Workshops

Live Day Workshops with John Hancorn

John is a popular and successful workshop leader. He directs day workshops for singers and baroque instrumentalists at Early Music Fora across the UK and with choirs and choruses in the South East, exploring choral masterpieces. He is happy to discuss repertoire. Contact John here.

John Hancorn directs choral workshop for Ukraine 12 June 2022
John Hancorn

Repertoire ideas:

Bach: Lutheran Masses (NEEMF 2020)
Bach: Magnificat
Bach: Mass in B minor (SEMF 2023)
Boyce: The King Shall Rejoice (TVEMF 2023)
English Madrigals
Handel: Acis and Galatea
Handel: Chandos Anthems (SEMF 2018)
Handel: Coronation Anthems
Handel: Israel in Egypt (SEMF 2022)
Handel: Saul, Solomon, Alexander’s Feast
Handel: Dixit Dominus
Handel: My Heart is Inditing (TVEMF 2023)
Purcell: Dido and Aeneas (NWEMF 2016)
Purcell: Fairy Queen (BMEMF 2011, SEMF, MEMF 2019)
Purcell: King Arthur (BMEMF 2009)
Purcell: Welcome Odes and Ode for St Cecilia Day
Domenico Scarlatti: Stabat Mater (NWEMF 2014)
Tudor Madrigals and Anthems

John Hancorn directs choral workshop for Ukraine 16 June 2022
John Hancorn directs choral workshop for Ukraine 16 June 2022

Sing & Discover: a series of live and online workshops for choral singers exploring masterpieces of choral music

Conductor and singer John Hancorn and writer and broadcaster Richard Wigmore look at the origins and cultural background of the finest works in the choral canon and explore the music in some detail. Participants then join in with several choruses.
Sing & Discover workshops are for experienced choral singers, choirs and music lovers who wish to broaden their range, extend their experience, increase their knowledge of style and context, and who enjoy a challenge.

Sing & Discover LIVE Day Workshops

Themes include:

Haydn’s late harvest: Creation and The Seasons
A Ceremony of Innocence:  The Christmas story in music across the centuries: Schütz: Christmas Story; Bach: Christmas Oratorio;  Handel: Messiah; Britten: Ceremony of Carols`
Myths and Misconceptions: Mozart: Requiem
Handel in London: Acis and Galatea, Messiah
Handel and the Old Testament: Saul, Israel in Egypt, Jeptha
Handel: Solomon
Purcell and the Restoration Theatre: Fairy Queen, Dioclesian, King Arthur

Workshop content

A typical ‘Sing and Discover’ day workshop runs from 1030-1630. Richard and John discuss the music drawing on their extensive professional experience, including unique insights into style of performance, expert historical and cultural knowledge, all illustrated with CD excerpts. John Hancorn will direct the singers in a selection of choruses, while Richard Wigmore joins the basses. Participants are welcome to join the singing or listen. Book a day workshop for your choir via the Contact page.

Live workshops include:

Handel: Solomon
St Michael’s Church, Lewes, East Sussex, Saturday 5 August 2023
Part of Lewes Baroquefest

Handel: Four Coronation Anthems
St Michael’s Church, Lewes, East Sussex, Saturday 16 July 2022
Part of Lewes Baroquefest

John Hancorn

Online Sing & Discover workshops from October 2020 included:

Bach: Christmas Oratorio
Bach: St Matthew Passion
Bach: Magnificat + Handel: Dixit Dominus
Beethoven: Missa Solemnis and Mass în C
Brahms: Requiem
Handel: Messiah
Haydn: Nelson Mass and Harmonie Mass
Mozart: Requiem and Mass in C Minor
Purcell: Dido and Aeneas

Sing & Discover online workshops last 2 hours plus a 15 minute tea/social break and use online scrolling scores.
Book your workshop for your choir via the Contact page.


Richard Wigmore this oneRichard Wigmore
studied languages at Cambridge and music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. A former professional singer, he now works as a freelance writer, broadcaster and lecturer. While his tastes are eclectic, he specialises in the Viennese Classics, Lieder and opera. Richard writes for Gramophone, BBC Music Magazine and other journals, and has given classes in the history and interpretation of Lieder at Birkbeck College, the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall. He appears frequently on Radio 3′s CD Review, is in demand for pre-concert talks at the South Bank, Wigmore Hall, King’s Place etc, and is a regular lecturer on Martin Randall cultural tours.

Richard’s publications include Schubert: the complete song texts and the widely acclaimed Faber Pocket Guide to Haydn