The Swan Consort is currently seeking expressions of interest from primary schools across England and Wales who would like to benefit from choral singing workshops, delivered by our professional musicians.

The natural world has moved human beings to make art since time immemorial. Building on a collection of choral works inspired by bird song from the 15th Century to the present day, professional vocal ensemble The Swan Consort are offering singing workshops to primary school aged children in the UK. In these workshops, students will experience the consort in live performance, learn about the birds of the British Isles, and devise their own polyphonic choral improvisation based on the bird songs. They will learn to warm up their voices, sing in harmony, and have the opportunity to perform alongside the professionals. The project engages children with the nature on their doorstep, offers coaching in group singing, and draws children into dialogue with composers who, throughout history, have been inspired by the songs of the birds. The Swan Consort’s Birdsong Workshops have been successfully piloted in two primary schools in Brighton and Hove, in association with Brighton Early Music Festival (2021-2022).