Summer Recorder Festival (SuRF)
Friday 28th – Sunday 30th August 2026
Dean Close School, Hatherley Rd, Cheltenham GL51 6EP
Sorry, SuRF is now full.
The printable version of this information can be downloaded here (PDF).
About SuRF
Jan and Pam founded the Summer Recorder Festival in 2015 and it is still going strong with the same friendly atmosphere and variety of opportunities on offer. Since the pandemic we have reduced numbers significantly but still have nine tutors with us for the weekend: Pam Smith, Moira Usher, Annemarie Klein, Sarah Whomersley, Kate Alsop, Julie Dean, Annabel Knight and Robin Bigwood and Tim Cranmore. Annabel and Robin will once again be offering the chance to play recorders with keyboard.
Bookings can only be taken for the entire festival and priority will be given to those who attended last year until 15th March 2026. If you did not attend last year, send me your application form straight away. Once priority booking ends, I will allocate remaining places on a first-come-first-served basis. Players need to be able to play two sizes of recorder, one of which should be tenor or bass. Registration on Friday is at 3:30 pm in the Orangery by the Bacon Theatre. The first playing session will be at 5pm and the festival finishes with a cup of tea at 4pm on Sunday.
All music will be provided but please bring a pencil and a music stand (clearly marked with your name), in addition to your recorders.
2026 Timetable
For the first time this year, we will be welcoming Jane Macpherson, a local senior yoga teacher and therapist who is really looking forward to being involved. At the start of the Welcome Session she will take us through 15-20 mins of chair yoga to help us warm-up and feel more flexible after the long journeys which many of you will have had. In order to maximise space, please bring your music stand still folded and instrument still in its case and put them under your chair while we do the yoga. Then we’ll play! Greats and contras will be welcome in this first session and can be set up on or in front of the staging at the back of the hall.
After dinner we have our usual Friday evening carousel. There will be two slightly longer sessions for each group than last year, which will make for more actual playing time and a less-frantic time for the tutors! You will be allocated a place in one of the playing rooms and the tutors will come to you. All music will be for SATB and of a moderate level of difficulty. Before heading to bed, or to the bar, Jane is offering a 15-20 minute yoga relaxation session in Day House 2 (the Day House we don’t use for music sessions). There will also be a ‘yoga-before-breakfast’ session on Saturday morning.
Throughout Saturday and Sunday there will be a ‘very hard’ (VH) option, a ‘moderately hard’ (MH) option and two ‘moderate’ (M) options. On Saturday Pam will be running some sessions for anyone who would like to play renaissance facsimile. The pieces will be short and accessible to all.
In addition to the ensemble slots, there will be the opportunity to explore the repertoire for recorders and keyboard with Robin and Annabel; the sign-up sheets are on the door of ‘Mozart’ in the music block. If there is sufficient interest we are hoping to offer a session with keyboard at 415 pitch.
On Saturday evening Moira will be leading us through the monumental 40-part motet by Thomas Tallis – Spem in alium. What a treat!
We welcome back, this year, Tim Cranmore who has also promised to bring a carrot or two with him, following his success with King Charles.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0l2jtt8
One of my reasons for wanting to involve Jane in the festival is especially to look after ourselves when we play larger instruments. It therefore seemed logical to have a longer 30 minute yoga session on Sunday morning before the start of my 8ft session. This is open to all, even if you are not coming to my session but is especially relevant to players of larger instruments and will focus on minimising tension and improving posture and breath control.
The Venue
Dean Close School is situated just off the A40, five minutes’ drive from junction 11 of the M5 and Cheltenham Spa railway station. If you wish to take some time out to relax, the grounds of Dean Close School are extensive and there is a pretty garden with seats adjacent to the dining room, day school and chapel. There is ample free parking on the site. Cheltenham town centre is 10-15 min away on foot. There is free Wi-Fi on the campus accessed with a password. Further information can be found on the web site: www.deanclosevenues.co.uk
Playing rooms
The Helen Porter Hall in the music block will be the location for several sessions including the massed playing. Mozart in the music block will also be used as a playing room. There are several adjacent music rooms where instrument cases can be stowed. We will be using the ‘Day Houses’ for playing rooms. These are detached and each one has its own toilets including disabled; they are also just a short walk from the dining room via the quadrant.
Meals
All meals, including tea and coffee, will be served in the main dining hall; this is also where you will find all the shops.
Shops
The Early Music shop, Barratt Recorders with Anthony Barratt, Recorder shop London with Julie Dean, Hawthorns music with Alyson Lewin, AK Music with Annabel Knight and Recorder Music Mail with Ruth and Jerry Burbidge.
Accommodation
Accommodation will be in single rooms (shared bedrooms for couples are available) with various bathroom and semi-en-suite facilities in two accommodation blocks. NO TOWELS ARE PROVIDED so please bring your own. There are no en-suite rooms.
Shelburne is a modern block located a short distance from the main campus and has lifts to all floors. The bedrooms are semi en-suite (a bathroom between two bedrooms) and are suitable for disabled guests. PLEASE NOTE although the rooms in Shelburne are suitable for the disabled it is a short walk to the main campus and you need to use keypads to access the gates and main entrance. Please contact Jan if you would like to discuss the options for disabled. Email moc.liamgnull@75sppe.naj
Brook House is located close to the music block, where some of the playing sessions will take place. There are no lifts and the rooms in Brook are quite small. There are only a few ground floor rooms, none of which are suitable for disabled guests.
In both accommodation blocks there are kitchen facilities where tea and coffee will be provided. The provisions will not include fruit or herbal teas or decaf tea/coffee so please bring your own if required. Please bring your own mug and teaspoon.
Disabled access
Dean Close School has wheelchair access and disabled toilets. If you have a disability and would like further information about the facilities, please contact Jan.
Please note: the information in this brochure is correct at the time of printing but may be subject to alteration if circumstances change.
Application forms and your course fee should be sent to:
Jan Epps, 35 Furzehatt Rd, Plymstock , Plymouth , PL9 8QX
Email: moc.liamgnull@75sppe.naj Telephone: 01752 417093
Payment can be by cheque made payable to ‘RECORDERS FOR ALL ‘ or by BACS with your name as the reference.
BACS details:
Bank: HSBC Account name: Recorders-for-All
Sort code: 40-17-10 Account number: 02369214
Cancellation Policy
Recorders-for-all is not liable for any losses incurred if you have to cancel your booking for any reason. You are advised to take out insurance in case you are unable to attend. If Jan is able to fill your place you will receive a full refund less a £10 administration fee. Closing date for applications is 1 JULY 2026
The printable version of this information can be downloaded here (PDF).