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Folk Summer School 2024

Monday 26 Aug 4pm — Friday 30 Aug 10am, 2024

To make a booking enquiry please complete the form below. We will contact you to confirm availability and complete your booking.

Pricing

Full board per person (tuition, activities, all meals & accommodation):

£430– single occupancy ensuite room
£390– sharing an ensuite room
£390– single occupancy non-ensuite room
£355 – sharing non-ensuite room

Camping per person (tuition, activities, all meals):

£260

Non Resident (tuition, activities, all meals except breakfast):

£240

Our beloved Folk Summer School is back for 2024. There’ll be music, dance and song – for adults of all abilities – led by a crack team of tutors who have detailed knowledge and extensive experience of a wide spectrum of folk music. Throughout the week, you will work towards a full-group ensemble piece which includes the whole summer school cohort – the ‘Big Ensemble’; it’s a powerful way of bringing everything and everyone together in one shared experience, allowing you to learn about how to structure a performance, work together, use all levels of skills (in small and large groups), and create something that’s amazing and all-inclusive.

“Friendly and welcoming group of people, plenty of laughs, energetic dancing and really enjoyable sessions in the bar afterwards!” Participant

Who is it for?

Singers, dancers and musicians of all levels of experience; there’s something for everyone!

Choose from classes in guitar, fiddle, piano accordion, singing, or dance. Let us know which group you’d like to be part of when you book.

  • Guitar with David Delarre

  • Fiddle with John Dipper

  • Piano Accordion with Paul Hutchinson (you’ll need to be able to read music)

  • Mixed instrument band with Kevin Dempsey

  • Singing with Jo Freya

  • Dance with Kerry Fletcher

The Team

We have a fantastic team of tutors who will be working together to give you the best possible experience in a mutually supportive atmosphere.

David Delarre is a musician, composer and music educator. Through his work with the award winning singer Eliza Carthy MBE and Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, David has performed at a number of high profile venues and festivals across the UK and Europe. He has recently recorded sessions for BBC Radio 2, 3 and 4 and has also performed on BBC 1 for Jools Holland and BBC 1 Breakfast TV. His theatre credits include The Globe’s production of ’The Two Noble Kinsman’ and the Tony Award winning Broadway musical ‘Hadestown’.

A respected and established performer, composer, teacher and instrument maker, John Dipper grew up steeped in the traditions of Southern England. His unique playing style and compositions convey a deep understanding and passion for indigenous culture. Three of the albums John recently recorded and performed on have been in The Times Top 10 Folk/Roots albums of the year. As an experienced workshop leader and teacher, John’s knowledge, experience and enthusiasm combine to make him a much sought-after tutor in academic institutions, festivals, music-camps and academies.

Paul Hutchinson was a member of the much-loved duo Belshazzar’s Feast, with whom he appeared on television and radio and gained a nomination for Best Duo at the BBC Folk Awards. He is regarded as one of the top accordionists in the country because of his unique, refreshing, and at times ‘classical’ approach to playing. He is an experienced workshop leader and has an eclectic interest and knowledge of both fusion and 17th & 18th-century music.

Kevin Dempsey is a guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and performer, and has played everything from solo gigs right up to 26-piece big band! His wide experience shows in his versatility and ability to turn his hand, and guitar, to many different styles and genres and, for a long time, he has been sought out by other musicians. Kev has been a mainstay of our Summer School team, and has also tutored at our Guitar Study Week.

Jo Freya has been singing and playing traditional folk music since her childhood. As well as being a highly effective workshop leader and teacher in music, dance, voice and composition, she is also a charismatic performer with many high profile folk artists including Blowzabella and Coope, Simpson, Fraser, Freya, Boyes in their work with author Michael Morpurgo. Jo is currently Artistic Director of the Nation Youth Folk Ensemble.

Kerry Fletcher is a traditional dancer, performer, choreographer and teacher of many styles who works as a community folk dance artist specialising in English, European and American dance, both percussive and social. Kerry is Co-Artistic Director of Folk Dance Remixed and is passionate about both traditional dance and making folk dance relevant to today’s society. She encourages those new to folk dance to share her enthusiasm and creates new performance work inspired by the tradition.