SuRF 2020
Summer Recorder Festival 2020
Friday 28th – Sunday 30th August 2020
Dean Close School, Hatherley Rd, Cheltenham GL51 6EP
Unfortunately, we have cancelled SuRF for 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
We hope to run it in 2021, when it will be from Friday 27th August – Sunday 29th August
This will be the 5th SuRF run by Jan Epps and Pam Smith; as before, places are limited to 120 so early booking is advised. Priority booking for those who attended SuRF 2019, until 31st March 2020.
The festival is not suitable for beginners. Players need to be at least grade 3 standard and able to play two sizes of recorder one of which should ideally be tenor or bass.
The printable application form is here, but applications from those who did not attend last year will only be dealt with on a first-come, first-served basis after 31st March 2020.
The full printable brochure is here.
Registration on the first day is at 3:30 pm in the Orangery by the Bacon Theatre and the first playing session will be 5:00pm. The festival finishes with a cup of tea at 4pm on Sunday after a final massed playing in Prince Michael Hall.
The playing sessions will cover four levels of difficulty (easier, moderate, harder moderate and very hard) with a huge variety of music and tutors. Whichever sessions you choose to attend, there will be a friendly and supportive atmosphere and, with so many different tutors, styles and approaches to suit everyone.
This year’s Saturday night extravaganza will be led by Pam and will be a feast of poly-choral music for massed recorders and voices. Please indicate on your application form if you would like to sing and also whether you would like to be sent a PDF of your part in advance.
Our tutors for 2019 are: Alyson Lewin, Annabel Knight, Helen Hooker, Moira Usher, Pam Smith, Ruth Burbidge, Sarah Whomersley, Andrew Challinger, Lesley Clarke, Annemarie Klein and Chris Orton.
New in 2020: Annabel Knight and Robin Bigwood will be offering the chance to have a short private lesson on repertoire with keyboard, either on your own, or as part of a group. There will be a sign-up sheet in the music school.
All music for the weekend will be provided but you will need to bring your recorder(s), a music stand and a pencil to mark your music.
The Venue
Dean Close School (click for map) 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 and chapel.
There is ample free parking on the site and 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
Prince Michael Hall in the music block will be the location for several sessions including the massed playing. There are several adjacent music rooms where instrument cases can be stowed. Classrooms in the English and Modern Language blocks will be used as the other playing rooms.
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.
Accommodation
Accommodation will be in a combination of single and shared bedrooms with various bathroom and semi-en-suite facilities in three accommodation blocks.
NO TOWELS ARE PROVIDED so please bring your own.
There are no en-suite rooms.
- Tower is adjacent to the main building and has a mixture of twin and single bed rooms with shared bathroom facilities. There is no lift in Tower and there are no ground floor bedrooms, so those with limited mobility are advised not to choose this accommodation block. Some of the stairs are quite steep so do bear this in mind when choosing your accommodation.
- 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.
- Brook House is located close to Prince Michael Hall music block where some of the playing sessions will take place. There are no lifts and the rooms in Brook are quite small, some have semi en-suite facilities (a bathroom between two rooms) while others have shared bathrooms. There are only a few ground floor rooms none of which are suitable for disabled guests.
In all 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 but access to some areas is not possible, including some of the playing rooms. If you have a disability and would like further information about the facilities please contact Jan.
Cost
| Residential | £265 |
| Non-residential (includes all meals except breadfast) | £190 |
| Saturday only ‘taster’ (includes lunch and dinner) This option is only available to people who have not attended SuRF before and don’t want to commit to the full weekend. |
£91 |
The printable application form is here, but applications from those who did not attend last year will only be dealt with on a first-come, first-served basis after 31st March 2020.
Contact Information:
Jan Epps, 35 Furzehatt Rd, Plymstock, Plymouth, PL9 8QX
Email: moc.liamgnull@75sppe.naj
Phone: 01752 417093.
Please note: the information in this brochure is correct at the time of printing but may be subject to alteration if circumstances change.