‘Palestrina & Pairings’
SIENA, TUSCANY, ITALY
MONDAY 25 – SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2025
“A rare opportunity to experience a masterclass of singing in a holiday setting, with like-minded people” Jane, England
OVERVIEW
Back by very popular demand, Singers Abroad returns to the beautiful setting of Le Tolfe in Tuscany; a large historic 17-bedroom villa with additional outbuildings, all overlooking the Chianti hills and the enchanting medieval city of Siena. Housing some of Italy’s finest architecture, Siena’s intoxicating mix of art, culture and gastronomy creates an unforgettable feast for the senses – and a perfect backdrop to a singing course! Previous participants at Singers Abroad courses in Siena have all commented how at home they feel in one of Tuscany’s most beautiful settings.
The course includes five days of singing under the direction of Graham Ross, leading to participation at Mass and a concert on the Saturday evening in the nearby Franciscan monastery, Basilica dell’Osservanza, which has an excellent acoustic for choral music. The repertoire for this course is ‘Palestrina and Pairings’, offering something completely unique in this 500th anniversary year of the birth of Italy’s most famous sacred composer: participants will work on Palestrina’s beautiful four-part Missa Ememdemus in melius, a Mass which, up until 2025, has never been recorded until Graham Ross released its premiere recording with his Choir of Clare College, Cambridge. Singers Abroad participants in Siena will have the opportunity to work with Graham directly on this magnificent work surrounded by the Tuscan views, alongside preparing a concert programme of a cappella choral works centred around the great choral pairings of words by different composers, with composers from Batten and Byrd to Gibbons and Walton, and plenty more in-between!
The course comprises a mix of serious chamber choir singing and time off between rehearsals to visit Siena and the beautiful medieval hill town of Montepulciano on Wednesday morning and the village of Castellina in Chianti on Friday afternoon. Participants can sample the excellent local Chianti wine (including at a wine tasting at Le Tolfe), relax in the pool and gardens surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, or simply enjoy the serenity of the timeless surrounding landscape. There is an average of five hours singing per day, working towards the public concert on the Saturday evening.
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Rehearsals, accommodation and all course meals take place on site, with spectacular panoramic views over the Sienese hills in every direction. Located 3km to the north-east of Siena, La Torre alle Tolfe (www.latorrealletolfe.com) is a 100-hectare working organic estate producing Chianti wine and oil. There is an excellent rehearsal space in the grounds of the villa, as well as a large living room with a Steinway grand piano. Bedrooms are serviced daily, and the villa has its own large unheated swimming pool, tennis court, boules court, billiards table and outdoor table tennis. Wifi is available in or near the dining room.
The course schedule allows participants time at leisure to explore the magnificent city of Siena, as well as to sign up for cooking classes, oil tasting, farm tours, and more. With the exception of Wednesday lunch and Thursday dinner, all meals are included in the price of the course and are served with local wines. In addition, participants can enjoy an al fresco wine tasting on Tuesday evening – this is often a real highlight of our stay at Le Tolfe.​
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WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
The Singers Abroad course is for those who love to sing together. Participants should have a good level of choral singing experience and 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. It should be noted that there are a very limited number of single rooms in the villa, and therefore this course is best suited to couples or friends willing to share a room.
The course runs from Monday evening, when we meet for a welcome drinks reception and dinner, to the closing performance at Mass and the concert and dinner on Saturday evening, 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 concert. Non-singing partners are welcome to join us, subject to availability, at a discounted price. Participants may wish to extend their time in Tuscany with holidays in nearby Greve in Chianti, San Gimignano, or Volterra.
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.
BOOKINGS
Booking is now open for our summer course ‘Palestrina and Pairings’ in Siena, Tuscany, from 25–31 August 2025. We accept applications of all voice parts on a first-come first-served basis.
PRICINGS
The Singers Abroad course costs £1395 per person sharing a room. It should be noted that there are a very limited number of single rooms in the accommodation, and that these will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. This course is best suited to couples or friends sharing a room. Subject to availability of rooms, there is a single-occupancy supplement of £38 per night. Non-singing partners sharing singers’ rooms are welcome, subject to availability, and pay a reduced fee of £1295. A deposit of £250 per person is required when booking, which is non-refundable after the deadline of 1 May 2025. The full balance is required by 1 July 2025.
What is provided in the cost?
The course includes:
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six nights of bed & breakfast accommodation at Le Tolfe
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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 nearby Basilica dell’Osservanza, a Renaissance Franciscan monastery with excellent acoustics
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visits to the medieval hill town of Montepulciano and the village of Castellina in Chianti
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four group lunches and five group dinners, with wine, at the villa
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a wine tasting on the Tuesday evening before dinner
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transfers to/from Montepulciano and Castellina in Chianti
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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 Le Tolfe
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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 Limited is a company committed to customer satisfaction and consumer financial protection. We are therefore pleased to announce that, at no extra cost to you, and in accordance with the current “The Package Travel, Package Tours Regulations” all passengers booking with Singers Abroad Limited are fully insured for the initial deposit, and subsequently the balance of monies paid as detailed in your booking confirmation form. The policy will also include repatriation if required, arising from the cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the insolvency of Singers Abroad Limited. This Policy is issued by Evolution Insurance Company Limited which is registered in Gibraltar No. 88737 with a registered office at 5/5 Crutchett’s Ramp, Gibraltar, GX11 1AA. Evolution Insurance Company Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission in Gibraltar and authorised and subject to limited regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK. Details about the extent of our authorisation and regulation by the FCA are available from us on request.
In the unlikely event of Insolvency of Singers Abroad Limited please follow the procedures below: Claims should be submitted in writing within 14 days of the Administration order or Singers Abroad Limited being declared insolvent supported by documented evidence quantifying the value of the claim. Claims should be submitted to: Evolution Insurance Solutions Limited, 53A High Street, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB10 1AA or via email to claims@evo-insurance.com. Policy exclusions: This policy will not cover any monies paid back to you by your Travel Insurance or any losses which are recoverable under another insurance or bond (with the exception of Credit and Debit card). This policy will also not cover any loss sustained by Passenger(s) booked on a flight-inclusive package sold and commencing within the United Kingdom. Policy Period covers bookings made within the dates 1 October 2024–30 September 2025 regardless of date of travel.
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CONDUCTOR AND COURSE LEADER
Graham Ross has established an exceptional reputation as a sought-after conductor and composer of a very broad range of repertoire. His performances around the world and his extensive discography have earned consistently high international praise. He is Director of Music at Clare College, Cambridge, where he conducts the internationally-renowned Choir, co-founder and Principal Conductor of The Dmitri Ensemble, and in demand as a regular guest conductor around the world. Recent collaborations have included the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Mozart Players, BBC Concert Orchestra, Aalborg Symfoniorkester, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Danish National Vocal Ensemble, Ars Nova Copenhagen, Norwegian Wind Ensemble and BBC Singers.
In recent seasons his work has taken him to Sydney Opera House, Washington’s Library of Congress, Notre Dame Cathedral 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. In 2025 he was appointed Musician in Residence for Scott Polar Research Institute, travelling to Antarctica on a composition residency on Royal Navy’s ice-patrol ship HMS Protector. He studied music at Clare College, Cambridge and conducting at the Royal College of Music, London.
OUTLINE SCHEDULE
Monday 25 August 2025
Check-in from 3pm onwards at Le Tolfe, Siena
Welcome evening drinks reception
Three-course dinner together at Le Tolfe
Tuesday 26 August 2025
Morning rehearsal
Lunch together at Le Tolfe
Afternoon rehearsal
Wine tasting
Three-course pizza dinner together at Le Tolfe
Wednesday 27 August 2025
Free morning in Montepulciano (transport to/from Le Tolfe provided)
Afternoon rehearsal
Three-course group dinner at Le Tolfe
Thursday 28 August 2025
Morning rehearsal
Lunch together at Le Tolfe
Early afternoon rehearsal
Free late afternoon and evening
Friday 29 August 2025
Morning rehearsal
Lunch together at Le Tolfe
Afternoon visit to Castellina in Chianti
Three-course group dinner at Le Tolfe
Saturday 30 August 2025
Free morning
Lunch together at Le Tolfe
Afternoon dress rehearsal at Basilica dell’Osservanza
Early evening Mass and Concert at Basilica dell’Osservanza
Three-course dinner together at Le Tolfe
Sunday 31 August 2025
Participants depart (check-out by 10am)
“This was the trip of a lifetime! I loved learning, singing and experiencing Italy with the wonderful folks at Singers Abroad” Lisa, Canada
TRAVEL
REPERTOIRE
Travel to and from Le Tolfe 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: nearby airports are Florence (BA, Vueling, Iberia; 45 minute drive), Pisa (BA, Ryanair, Easyjet; 2 hour drive), Rome (BA, Ryanair, Vueling, Alitalia, Iberia, Easyjet; 2.5 hour drive) and Bologna (BA, Ryanair, Easyjet; 2.5 hour drive). Car hire is available at all these airports.
By train: trains are available across Italy from most of the airports listed above, but these are likely to involve at least one change. Routing can be planned at: www.thetrainline.com/trains/italy
By car: Le Tolfe is located at La Torre alle Tolfe, 12 Strada della Tolfe, 53100 Siena. There is plenty of parking space available at the property.​​
For this course Graham Ross has programmed ‘Palestrina and Pairings’: a beautiful and varied a cappella choral programme centred around the Missa Emendemus in melius by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, whose 500th anniversary of his birth is celebrated in 2025. Graham Ross’s world premiere recording of this Mass is released in 2025, and participants will have the opportunity to work with him directly on this magnificent work. Great choral pairings make up the concert programme that follows the Mass, including O sing joyfully by Adrian Batten and William Byrd, Coventry Carol from early 16th century England and Kenneth Leighton, Drop, drop, slow tears by Orlando Gibbons and William Walton, and I heard a voice from heaven by Herbert Howells and Heinrich Schütz. Plus maybe one or two more!