A Cappella day at Wells Bishop's Palace • with Matthew Coleridge and Francis Faux

WELLS Bishop's Palace - a cappella choral day
with Matthew Coleridge and Francis Faux

Two of the south-west's most popular composer-conductors - Matthew Coleridge and Francis Faux - team up for a day of unaccompanied choral singing in the stunning medieval chapel of Wells Bishop's Palace. 

We'll be singing some gorgeous music, including Matthew's exquisite "In your light, I learn how to love", and a new a cappella setting of "Stabat Mater Dolorosa", and Francis's sublime motet "Vidi Aquam".

SCHEDULE

Sunday 28th February 2027

10:00 arrival and singer registration

10:30 - 13:00 morning rehearsal

13:00 - 14:15 lunch break (and time to explore the palace and gardens)

14:15 - 15:30 afternoon rehearsal

15:30 - 16:00 informal performance

FRANCIS FAUX

One of the leading choral conductors in the south west, Francis is musical director and founder of Bath choirs Lucis and Noctis. A former chorister at Westminster Cathedral,Francis served for nearly a decade as Artistic Director of the principal chorus and chamber choir at Bath Spa University. During this time, he inspired a generation of young singers and musicians and continues to work there as an associate lecturer and vocal coach.

An award-winning composer for film, video games, and the concert hall, Francis has collaborated with filmmaker Jevan Chowdhury on several shorts for his ambitious 12 Films in 12 Months project. His song We Are Every Child - commissioned for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with Jamila Gavin MBE - was recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios and has been performed internationally, most recently by the National Children’s Choir of Great Britain, and Partnerschools in Houston, Texas.

Recent commissions have included Living in the 21st Century for the Exeter Cathedral Chorister Outreach Programme, There is No Rose for Prior Park College (Banks Music), and an arrangement of O Tannenbaum, premiered at Bath Abbey by mezzo-soprano Molly Soo and the Bristol Ensemble. His suite for solo clarinet, Tales of the Mabinogion (Clifton Edition), draws on the legends of Welsh mythology and was written for Emma Davies.

FAQs

WHAT WILL WE BE SINGING?

Repertoire will include Matthew Coleridge's In Your Light, I Learn How to Love and Stabat Mater Dolorosa, and Francis Faux's Vidi Aquam, plus one of two other pieces by Matthew and Francis. Each composer will conduct their own works. 

CAN ANYONE COME AND SING?

Yes, but a good level of choral singing experience would be helpful. There will be a lot of sight-reading on the day.

HOW MANY SINGERS WILL THERE BE?

We expect around 60-65 singers, and will try to ensure there is a good balance between voice parts (no, you definitely won't be the only tenor!).

CAN NON-SINGING PARTNERS ATTEND?

Yes! They're very welcome to come along at 3:30 to hear an informal performance, but will need to pay the admission fee for the Bishop's Palace.

CANCELLATION AND REFUNDS

Refunds will only be offered in the unlikely event that the organisers need to cancel the event. If you are unable to attend, you can transfer your place to another singer, but monetary refunds are not possible. There is an option to add refund protection to your ticket when you book. 

WELLS  Bishop's Palace and Chapel

Home to the Bishops of Bath and Wells for over 800 years, the stunning moated palace and 14 acres of gardens sits in the shadow of one of Europe's great cathedrals. At its heart is the Bishop's Chapel, dating from the late 13th century. An exceptionally fine example of the Early English style, the chapel features exquisite stone vaulting, and medieval roof bosses of naturalistic foliage and bizarre animals.