Where Angels Sing
CAMBRIDGE, UK
MONDAY 31 AUGUST – SUNDAY 6 SEPTEMBER 2026
“If you love both singing and travel, don’t miss out on this experience – it’s unforgettable” Dick, Canada
OVERVIEW
Back by popular demand! Singers Abroad returns for a course based in the quintessentially English university city of Cambridge. Participants stay centrally in ensuite rooms at Clare College, the University’s second-oldest College which in 2026 in celebrates 700 years since its foundation, and where course director Graham Ross is Director of Music.
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The course includes five days of singing under the direction of Graham Ross leading to a Saturday afternoon concert in the beautiful 18th-century Chapel at Clare College. On the Friday we make a visit to nearby Ely Cathedral – one of the greatest medieval Cathedrals in all of England – to perform a service of Choral Evensong in the exquisite Lady Chapel, complete with its extraordinary 7-second echo. The week includes a rehearsal in the glorious Trinity College Chapel, as well as a final three-course dinner in the panelled Senior Combination Room of Peterhouse, Cambridge’s oldest College.
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For this course Graham Ross has assembled a beautiful and varied programme of (mostly!) British choral masterpieces from across the centuries on the uplifting theme of Where Angels Sing. There is a wonderful mix of music old and new which we will perform in exactly the type of buildings that many of the works were written for.
The course comprises a mix of serious singing and holiday, with time off between rehearsals to visit other Colleges, to take a graceful punt down the River Cam to admire Cambridge’s many architectural wonders, or perhaps to take a Rupert Brooke inspired trip to Grantchester for afternoon tea (or a pint!). There is an average of five hours singing per day, working towards the public concert on the Saturday afternoon.
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Rehearsals take place in the beautiful light-filled 18th century Chapel at Clare College. Daily cooked breakfasts, a group buffet lunch on the Thursday, and five excellent three-course group dinners with wine are all provided on the course, in exactly the site where the academic communities of students and Fellows have been dining for the last 700 years.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
The Singers Abroad course is for those who love to sing together. Participants should have a strong level of choral singing experience, good sight-reading skills, and have done some private preparation of the repertoire before the course begins. Singers of all ages can apply, either as individuals or with others.
The course runs from Monday evening, when we meet for a welcome reception and dinner, to the closing performance and dinner on Saturday, with participants departing Sunday morning. Concert dress is white shirts/blouses with long black trousers/skirts. Participants should bring their own black folders for the performances. Non-singing partners are welcome to join us, subject to availability, at a discounted price. Participants may wish to extend their time in England with holidays in Cambridgeshire or nearby counties, or London.
Participants should bring their own copies of the repertoire: details of recommended editions and a link to scores that can be downloaded are circulated to participants after bookings have been confirmed.
“Chamber singing with expert and friendly instruction in a setting that is nothing short of idyllic” George, England
BOOKINGS
Booking is now open for our summer course in Cambridge, UK from 31 August – 6 September 2026. We accept applications of all voice parts on a first-come first-served basis.
PRICINGS
The Singers Abroad course costs £1495 per person sharing a twin ensuite room. There is a single-occupancy supplement of £210 for single ensuite rooms. Non-singing partners sharing singers’ rooms are welcome, subject to availability, and pay a reduced fee of £1395. A deposit of £250 per person is required when booking, which is non-refundable after the deadline of 1 May 2026. The full balance is required by 1 July 2026.
What is provided in the cost?
The course includes:
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six nights of bed & breakfast ensuite College accommodation at Clare College, Cambridge
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a welcome reception on the opening night
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musical tuition (in English) under the direction of Graham Ross
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a closing Concert in the Chapel of Clare College, Cambridge
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Choral Evensong in the medieval Ely Cathedral (with transport provided)
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a group lunch and five group dinners with wine
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great music making and new friendships!
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What is not provided in the cost?
The course does not include:
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transportation to/from Cambridge
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purchase of music
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health/travel insurance: we recommend that all singers take out their own holiday and cancellation cover
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​Insurance
Singers Abroad Ltd is a company committed to customer satisfaction and consumer financial protection. We are therefore pleased to confirm to you that, in accordance with our obligations under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 No.684, we have purchased Travel Regulation Insolvency Protection Insurance in our name for your benefit. This insurance policy has been arranged by Towergate Travel with AXA Insurance UK plc (the insurer). Please contact us if you require a copy of the policy wording.
COURSE LEADER & CONDUCTOR
In recent seasons his work has taken him to Sydney Opera House, Washington’s Library of Congress, Notre Dame Cathedral, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, and across Europe. At the age of 25 he made his BBC Proms and Glyndebourne debuts, with other opera work taking him to Jerusalem, London, Aldeburgh and Provence. He studied music at Clare College, Cambridge and conducting at the Royal College of Music, London.
OUTLINE SCHEDULE
Monday 31 August 2026
Check in from 3pm onwards
Welcome evening drinks reception
Three-course group dinner together
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Tuesday 1 September 2026
Morning rehearsal
Afternoon rehearsal
Three-course dinner together
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Wednesday 2 September 2026
Morning rehearsal
Afternoon rehearsal
Free time in Cambridge (punting!)
Three-course dinner together
Thursday 3 September 2026
Morning rehearsal
Group buffet lunch together
Afternoon rehearsal in Trinity College Chapel
Free evening
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Friday 4 September 2026
Morning rehearsal
Afternoon rehearsal in Ely Cathedral
Choral Evensong in Ely Cathedral
Three-course dinner together in Cambridge
Saturday 5 September 2026
Free morning
Dress rehearsal in Clare College Chapel
Afternoon concert in Clare College Chapel
Drinks reception and final group dinner at Peterhouse College
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Sunday 6 September 2026
Participants depart (check out by 10am)
TRAVEL
Travel to and from Cambridge is organised by participants directly, and is not provided in the cost. However, with permission, we are happy to share details of participants’ travel plans amongst the group in advance to facilitate the option of booking group transfers to/from airports.
By air: Stansted Airport is located just 30 miles south of Cambridge, is 40 minutes away via the M11 motorway and is the most convenient international airport but there are also regular flights from most European destinations. Heathrow and Gatwick are both approximately 2 hours away by road or rail, and there are frequent coach connections to Cambridge (Drummer Street Bus Station) from all three airports. Car hire is available at all these airports.
By train: Cambridge has excellent train links across the UK. Less than an hour away from London, there are frequent departures from King’s Cross and Liverpool Street stations. Some direct services operate from Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Nottingham. Cambridge Station is about a 25 minute walk from Clare College, but buses run every eight minutes into the centre of Cambridge and taxis are available for hire at Cambridge Station.
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By coach: There are frequent services between London’s Victoria Coach Station and Drummer Street Bus Station in Cambridge. Most services will terminate from Cambridge Bus Station, from here it is only a five minute walk to Clare Old Court.
By road: Cambridge is linked to London and the M25 by the M11 motorway. Exit at junction 12 for Barton Road or Junction 13 for Madingley Road. Access from the Midlands and North is via the A14 and A1. From whichever direction you approach you should make for the A14 to the north of Cambridge. Participants who wish to drive may be able to park in Clare College, subject to availability, for an additional cost.
REPERTOIRE
For this course Graham Ross has programmed a beautiful and varied programme of (mostly!) British choral masterpieces, entitled Where Angels Sing. Some works will be familiar, others will be new discoveries.
The performances will include selections from the following:
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Where angels sing
RICHARD DERING Factum est silentium
JACOB HANDL Duo Seraphim
arr. JIM CLEMENTS Gabriel's Message
ERIC THIMAN Lord, make my heart a place where angels sing
HOWARD SKEMPTON He wishes for the cloths of heaven
EDWARD ELGAR The shower
JUDITH WEIR Magnificat (St John’s Service)
GUSTAV HOLST Nunc dimittis
IMOGEN HOLST A Hymne to Christ
WILLIAM SMITH Preces and Responses
JAMES TURLE Psalm 23
WILLIAN HENRY MONK. arr. GRAHAM ROSS Abide with me
JAMES MACMILLAN The Canticle of Zechariah
JOHN TAVENER Today the Virgin
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