Rump and Dr Adrian Beaumont, before going on to study conducting with Denise Ham of the London Conducting Academy.
After graduation, Ben sang with groups as diverse as the New English Orchestra, the Bristol Chamber Choir, Bristol Opera, the Exultate Singers and the Choir of Clifton Cathedral. A bass baritone, he has performed widely as an oratorio and operatic singer, including lead roles in The Cunning Little Vixen and Der Mond (for Bristol Opera), The Magic Flute and the Pirates of Penzance. Ben currently teaches singing to adults and young people across the Bristol area.
Ben is a former Musical Director of Bristol Opera, where he led the company in successful performances of Handel’s Samson and Lakmé by Delibes and he has led numerous choirs in and around Bristol for the past 20 years, including the large Bristol Cabot Choir and the Bristol Gilbert and Sullivan Operatic Society and a number of smaller choirs.
Having qualified as an Advanced Skills Teacher (AST) of Music through the DfE Fast-Track Teaching programme, Ben worked for South Gloucestershire as a Head of Music and county Music and Music Technology specialist for eight years. In 2011 Ben took up the role of Director of Music at Colston’s Girls’ School, where he ran music across five schools (including four primary schools) from 2011-2016. His work as an educator brought him to the national stage on numerous occasions, as he lectured on music and leadership at conferences for the DfES and the National Association of Head Teachers.
Ben has worked extensively with professional composers to champion their music, often commissioning and performing new works. These composers include local musicians Richard Barnard and Eric Wetherell, as well as more recently the eminent John Rutter and conducting a premiere by the renowned composer Patrick Hawes.
During the Coronavirus outbreak of 2020, Ben established “Homechoir”, a free YouTube channel on which he broadcasts a range of free musical and educational programmes including Quarantine choir rehearsals, “Deep Dive” music theory teaching and a Sacred Sing on Sunday mornings. In October of 2020, Ben (as founder of Homechoir) was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) by Her Majesty the Queen for services to the community during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Following the launch of Homechoir, Ben was appointed Musical Director of Choir of the Earth, which has grown to become one of the largest choirs in the world. He has also been shortlisted for the Francesca Hanley Inspiration Award at Music and Drama Education Awards 2022.
Reviews of Ben’s teaching on Around Sound
“These sessions on MESSIAH have been a revelation. As a singer who has performed MESSIAH many times, I thought I knew it well. Ben has opened my eyes to MESSIAH anew. Such a joy”
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“These Around Sound lectures are first class and I have learned so much”
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“Absolutely riveting in every respect”
Tickets
Tickets for these live lectures are £40 per person.
We shall inform you via email with links to the lectures shortly.
