RSCM (NSW) and TONUS AUSTRALIS present a unique two-part vocal & choral ¡TONE UP! workshop led by Joanna Forbes L’Estrange, former Musical Director of The Swingle Singers, and Antony Pitts, former Artistic Director of The Song Company. Both are composers and longstanding members of the celebrated British ensemble TONUS PEREGRINUS, founded by Antony at New College, Oxford. They bring their combined expertise to bear on a wide range of music from early polyphony in original notation to a cappella jazz, including movements from Joanna’s brand-new choral re-imagining of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, A Season to Sing.
Friday 28 March & Friday 4 April 6.30pm–9pm
St Philip’s, 3 York Street, Sydney (enter via Jamison St)
Tickets: $60 ($45*) per evening or $100 ($75*) for both evenings
*RSCM members
Book now at https://www.trybooking.com/CZEAA.
Repertoire selected from:
Joanna Forbes L’Estrange: movements from A Season to Sing including Make a Joyful Noise; Sing Cuccu!; Cosy Indoors (while outside it pours)
Antony Pitts and Orlando Gibbons: music from Hymns & Songs of the Church, including Hark! my soul
Thomas Tallis and William Byrd: motets and mass movements including O nata lux and the Agnus Dei from Byrd’s Mass for 4 voices in its original printed edition
Early rounds including William Cornysh’s Ah Robin (from the Henry VIII Manuscript) and the Anonymous Sumer is icumen in
Depending on the number of participants, each evening may include breakout sessions for upper and lower voices, and/or more specialist sessions on a cappella jazz and early music manuscripts. There will be continuity as well as variety across the two evenings, enhancing the experience for participants who come to both parts of the ¡TONE UP!.
Joanna Forbes L’Estrange
As Musical Director of The Swingles for seven years, I was fortunate to have Ward Swingle, the group’s founder, as my mentor and I began coaching choirs and a cappella groups throughout the world. I later founded and directed my own group AQUILA at St John’s College, Cambridge. I work with all types of choir, from youth choirs to professional chamber choirs and everything in between. My most popular workshop is You can sing…but can you swing?! which I present to choirs all over the world, helping them to gain confidence when singing in non-classical styles. I do this by de-mystifying terms such as “swing” and encouraging singers to “step-click” as they sing, passing on my top tips and expertise.
Antony Pitts
I have always sung – as a boy in the Chapel Royal, and later founding TONUS PEREGRINUS while an undergraduate at New College, Oxford. I came with my family to Australia to lead The Song Company as Artistic Director for seven years, and am now the William Byrd Fellow & Ambassador at Excelsia University College. I always aim to inspire confidence and bring out the best in everyone I work with. I love sharing my specialist musical knowledge, unique approach to historically informed performance from original notation, and diverse and extensive performance and recording experience – and helping emerging artists, and amateur and professional singers alike to refine and upgrade their skills.
¡TONE UP!
“Thoroughly enjoyed the three days. I came away feeling enriched and inspired, with the choice of music being challenging and satisfying. Can't recommend TONUS AUSTRALIS highly enough.”
Jess Ciampa, participant in the ¡TONE UP! at Excelsia University College, Sydney in January 2024
“A truly unforgettable experience, both as to learning and enjoyment. Antony’s knowledge and experience stood out clearly, as did his patience. I would be happy to recommend the workshop and thoroughly enjoyed the company and the enthusiasm of everyone who took part.”
Bob Jordan, participant in the inaugural ¡TONE UP!, Sydney, Jan 2023
