GCN Course at Portsmough a triumph

On Saturday 12 June 2010, a group of 50 people participated in a Gregorian Chant Workshop in St John’s Cathedral Portsmouth. The aim of the Workshop was to give a practical introduction to the Chant for those with little or no experience, as well as helping those with some ability to develop their skills at singing the Chant.

‘It was a terrific turnout,’ said organiser Neville McNally. ‘Far more people enrolled than we imagined. There was a wide range of ages too, from 11 years to 80.’ Some people had travelled great distances and had set out at 5am in order to catch trains to Portsmouth. A lady called Rose from Devon, who considered herself to be a complete beginner, said that the day was a superb experience and hopes that another Workshop will be organised soon.

The instruction was provided by 2 inspirational teachers and experienced practitioners of the Chant, Dom Cuthbert Brogan OSB, Abbot of St Michael’s Abbey Farnborough, and Christopher Hodkinson, a musicologist from Cambridge and a Director of the Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge.

The day concluded with Vespers and Benediction which were sung in the Cathedral by all those who had participated in the workshop.

The event was organised in association with the Gregorian Chant Network by members of a male-voice chant choir called the Schola Gregoriana Sancti Nicolai which is based in Portsmouth.

Anyone interested in finding out about future Workshops, please email chantnetwork@gmail.com or telephone 023 92862384