2026 Wind Chamber Music Courses
for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and horn players, directed by
Laurence Perkins
Wind chamber courses with world-class tutoring, excellent full-board accommodation and superb food in stunning locations.
❋ Beautiful locations with excellent accommodation and superb food
❋ Inspiring music exploring rarities alongside much-loved classic favourites
❋ Chance to prepare with music sent in advance for personal practice
❋ Musical insight with time to explore in detail during rehearsals
❋ Expert guidance from world-class professional tutors
❋ Relaxation time to rest and explore local areas
❋ Impromptu playing in untutored sessions, just for fun
❋ Musical friendships through meeting new players from the UK and beyond
What players have said about Wind Serenades courses:
“Excellent tutoring - thoughtful, relevant, supportive, brings the best out of groups and individuals”
”A haven of peace and tranquility with ever-changing views” (comment about Higham Hall)
"Good balance of direction and encouragement"
"Lovely venue, comfortable, good food, nice staff" (comments about Higham Hall)
“An excellent, varied selection of music”
“A wonderful week of music-making, relaxation, meeting amazing people and making memories. Thank you for an outstanding experience.”
A big thank you to the tutors for their patience, encouragement and expertise. Always supportive and positive. Lots of attention to detail, and encouraging through to final performance”
“Brilliantly organised”
Course details: Whilst every effort is made to ensure that courses run as planned, it may be necessary to change details on any of the courses featured on this webpage. Repertoire for any course will only be confirmed when the exact line-up of players is finalised.
Higham Hall
in the beautiful English Lake District, near Bassenthwaite Lake in north Cumbria
Four outstanding wind chamber courses
... and a 5-day course just for bassoonists!
Wind Serenades in Spring
Sunday 1st - Friday 6th March 2026
(6 days, 5 nights - players arrive 1600-1800 on 1st, depart 1400 on 6th)
For advanced players
(see bottom of this webpage for details of playing standards)
Tutored by Colin Honour and Laurence Perkins
Here’s an opportunity to discover some really interesting music - not all of which may be familiar! More familiar music by Peter Warlock, Louise Farrenc and Gustav Holst will be explored alongside enjoyable rarities by Graham Downing, Keilor Kastella, Norman Forber Kay and Antonio Rosetti. This is a lovely way to welcome the Spring, in a beautiful Lakeland location.
It's a great pleasure to welcome Colin Honour back to the Spring 'Wind Serenades' course. As former principal clarinettist with Opera North Orchestra, he brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to our music sessions.
Final details of repertoire will be confirmed when exact line-up of players is known. The repertoire listed here covers several groups - not everyone will be involved in every piece. Players will be allocated into two separate groups. Unfortunately, for entirely practical reasons, it is not possible to take requests for specific pieces.
Prices (6 days, 5 nights full board for residential):
Residential: £870
Non-residential: £610
For those travelling by train via Penrith, a minibus transfer can be arranged from Penrith Rail Station.
Book online now - places are limited!
Click HERE to go directly to the online booking form. You will be sent a reply email confirming if there is a place for you.
Please check the 'Required Playing Standards' details near the end of this webpage, to ensure that you are applying for a course which is suitable for your playing.
Wind Serenades in Autumn
Wednesday 28th October - Sunday 1st November 2026
(5 days, 4 nights - players arrive 1600-1800 on 28th October, depart 1400 on 1st November)
For intermediate players (grades 6-8)
(see bottom of this webpage for details of playing standards)
Tutored by Laurence Perkins and Mandy Burvill
'Mozart and friends'
One of the greatest of all creators of wind chamber music - and of works which can be adapted for wind ensemble performance - Mozart also inspired many composers after him, who added to this great wealth of enjoyable music. This is a voyage of discovery, with well-known works alongside rarities in various sizes of ensembles, all suitable for intermediate-level players of (roughly) grades 5-8 standard.
* Final details of repertoire will be confirmed when exact line-up of players is known. The repertoire listed here covers several groups - not everyone will be involved in every piece. Players will be allocated into two separate groups. Unfortunately, for entirely practical reasons, it is not possible to take requests for specific pieces.
Prices (5 days, 4 nights full board for residential):
Residential: £725
Non-residential: £525
For those travelling by train via Penrith, a minibus transfer can be arranged from Penrith Rail Station.
Book online now - places are limited!
Click HERE to go directly to the online booking form. You will be sent a reply email confirming if there is a place for you.
Please check the 'Required Playing Standards' details near the end of this webpage, to ensure that you are applying for a course which is suitable for your playing.
Wind Serenades Summer School
and
Higham Hall 50th anniversary celebration event
Sunday 5th - Sunday 12th July 2026
Wind Serenades Summer Course
and
Higham Hall 50th anniversary celebration event
Sunday 5th - Sunday 12th July 2026
(please note dates carefully)
7 nights: players arrive 1600-1800 on Sunday 5th / depart after breakfast on Sunday 12th (no sessions on Sunday morning)
for high-advanced level players (diploma level)
Tutors: Philippa Davies, Jan Willem Nelleke, Colin Honour and Laurence Perkins
This course is two days longer than usual, and it will incorporate a special 50th anniversary celebration of Higham Hall as an adult education college, on Saturday 11th July. Numerous events attended by special guests and VIPs from the region and nationwide will include a one-hour public concert given by players on this Wind Serenades summer course. Sunday - Thursday will be mostly similar to previous July courses, but the concert performances will be slightly earlier, on Thursday late afternoon and evening. These will include music by David Bedford, Christopher Brown, Joseph Horovitz, Claude Arrieu and Jean Francaix. Friday will be preparation and rehearsals for the Saturday event which will include ‘pop-up’ ensembles (various sizes) in the garden involving all course players, and the special one-hour concert which will include the world première of a new work ’Sunrise at Skiddaw’ by Dominic McGonigal (specially written for the event), and ‘Jupiter’ from ’The Planets’ by Gustav Holst. As always, music for this course will be sent out in advance. Given the special nature of the Saturday event, and the additional music needed for this extended course with an additional concert, detailed and meticulous advance preparation will be essential. There will be no sessions on Sunday morning (12th) but anyone wishing to go walking before heading home may (if they wish) book a packed lunch (charged additionally).
Prices (7 nights full board for residential):
Residential: £930 / Non-residential: £680
For those travelling by train via Penrith, a minibus transfer can be arranged from Penrith Rail Station.
Book online now - places are limited!
Click HERE to go directly to the online booking form. You will be sent a reply email confirming if there is a place for you.
Please check the 'Required Playing Standards' details near the end of this webpage, to ensure that you are applying for a course which is suitable for your playing. The notes in the 'High-advanced' paragraph are relevant to this course, which involves some performing in public events.
An Evening in Paris
Sunday 8th - Friday 13th February 2026
(6 days, 5 nights - players arrive 1600 - 1800 on 8th, depart after lunch on 13th).
For advanced players, tutored by Laurence Perkins.
(see bottom of this webpage for details of playing standards)
Just 10 players on a course tutored by Laurence Perkins, leading to a formal Thursday-evening fundraising concert (in aid of Higham Hall funds) in the Lecture Room at Higham Hall. We will be performing dectets by Debussy, Ravel and Jean Francaix alongside two quintets by Ibert and Milhaud (each player will be allocated one of these quintets). Detailed advance preparation will be essential for this course, as the concert will be in formal dress to a paying audience from around North Cumbria.
Prices (6 days, 5 nights full board for residential):
Residential: £600
Non-residential: £460
For those travelling by train via Penrith, a minibus transfer can be arranged from Penrith Rail Station.
Book online now - places are limited!
Click HERE to go directly to the online booking form. You will be sent a reply email confirming if there is a place for you.
Tutors at the Wind Serenades courses at Higham Hall
Laurence Perkins
Solo bassoonist - former principal bassoon, Manchester Camerata Orchestra ('Wind Serenades' Course Director - all courses)
Jan Willem Nelleke
Concert pianist - tutor at Royal Conservatory in The Hague (Summer course)
Philippa Davies
Flute soloist and chamber ensemble player - member of London Winds, Professor at Guildhall School of Music (Summer course)
Mandy Burvill
Clarinettist - former member of Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (October course)
Colin Honour
Former principal clarinettist in Opera North Orchestra, soloist and chamber ensemble player (Spring and Summer courses)
Strictly for bassoonists!
Find out about the 2026 5-day Bassoon Course, when Laurence is joined once again by the inspiring Catriona McDermid, not only with her modern bassoon but also as a leading performer on the baroque bassoon.
This course, which is at Higham Hall from Sunday 17th - Thursday 21st May 2026, is a wonderful chance for professional guidance, support and inspiration to help in making your bassoon playing easier and more enjoyable - and a chance to play fabulous bassoon ensemble music! Bassoonists of all playing levels are welcome. (Smaller ensembles will be in graded groups).
For full details of this, click HERE to go directly to the Bassoon Courses webpage.
Required Playing Standards
(for all courses)
It is very important that you assess your current playing standard as accurately as possible. Assessing playing standards is not (and cannot be) an exact science, and the grade system established by the Associated Board (ABRSM) and other examiners is at best an approximate guide.
Please use the guidelines below to help you make this assessment, remembering that the description and details are at least as important as the grade or qualification itself.
Elementary players: AB* grades 3-5
You need to be reasonably fluent and confident with fairly straightforward music in keys of up to three sharps or flats, and play reasonably well in tune with some dynamic contrast. In these sessions parts may be doubled in some pieces. Clarinets only require B flat instruments, horn parts will be in F.
Intermediate players: AB* grades 6-8
Good fluency is needed in a range of music which will involve some technical challenges and may be in keys of up to five sharps or flats. Good tuning, tone production, dynamic range and articulation will be required. The music will normally be played one-to-a-part, unless there is a special reason to do otherwise. Clarinets normally only require B flat instruments. Horn players may be required to do basic transpositions.
Advanced players: Above Associated Board grade 8 (or equivalent examinations)
Fluency in all keys is essential, as many of the pieces in these courses have passages which are technically and musically demanding. As well as excellent tuning, tone production, extreme dynamics, and a wide range of articulation speeds and characters, players will also need to be able to cope with occasional rhythmic and counting complexities. These sessions will be one player to a part, unless otherwise specified for a particular musical reason. Clarinettists require B flat and A instruments, alternative instruments (e.g. piccolo, bass clarinet, etc.) may be required (please check for details), and horn players need to be proficient in all the normal transpositions.
High-advanced (diploma level) is similar to 'Advanced', but performing music which may have even more challenging passages, both musically and technically. These courses are not intended as a technical workout - the challenges are numerous and diverse - but you need to be sure that your own ensemble playing skills in all respects are of a suitable level to perform music at this level and match the other players in your groups.
What NOT to do:
Under-assess yourself ‘just to play safe’ – if you’re happy to play easier parts, that’s fine, but if you want to play up to your level and meet a suitable level of challenge, please follow the guidelines above.
Over-assess yourself ‘just to get to play with the best players’. This can and does cause problems and can be embarrassing for you and others in the group. Make your challenge a realistic one – be confident that you are applying for a course of the right standard according to the specifications listed above. If you are uncertain, please check with Laurence Perkins before applying.
* approximate playing standards based on Associated Board (ABRSM) examination grades
Please note:
All repertoire listed in these course details are subject to the right number and combinations of instruments applying for these courses. In the event of there being an insufficient number of players on a course, the organisers reserve the right to change the music being played.
Please pass the word round, to ensure that we have enough players to make each course a good experience for everyone!
Terms and Conditions
Applications
Applications are on a 'first-come, first-served’ basis, unless otherwise stated in the course details on the Wind Serenades webpage. You will be advised as to availability of a place on your selected course. A place on a course is only confirmed once you have received written confirmation and paid the required deposit.
For Higham Hall courses: If there is a place for you, you will receive an email offering you a place on the course. The administration at Higham Hall will then contact you separately for payment of deposit, and (nearer the date of the course) the balance. Your place will be confirmed, subject to prompt payments of deposit and balance (see ‘Payments’ below).
For courses in other venues: If there is a place for you, you will be invited to pay a deposit. Once your deposit is received, you will receive confirmation of your place on the course, along with details of when the balance is to be paid. If you do not pay your deposit within 14 days of receiving a confirmation, your place may be offered to another player.
Payments (for courses in all venues)
Deposits and balance payments must be paid within the timeframe specified in your course details. If you do not pay within the specified period, your place may go to another player and any deposit previously paid for that course will not be refundable. What the course fee covers is as specified on the course details.
Cancellation
For courses at Higham Hall, please refer to their Terms and Conditions https://highamhall.com/information/ For Wind Serenades courses in other locations, in the unfortunate event of having to cancel your place on a course for any reason, your deposit will not be refundable. Cancellations are often at short notice when it can be difficult to find a replacement player, so this reduces the loss incurred by Wind Serenades in the event of having to invite a student player who would not be able to pay the course fee. It also ensures that ensembles are complete, for the sake of every other player on that course. The Course Director's decision will be final in all instances. Bookings are made on this basis. In all instances, you are strongly recommended to take out suitable travel insurance that will cover you should you have to cancel. In the event of a course having to be cancelled by the Course Director, as much notice as possible will be given to applicants, but liability in any event is strictly limited to a full refund of the course fee. Applications are only accepted on this basis.
Young players
Players under the age of 18 may apply for places on non-residential day courses within the U.K., subject to written and signed authorisation from a parent or guardian. The presence of a parent or guardian throughout the course may be required. Acceptance of under-18 applications is at the discretion of the Course Director. Players under 18 will not be accepted on residential courses.
Instruments and personal safety
Health and safety are always top priorities at all course venues, but applications are only accepted on the basis that you accept full responsibility for your own personal health and safety throughout the duration of the course. You are also entirely responsible for the safety of your own musical instrument(s). Please ensure that you have adequate insurance cover in these respects, and that you know the specific requirements of your insurance and observe them throughout the course. Applications are only accepted on this basis.
Disabled players
Every effort will be made to meet the specific needs of any player. Please enquire with the Course Director well in advance of the course date concerning the suitability of any particular venue for access, etc.
Change of details
Whilst every effort will be made to ensure that each course runs as planned, it may be necessary to change details without notice. In the event of a course being cancelled (with or without notice), liability is strictly limited to a full refund of the amount already paid by each individual applicant. Players make their applications on this basis.
Please ask!
The intention is for you to have a really enjoyable and satisfying music-making experience. If you are unsure about any aspect of this course, please do not hesitate to ask! Click HERE to communicate with the Course Director.