Course Director: Choir

Tim Brown

Tim, who was Director of Music at Clare College, Cambridge, from 1979 until 2010, began his musical career as a chorister at Westminster Abbey. This was followed by membership of King's College Choir, Cambridge, under the legendary Sir David Willcocks, and by some years as a professional singer (alto), including a spell as a founding member of The Scholars Vocal Ensemble.

His work with the choir of Clare College, and with his professional chorus English Voices (of which he is the founder/director), has earned him an international reputation as a choral director, with many acclaimed recordings to his name.

He is much in demand as a chorus master, and has worked on a number of opera projects with René Jacobs and Ivor Bolton, in Germany, Austria, Holland and Belgium. In 2010 he was chorus master for two productions in the Aix festival, Gluck's Alceste and Mozart's Don Giovanni. In March 2011 he became Artistic Director of the newly-formed professional choir in Zürich, the Zürcher Sing-Akademie, with whom he will perform Handel’s Messiah the Tonhalle Orchestra in their annual New Year concerts in December 2011.

Tim is no stranger to Berwang, having been choral tutor of the Holiday Course on many occasions since 1982. He is delighted to be returning in 2012, to experience once again the pleasure of leading the singers in the stunning surroundings of this idyllic Tyrolean village!

Course Director: Wind

Samuel Becker

Born in 1973, Samuel grew up in Northamptonshire. It was here that he learnt the clarinet and saxophone and started performing in many groups. He also started composing and had several pieces performed.

He then went on to read music at Goldsmiths College, University of London - studying composition with Diana Burrell, Tim Ewers and Edward Gregson. He also explored other areas of interest including aesthetics, music history, ethnomusicology and Russian music, studied clarinet with Ruth McDowell (BBC S.O.) and performed in a variety of groups. In addition, Samuel also developed his conducting and became much sought after as an interpreter of other composers' works. He was the founder and conductor of the Goldsmiths Symphonic Wind Orchestra and conducted the Goldsmiths Chamber Orchestra. He assisted various Conductors at Goldsmith’s and regularly rehearsed both the College Orchestra and the Contemporary Music Ensemble.

Since graduating in 1995, Samuel has been busy not only as a composer but also as a conductor, performer and teacher. He has also taken on coaching and conducting for many youth, college and amateur orchestras and specialises in wind section coaching.

From1998 Samuel acted for a few years as Assistant Conductor for Bromley Symphony Orchestra, rehearsing them in many major Twentieth Century Orchestral works by composers such as Mahler, Holst, Stravinsky and Richard Strauss.

Samuel has continued to perform in various groups on an ad hoc basis: ranging from small contemporary groups to full orchestras. In addition to this activity he has been constantly active as a teacher.

If you would like to find out more about Samuel please visit his website: www.samuelbecker.net

Course Director: Strings

Steve Bingham

Steve Bingham studied violin with Emmanuel Hurwitz, Sidney Griller and the Amadeus Quartet at the Royal Academy of Music from 1981 to 1985, where he won prizes for orchestral leading and string quartet playing. In 1985 he formed the Bingham String Quartet, an ensemble which has become one of the foremost in the UK, with an enviable reputation for both classical and contemporary repertoire. The Quartet has recorded numerous CDs and has worked for radio and television both in the UK and as far afield as Australia. The group has toured in Europe, the Middle East and Australia and has worked with distinguished musicians such as Jack Brymer, Raphael Wallfisch, Michael Collins and David Campbell. The Quartet’s educational activities have included residencies at London’s South Bank Centre, for several UK festivals and at Radley College. The Quartet is also known for it’s many performances of new works by some of the best young composers in Britain.

Steve has appeared as guest leader with many orchestras including the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, English National Ballet and English Sinfonia. He has given solo recitals both in the UK and America and his concerto performances include works by Bach, Vivaldi, Bruch, Prokofiev, Mendelssohn and Sibelius, given in venues as prestigious as St. Johns’ Smith Square and the Royal Albert Hall.

In recent years Steve has developed his interest in improvisation, electronics and World music, collaborating with several notable musicians including guitarist Jason Carter and players such as Sanju Vishnu Sahai (tabla), Baluji Shivastrav (sitar) and Abdullah Ibrahim (piano). He has appeared on three World music CDs with Jason Carter and is a guest artist on the CD “Confusion Rides”, by singer/songwriter Mark Fawcett. Steve is also plays live with No-Man, the progressive art-rock duo of Tim Bowness and Steve Wilson. Steve’s debut solo CD “Duplicity” was released in November 2005, and has been played on several radio stations including BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM. His second solo CD, entitled “Ascension”, was released in December 2008.

Steve’s interests include ornithology, photography and Celtic knotwork.

If you would like to find out more about Steve please visit his website: www.stevebingham.co.uk

Secretary: Jean Burrows

Phone: +44(0)1277 213949

Mobile: 07718 586134

E-mail: bhmc@musicholiday.com

Jean began learning piano and recorders at the age of 8, but it wasn't until she took up the bassoon when she was 17 that Jean really became interested in playing music. Three years at the London College of Music led to her becoming a GLCM with bassoon as her main study. After graduating from the LCM Jean went onto gain a PGCE from London University. Jean spent most of her career working with children with physical disabilities/chronic medical conditions where music technology was used to great advantage.

As an amateur musician Jean has played in many orchestras and chamber ensembles and founded the Brookfield Ensemble. Currently she plays with Letchworth Sinfonia and Woodford Symphony Orchesta as well as depping at other orchestras. Jean also takes every possible opportunity to play chamber music.

Jean first went on the Berwang Holiday Music Course in 1996 and attended as a participant ever since, taking over as Secretary at the beginning of 2010.  

If you would like to know more about the Berwang Holiday Music Course please contact Jean, who is always very happy to talk to people about our music holiday.

The Berwang Holiday Music Course was founded by Henry and Nora Cummings in 1959 to take singing students from the Royal Academy of Music for a music holiday in the Tyrol. From it's inception there has always been a mixture of musical and holiday activities. The course originated in Ehrwald, but once Henry and Nora found the beautiful village of Berwang they fell in love with it and, as they say, the rest is history.

As time progressed the course became an annual event and instrumentalists were also invited to attend. The emphasis of the course also changed as amateur singers and players became the core members. It was at this time that the name of Kerry Camden became synonymous with the Berwang Holiday Music Course.

Kerry began as Wind Tutor and progressed, in the mid-1970s, to taking over as Director from the founder of the Course, Henry Cummings. 

The rôle of Director involves organising, the music-making during the Course, all the rehearsal venues, concert venues, the daily timetable (including special events), holiday excursions and transport arrangements, as well as liasing with the Hotel Singer and local pensions regarding allocation of accommodation.  It was a great bonus that Kerry received so much help from friends in Berwang, such as the President of the village band, who lends equipment, and the village priest, who makes the church available for concerts and rehearsals.

As well as his obvious skills in music, teaching and organisation, Kerry was also known for his fund of jokes and stories. More importantly, his close friendships, built up over many years, with most of the Berwang villagers, and his friendliness and concern for course members, ensured that everyone fully enjoyed the Berwang Holiday Music Course under his direction.

Kerry remained committed to BHMC right up until his death in March 2010, only having had a meeting handing the reins over to a new team at the beginning of March. 2010 also saw the 50th anniversary of this unique course and, whilst it was tinged with sadness that Kerry was not with us, it was a very successful and joyful course.