Cambridge, England 2025
Update: All 30 spots have been filled, but we will accept two more applications as possible alternates in case of any cancellations.
In June 2025 we look forward to hosting choral composers in Cambridge, England, for the first-ever international Ness Beck Workshop, in conjunction with Vox Anima London. Composers from all over the world are welcome!
Participants will spend 3 days in central Cambridge (surrounded by the historic chapels of King’s, Trinity, and St. John’s) in workshops, presentations, and discussions led by Dan Forrest, with additional presentations from British composers and conductors including Paul Mealor, Bob Chilcott, and Sarah MacDonald, as well as excursions to notable musical sites in Cambridge. They will then join the Vox Anima London Choral Festival for the rest of the week, including rehearsals in Cambridge, Q/A with composer, celebration dinner, and performance of Dan Forrest’s new CREATION oratorio (with full orchestra and large festival choir), conducted by James Meaders in iconic Ely Cathedral. (Participating composers are encouraged to sing, for a richer musical experience; but may just observe Festival events if preferred.)
Enrollment: All choral composers are welcome to join us for this uniquely enriching experience. (No “acceptance” process, but workshop is limited to 30 participants.) Past workshop alumni are welcome and encouraged to join. There will not be awards offered for the 2025 workshop due to the unique approach and open enrollment.
Cost: $795 USD (includes the 3-day Composer’s Workshop and the 3-day CREATION choral festival, opening Workshop dinner, and CREATION Festival dinner). (Does not include travel and accommodation cost; participants must make their own arrangements). ($300 deposit due by December 1, 2024; remaining $495 due by April 15, 2025; details below.) This rate is made possible by a generous subsidy from the John Ness Beck Foundation, as well as support from Vox Anima London.
Transportation: Participants must make their own arrangements for air and ground transportation (recommendation: fly into Heathrow, take the Heathrow Express (train) to a main London train station, and connect to a train to Cambridge). Travel insurance is recommended.
Accommodations: Participants must make their own arrangements for accommodations in central Cambridge within walking distance of Kettle’s Yard (workshop venue) and St. Paul’s Church, (rehearsal venue). A wide range of price options is available, from Youth Hostel of Cambridge (very inexpensive), UniversityRooms.com (various options for university and residential rooms), or Airbnb (combining with other participants to share cost of a house or flat may be a very cost-effective option), to the Hilton Hotel or The Graduate Hotel. We will connect participants, if desired, for sharing accommodations to reduce cost.
ITINERARY / DETAILS:
Sat 14 June 2025: Arrival flights, transfer to Cambridge, settle in, then opening dinner (cost included) in Cambridge.
Sun-Tues 15-17 June 2025: Workshop activities in mornings and afternoons at Kettle’s Yard (part of Cambridge University, a short walk from Trinity, King’s, the River Cam, bookshops, and pubs): presentations and discussions of numerous topics on all aspects of choral composition with Dan Forrest, as well as sessions with guests Paul Mealor, Bob Chilcott, and Sarah MacDonald (other possible guests still pending) and excursions to nearby historic chapels in Cambridge. All activities designed to strengthen, encourage, enrich, and inspire the creative process for choral composers. (Note: depending on the number of participants, the workshop may or may not include review of participants’ compositions.) Lunches at local pubs or outdoors weather permitting. Evenings free for relaxed dinners, punting on the River Cam, walks, etc.
Wed-Thurs 18-19 June 2025: Participate in daytime festival choir rehearsals for CREATION. Festival Dinner Wednesday night (cost included). Composers will also be invited to discussions of the work from Dan Forrest and James Meaders and behind-the-scenes debriefing/Q&A after rehearsals, from a composer’s and conductor’s perspectives. Enjoy Cambridge in later afternoon/evenings.
Fri 20 June 2025 : Travel (roundtrip coach cost included) to iconic Ely Cathedral (30 minutes away) for daytime dress rehearsal and evening concert (festival choir performing CREATION; may also include another ensemble performing another major work, TBD).
Sat 21 June 2025: Depart at your leisure, or extend your own trip in the UK.
Update: All 30 spots have been filled, but we will accept two more applications as possible alternates in case of any cancellations. Do not send deposit payments for alternate spots; if a spot opens up we will contact you for immediate payment.
TO REGISTER:
1. Submit the required information in the form below.
2. Send non-refundable deposit of $300 USD through our payment page (or mail a check) to the John Ness Beck Foundation. (Open until December 1, 2024, or until 30 deposits are received, whichever comes first). Remaining $495 is due by April 15, 2025. No refunds (of the $495) after this date. You can also pay the full workshop amount ($795) now, if desired.
Workshop limited to 30 participants, accepted in order of received deposits. If openings remain (for both composer workshop and festival choir) after December 1, 2024, late registrations will be accepted in order of received deposits.
Please contact us with any questions.
PAST WORKSHOP HISTORY:
(2024: No workshop as we prepare for Cambridge 2025)
2023: Workshop, Greenville, South Carolina.
2022: Private Mentoring, by invitation (Kyle Pederson and Reginald Wright)
2021 Private Mentoring, by invitation (Marianne Forman and Marques L. A. Garrett)
2020 Alumni-Only “Next Level” Workshop, Greenville, South Carolina.
2019 Workshop, Greenville, South Carolina.
2018 Private Mentoring, by invitation (Elaine Hagenberg and Trevor Manor)
2017 Workshop, Greenville, South Carolina.
2016 Workshop, Newport Beach, California.
2015 Workshop, Columbus, Ohio.
2014 Workshop, Washington, DC.