Paul Clark and Farncombe: Building on what Paul started for us

I am writing to all those who have attended or expressed an interest in Paul Clark’s Recorder Ensemble weekends to let you know that Paul will no longer be leading them. Many of you will be aware that he suffered a heart attack earlier this year. He has since decided that he should not run weekend courses. This is a huge loss to Farncombe as it was Paul who in October 2003, just after our launch in September that year, ran the very first weekend course to take place in the Farncombe Estate Centre programme. The splendid start he gave us with a group of committed and happy students was a huge fillip for an embryonic activity and set us on the way to having over 3,000 people here on evening talks, day schools, weekend courses and special events in 2006, with 4,500 expected in 2007.

We have in the programme for 2007, two more Recorder Ensemble weekends: 15 to 17 June and 21 to 23 September. On Paul’s recommendation we have asked Andrew Collis to take over these weekends. A brief CV for Andrew is attached together with the course description for his June course which is slightly different from Paul’s original programme. We hope he will continue to run weekends for us in future years.

Meanwhile, immediately following Paul’s heart attack when we were unable to speak to him, we contacted Helen Hooker who very kindly stood in at short notice to lead the weekend in February. We hope that she will also run weekends for us in 2008 and beyond. In addition we had already added to the programme some Recorder Day Schools which will be led by Cathy Dew who lives here in Worcestershire. The first of these is 13 October.

Paul has given us a great start to recorder playing at Farncombe. I hope we are taking that forward in ways that reflect his love and commitment to the instrument and its music.

If you have any questions or would like more information on any of the events, do please contact us.

With regards, William Reddaway - Head of Lifelong Learning


Andrew Collis
Andrew studied recorder with Paul Clark and at Trinity College of Music with Philip Thorby. Andrew performs in various ensembles at venues and festivals throughout the UK. An experienced teacher at all levels and as a tutor on courses/weekends he coaches a wide range of music from Early to avant-garde.

Ensemble Weekend 15 to 17 June 2007
The weekend is for competent recorder players in an ensemble situation. We will play some great music from a diverse collection of composers, something for all tastes. Music includes works by Gibbons, Purcell, Bach, Haydn, Hilling and Staeps. Instruments from sopranino down to Contra bass are welcome. The sessions will look at style and performance practice as well as recorder technique and playing in an ensemble.

Helen Hooker
Helen studied the recorder at Trinity College of Music under Philip Thorby, graduating in 1993 with a first class degree and the Post-Graduate Certificate in performance with distinction. She now combines performing on the recorder with teaching the instrument in and around her home town of Chichester. Helen regularly teaches on residential courses for recorder players of all ages, including the Recorder Summer School, of which she is Chairperson. Helen has directed weekend recorder courses at West Dean College since 2003. Helen is a visiting conductor and Musical Advisor to the Society of Recorder Players, regularly conducting recorder ensembles throughout the British Isles.

Helen has performed widely on the recorder, both as a soloist and chamber musician. She gives regular recitals throughout the UK with The Parnassian Ensemble. Helen has also been a tutor for the National Youth Recorder Orchestra of Great Britain since its inception in 2002.

Cathy Dew
Cathy is a recorder player specialising in music of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. She studied at the University of York, where she completed a PhD on instrumental music of the early seventeenth century. With Robert Howarth, she reached the final of the Early Music Network International Young Artists Competition in 1995, has broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and has performed as a soloist with a number of baroque orchestras. She regularly performs with harpsichordist Micaela Schmitz and enjoys leading educational workshops on early music for young people and adults across the UK.