Wind Serenades

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2025 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.

Players and tutors on the July 2024 course at Higham Hall
Players and tutors on the July 2024 course at Higham Hall

❋ 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, near Bassenthwaite in the English Lake District
Higham Hall, near Bassenthwaite in the English Lake District

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

Bassenthwaite Lake, near Higham Hall
Bassenthwaite Lake, near Higham Hall

Sunday 9th - Friday 14th March 2025
(6 days, 5 nights - players arrive 1600-1800 on 9th, depart 1400 on 14th)

For advanced players
(see bottom of this webpage for details of playing standards)

Tutored by Colin Honour and Laurence Perkins

‘Songs and dances’

Much-loved favourites by Josef Suk and Debussy, alongside attractive rarities by Juriaan Andriessen, Jadassohn and Aleksandër Lalo - it's a musical adventure!

It's also a great pleasure to welcome Colin Honour to the Spring 'Wind Serenades' course. Many of you know Colin from the Summer course. He is now retired from his many distinguished years as principal clarinettist with Opera North Orchestra, and - happily for us - he has more time to do tutoring for Wind Serenades!

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: £857
Non-residential: £580
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.

 

Wind Serenades in Summer

Tutors concert on the July course
Tutors concert on the July course

Sunday 6th - Friday 11th July 2025
(6 days, 5 nights - players arrive 1600-1800 on 6th, depart 1600 on 11th)

A high-advanced course for diploma-standard players
(see bottom of this webpage for details of playing standards)

Tutored by Philippa Davies, Colin Honour, Jan Willem Nelleke and Laurence Perkins

Musical explorations

If there is any theme at all this year, it's 'diversity'. You may know some of the music of Guy Woolfenden, Louise Farrenc, Jean-Michel Damase or Ludwig Thuille, but how about Johan Kvandal, Peter Racine Fricker or Colin Touchin? Dare to venture into the unknown - and be inspired!

Our usual fabulous team of tutors are with us again to guide us gently on our musical explorations!

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: £913
Non-residential: £655
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.

 

Wind Serenades in Autumn

Autumn colours in north Cumbria
Autumn colours in north Cumbria

Wednesday 29th October - Sunday 2nd November 2025
(5 days, 4 nights - players arrive 1600-1800 on 29th October, depart 1400 on 2nd November)

For intermediate players (grades 6-8)
(see bottom of this webpage for details of playing standards)

Tutored by Laurence Perkins and Mandy Burvill

'Autumn Serenade'

There's a lovely mix of familiar favourites and rarities in the planned programme for this Autumn course. Mozart, Elgar, Gershwin and Gordon Jacob are all likely to make an appearance, all alongside a "Hertfordshire Suite" by Harold Noble, evoking seasons and places in colourful ensemble writing. As always, the sessions include tips and techniques to help you develop your orchestral and ensemble playing, helping to make it more satisfying and enjoyable.

* 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: £709
Non-residential: £502
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.

New Year

Wind Serenades

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Monday 13th - Thursday 16th January 2025
(4 days, 3 nights - players arrive between 1500 and 1600 on 13th, first session at 1630. Everyone departs at 1400 on 16th after lunch).

For advanced players, tutored by Laurence Perkins.
(see bottom of this webpage for details of playing standards)

A new Wind Serenades course for the new year, following the traditions of Vienna. This is a short, small course (just 4 days / 3 nights, 11 places) with Viennese music (along with the occasional neighbour), leading to a one-hour public concert on Wednesday evening as a fund-raiser for Higham Hall, who are working incredibly hard to maintain this 200-year-old building as one of the finest course venues in Britain. It will include music by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert - and of course the Strauss family.

Prices (5 days, 4 nights full board for residential):
Residential: £590
Non-residential: £450
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

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Laurence Perkins
Solo bassoonist - former principal bassoon, Manchester Camerata Orchestra ('Wind Serenades' Course Director - all courses)

Jan Willem Nelleke

Jan Willem Nelleke
Concert pianist - tutor at Royal Conservatory in The Hague (Summer course)

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Philippa Davies
Flute soloist and chamber ensemble player - member of London Winds, Professor at Guildhall School of Music (Summer course)

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Mandy Burvill
Clarinettist - former member of Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (October course)

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Colin Honour
Former principal clarinettist in Opera North Orchestra, soloist and chamber ensemble player (Spring and Summer courses)

Magnard Ensemble - CMF 20 November 2015

Strictly for bassoonists!

Find out about the 2025 5-day Bassoon Course, when bassoonist / tutor Laurence Perkins will be joined by the wonderful Catriona McDermid, who will be inspiring us 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 18th - Thursday 22nd May 2025, 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.

Nearby Bassenthwaite Lake and Skiddaw, in early Spring
Nearby Bassenthwaite Lake and Skiddaw, in early Spring

Wind Serenades in Normandy, France

Saturday 11th - Saturday 18th October 2025

The garden at the Mill Retreat (photo: Kay Bill)
The garden at the Mill Retreat (photo: Kay Bill)

A brand new venue for Wind Serenades in a beautiful, peaceful location in Normandy - just 2 hours drive from Calais.

Saturday 11th - Saturday 18th October 2025
at the Mill Retreat, near the village of
Lafresguimont-Saint-Martin in Normandy, northern France

Tutored by Robert Plane and Laurence Perkins

Arrival on Saturday 11th between 1600-1800, first event is dinner, no music sessions that day. Departure after breakfast on Saturday 18th.

map for Normandy
The Mill Retreat (photo: Kay Bill)
The Mill Retreat (photo: Kay Bill)
Nearby boating lake
Nearby boating lake
Large session room at the Mill Retreat (photo: Kay Bill)
Large session room at the Mill Retreat (photo: Kay Bill)
Robert Plane (photo: Andrei Luca)
Robert Plane (photo: Andrei Luca)

Musical inspiration in an idyllic rural setting, with an easy short drive from Calais ferries or Eurotunnel - what could be better? With comfortable accommodation and fine food, this is definitely a week to look forward to!

We are very fortunate to have one of Britain’s leading clarinettists, Robert Plane, who will be joining us for the week. You will doubtless have heard some of his numerous legendary solo recordings - and he is equally passionate about chamber music, both as a player in Ensemble 360, and as a tutor. 

Music to be played

Musical plans include a celebration of French music including works by Ravel, Henri Tomasi and Mathieu Lussier, alongside other attractive repertoire by Janacek, Carl Orff and Mendelssohn. Exact programme details will be confirmed when the full line-up of players is known.

Accommodation and prices

Prices quoted below are for full-board accommodation, including all meals (standard catering with dietary requirement options) and refreshments from Saturday 11th October dinner to Saturday 18th October breakfast. Quoted rates do not include travel, but are inclusive of all the course fees and various costs involved in the setting up and running of the course.

As always, it’s first-come first-served, which includes preferences for accommodation. Availability of single-occupancy rooms means that the course is limited to 20 players. However, you are very welcome to bring a non-playing partner and share a room. Most rooms in the Mill Retreat have twin beds that can be made into a double (please specify which in advance), and this makes the trip for two people really good value for money. 

Please select your accommodation preference below, and indicate this in the "Suggestions and other details" panel on the online application form. If your preferred choice is no longer available at the time of your application, you will be offered the nearest option. If this is not suitable for you, you will not be under any obligation - course place confirmation and payment are only made once accommodation details have been agreed.

[A] En suite (very limited availability)
Exclusive use of en-suite bathroom. Twin beds, can be made double
Single occupancy: £1480
Non-playing partner sharing room: additional £890, total £2370 (£1185 each)

[B] 1 bathroom between 2 rooms
Single room: £1330

[C] 3 bathrooms between 5 bedrooms
Twin beds, can be made double
Single occupancy: £1180
Non-playing partner sharing room: additional £810, total £1990 (£995 each)

[D] 2 shower rooms (one with bath) plus additional toilet, between 7 bedrooms
Twin beds in 6 rooms, can be made double, plus 1 single room with one single bed.
Single occupancy: £1030
Non-playing partner sharing room: additional £750, total £1780 (£890 each) [not single room]

[E] 2 Gypsy caravans
Single or double (not twin), shared shower room and separate toilet with rooms on ground floor in the house. Occupant(s) should not be taller than 5’10” (1.7 metres)
Single occupancy £920
Non-playing partner sharing caravan (double bed): additional £690, total £1610 (£805 each)

One of the two gypsy caravans
One of the two gypsy caravans

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.

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 AB* grade 8 / ABRSM
Fluency in all keys is essential, as many of the pieces in these courses 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 levels 1/3, dipABRSM, LRSM, FRSM) is similar, but performing music which is even more challenging both musically and technically.


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.