Upcoming Events
RSCM Courses in the UK: Choral Conducting Course 2026
A four-day course taking place on select Saturdays from September to November 2026 at the Charterhouse in London, led by Manvinder Rattan – one of the UK’s most experienced conductor trainers.
Please note, this course is now fully booked for participants. However, we are offering places for course observers – an opportunity to observe Manvinder’s teaching, ask questions, and sing alongside course participants. Please email us to request a place.
“Manvinder is an extraordinarily effective trainer of conductors, whether they be just starting out or more experienced. His ‘can do’ approach, allied to innate sensitivity and humour, together with an ability to convey the essentials of a cast-iron technique, inspires and enables all who work with him.”
Simon Toyne – Executive Director of Music for the David Ross Education Trust
The course runs 09:30-16:30 on the following Saturdays in 2026:
Saturday 12th September
Saturday 10th October
Saturday 7th November
Saturday 14th November
Course participants are required to attend every Saturday course day.
Sung Mass at St Jaques-sur-Coudenberg, Brussels
Katy Lavinia Cooper - Pange Lingua
Jonathan Dove - Missa Brevis
Franz Liszt - Ave Maria
Hertford Chamber Choir
directed by Manvinder Rattan
entrance - free
Echoes of Vienna
Grace Oliver - Soprano
Niamh Kearney - Mezzo-soprano
Charlie Eastwood - Tenor
Dominic Felts - Bass
Singability Carol Service
Carol Service with Singability – the choir of Seeability (formerly The Royal School for the Blind)
Light in Midwinter
J Rutter – Magnificat
Carols for choir and audience
Bibi Heal - Soprano
Benington School Choir
Hertford Choral Society
Serafine Sinfonia
directed by Manvinder Rattan
A Ceremony of Carols
Hertford Chamber Choir will repeat our popular candlelit Britten - A Ceremony of Carols on Saturday 19th December in St Mary’s Church in Welwyn (5.30pm start).
RHAPSODY IN BLUE: THE MUSIC AND COLOURS OF THE GANGES
SOLD OUT: Join Manvinder Rattan on a Unique Musical Journey Through India
Esteemed conductor and choral trainer, Manvinder Rattan, will be a featured guest lecturer on the "Rhapsody in Blue" tour, an exclusive voyage along the Ganges River and its tributaries from December 28, 2026, to January 7, 2027. This unique trip offers an exploration of the music and vibrant colours of Bengal.
Aboard the classic river boat, the MV Bengal Ganga, guests will embark on a journey likened to a "house party" atmosphere.
Musical and Cultural Highlights: Manvinder Rattan will present a series of lectures offering a "gentle introduction to Indian music." His talks will cover the rich diversity of India's musical traditions, from Mughal ragas and Sensuous Carnatic tones to Sufi Qawwali and Bengali folk music. The lectures will be complemented by live performances from local musicians invited on board, including Baul singers and Qawwali artists.
The itinerary includes visits to:
Phulia: A village renowned for its hand-woven fabrics and the revival of natural dyeing techniques.
Kalna: Home to the magnificent Rajbari temple complex.
Murshidabad: Featuring the Hazarduari Palace Museum and opportunities to see raw silk production.
Varanasi: The spiritual heart of India, where guests will witness ancient rituals and enjoy a classical Raga performance at a traditional "gharana" (music house).
The tour also focuses on the "Colours of Bengal," with opportunities to meet textile designers, observe the creation of natural dyes and block printing, and purchase unique fabrics directly from artisans.
The Ship: The MV Bengal Ganga is a family-owned vessel featuring elegant teak, mahogany, and brass fittings. All cabins are twin-bedded with en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning.
Post-Tour Option: An optional two-night post-tour stay in Kolkata is available from January 7-9, 2027, which includes sightseeing of the city's iconic landmarks.
This journey promises to be a deeply enriching experience, allowing participants to not only learn about but also to "touch the souls" of India's profound musical and cultural heritage.
SOLD OUT
Choral Conducting Course
Noted conductor and conductor trainer Manvinder Rattan is delighted to be leading a Choral Conducting training day at Chingford Parish Church on Saturday 23 January 2027, hosted by the Director of Music, Mike Emerson,
Manvinder is one of the U.K.’s most experienced conductor trainers with a considerable track record of success in both choral and orchestral training. He spent 25 years as a tutor for Sing for Pleasure—the latter 17 years as its Head of Conductor training—in which time the courses became accredited by the ABRSM and participant numbers reached an all-time high with unprecedented approval ratings. Manvinder was invited to run a choral conducting course for The Royal School of Music in autumn 2026, which proved immensely popular; feedback from all his 2026 courses was 100% good to excellent.
“Manvinder is an extraordinarily effective trainer of conductors, whether they be just starting out or more experienced. His can-do approach, allied to innate sensitivity and humour, together with an ability to convey the essentials of a cast-iron technique, inspires and enables all who work with him. In short, Manvinder is one of nature’s empowerers and is a joy to work with.”
Simon Toyne, Executive Director of Music for the David Ross Education Trust
The course is designed to support those who have had no or limited formal conductor training and also those who have and wish to progress further.
By the end of the course, participants should be able to:
● Get the music and their gesture thoroughly prepared
● Know each part well enough to accurately vocally model it
● Keep the teaching pacy and effectively lead the rehearsal whilst making it fun
● Deploy a range of simple, clear and meaningful conducting gestures
● Get a musical performance from even the simplest repertoire
● Evaluate their own achievements, and learn from the work of others, in a positive way
Course Delivery
The course is delivered in two ways—technique sessions will include practical demonstrations of many of the key aspects of conducting, and the workshop sessions that follow give participants podium time to put into practice what they have learned. This is achieved within a relaxed and supportive learning environment. Repertoire at this level is deliberately simple so as not to get in the way of learning the technical aspects. Participants themselves form the choir for the course, and there is no limit to the number of singing observers who may attend.
Timetable
0930 Arrive
1000 Introductions and Technique session
1115 Workshop 1
1300 Lunch
1400 Workshop 2
1500 Short break
1515 Workshop 3
1615 Wrap-up
1630 End
Participants are asked to provide their own lunch (there are several sources close by), and all-day refreshments will be provided.
Please apply for the course using this link by Monday 11 January 2027.
Course costs are as follows:
Conducting participant £50
Concession (unwaged) £40
Singer/observer £5
This will be payable in advance by bank transfer to
Chingford Parish Church Choir Fund (this is a business account)
Sort code 40-02-40, a/c 91042319
Ref: Conducting course
Mozart: Great Mass in C Minor
W A Mozart – Great Mass in C minor, K.427
Hilary Cronin - Soprano
Camille Maalawy - Mezzo-soprano
Benedict Munden - Tenor
Filippo Turkheimer - Bass
Hertford Choral Society
Serafine Sinfonia
directed by Manvinder Rattan
City Streets, Country Songs
B Chilcott – British folk songs
J Rutter - Birthday Madrigals
and other secular pieces accompanied by Jonathan Eyre on piano
Hertford Choral Society
directed by Manvinder Rattan
Choral Cruise: Spain and Portugal Autumn Warmth
Calling all singers with a passion for travel
Strangers quickly become friends in the early autumn sunshine of the Iberian peninsular. See Porto, a city of colourful waterfront buildings, mix British charm with Mediterranean warmth in Gibraltar, and explore the Roman amphitheatre in Cartagena, before you conclude the tour with a stroll along palm-lined promenades in Alicante.
Manvinder Rattan joins us as our guest director. As Musical Director as John Lewis Partnership Music Society Manvinder grew the society into a flourishing community of eight choirs performing around the country. He also established award-winning chamber choir The Cavendish Singers and its sister orchestra, The Cavendish Ensemble. He was also Head of Conductor Training with the charity Sing for Pleasure.
Every Choral Cruise includes:
A luxury travel experience with a leading cruise line
Special Brandenburg social and musical events
Singing workshops every day led by one of our experienced and friendly choral directors
A final on-board concert performance
Bespoke repertoire selected by participants
First step: register your interest by completing this form
Songs of Spirit: Favourite Choral Anthems
Saturday 20th of June 2026 5 pm, All Saints Hertford
Choral favourites for Choir and organ
Including works by Britten, Walton, Elgar, Bairstow
Hertford Choral Society
Manvinder Rattan
Conducting Course: Kuala Lumpur
Conducting Course
11-14 June 2026
9:00-16:00
BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL KL in partnership with FOBISIA
SUITABLE FOR:
Teachers & Choral Leaders
This course is designed to help you be the best choral leader you can be with a carefully designed programme of study. This includes plenty of practice time, delivered in a supportive and warm training environment which puts the learner at the centre of the learning process. It is designed for those with some musical literacy, familiarity with western staff notation is preferred, and ideally, some experience of singing.
For any questions please contact:
Course Content: contact@manvinderrattan.com
Course Logistics: r.howarth@britishschool.edu.my
Manvinder is one of the U.K.’s most experienced conductor trainers with a considerable track record of success in both choral and orchestral training. He spent 25 years as a tutor for Sing for Pleasure – the latter 17 years as its Head of Conductor training – in which time the courses became accredited by the ABRSM and participant numbers reached an all-time high with unprecedented approval ratings.
“Manvinder is an extraordinarily effective trainer of conductors, whether they
be just starting out or more experienced. His ‘can do’ approach, allied to innate
sensitivity and humour, together with an ability to convey the essentials of a
cast-iron technique, inspires and enables all who work with him. In short,
Manvinder is one of nature’s empowerers, and is a joy to work with.”
Simon Toyne Executive Director of Music for the David Ross Education Trust
3250RM per participant
This includes:
All tuition
Course Materials
Refreshments and lunch each day
SfP Junior Song book pack
Does not include: Transport, accommodation or evening meals
Sign up
Fill in this form with your contact details and your level of conducting experience.
Send payment to: The British School of Kuala Lumpur Sdn Bhd
Account No.: 054-014808-021
Bank Name: HSBC Amanah
Branch: One Utama Swift Code: HMABMYKL
Choral Conducting Training Course
Noted conductor and conductor trainer Manvinder Rattan is delighted to be leading a Choral Conducting training day at St Francis of Assisi Church, Welwyn Garden City on Saturday 25th April 2026 hosted by the Director of Music, Joel Colyer.
Manvinder is one of the U.K.’s most experienced conductor trainers with a considerable track record of success in both choral and orchestral training. He spent 25 years as a tutor for Sing for Pleasure – the latter 17 years as its Head of Conductor training – in which time the courses became accredited by the ABRSM and participant numbers reached an all-time high with unprecedented approval ratings.
“Manvinder is an extraordinarily effective trainer of conductors, whether they be just starting out or more experienced. His can do approach, allied to innate sensitivity and humour, together with an ability to convey the essentials of a cast-iron technique, inspires and enables all who work with him. In short, Manvinder is one of nature’s empowerers, and is a joy to work with. ”
Simon Toyne Executive Director of Music for the David Ross Education Trust
The course is designed to support those who have had no or limited formal conductor training and also those who have, and wish to progress further.
By the end of the course, participants should be able to:
● Get the music and their gesture thoroughly prepared
● Know each part well enough to accurately vocally model it
● Keep the teaching pacy and effectively lead the rehearsal whilst making it fun
● Deploy a range of simple, clear and meaningful conducting gestures
● Get a musical performance from even the simplest repertoire
● Evaluate their own achievements, and learn from the work of others, in a positive way
Course Delivery
The course is delivered in two ways – technique sessions will include practical demonstrations of many of the key aspects of conducting and the workshop sessions that follow give participants podium time to put into practice what they have learnt. This is achieved within a relaxed and supportive learning environment. Repertoire at this level is deliberately simple so as not to get in the way of learning the technical aspects. Participants themselves form the choir for the course and there is no limit to the number of singing observers who may attend.
Timetable
0930 Arrive
1000 Introductions and Technique session
1115 Coffee
1130 Workshop 1
1300 Lunch
1400 Workshop 2
1515 Short break
1530 Workshop 3
1650 Wrap up
1700 End
Participants are asked to provide their own lunch (there are several sources close by) and all-day refreshments will be provided.
Please apply for the course using this link by Monday 12 April 2026.
Course costs are as follows;
Conducting participant £60
Singer/observer £5
This will be payable in advance by bank transfer to St Francis’ church account, details of which will be sent to you with your booking confirmation
SOLD OUT
Sing Glorious Malta!
Sing Glorious Malta! with us from 15th to 18th April 2026, joining other singers for a wonderfully sociable singing holiday.
Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem
Saturday 28th of March 2026 5 pm, All Saints Hertford
J Brahms-Requiem
Charlotte Brosnan
Stephen Kennedy
Manvinder Rattan
The Armed Man : A Mass for Peace
Manvinder is delighted to be joining Northampton Philharmonic Choir on the 21st of March to Sing the Adaan in Karl Jenkins renowned Armed Man Mass.
Hertford Choral Society trip to Turin
Friday 13 March - Sunday 15 March 2026
Current version: 30 Sept 2025 - Trip details are subject to change
The trip involves a joint concert with a local choir in a church in central Turin on Saturday evening. As the churches are used daily for services, the concert will be at 9pm with a full rehearsal with orchestra earlier that evening. The first rehearsal for the choir will be on Friday from around 4pm and we hope to have a group dinner that evening. We have also found accommodation in Turin at an Ospiteria and would encourage participants to stay there so the group is together for the weekend (Fri/Sat).
Concert
The concert will be choral-based jointly with the Turin-based choir, Coro GiovaninVivaVoce, accompanied by a local ensemble, and performed in central Turin at the beautiful church Chiesa di San Giovanni Evangelista, C. so Vittorio Emanuele II 15, 10125 Torino.
The concert programme will last 1¼ -1½ hours. Each choir will sing a separate repertoire of around 20 minutes and as a combined choir we will sing Fauré Requiem. We will sing (extracts of) Nunes Garcia Missa Pastoril.
Musical Director: Manvinder Rattan
Concert dress: all black, suitable for religious space, covered arms/legs, with music in black folders (small logos and writing should not be a problem). Please bring your own folder.
Trip Arrangements and Contact
Group trip arrangements and costs ~£100 per traveller (includes costs directly relating to the concert event, excludes travel, accommodation, personal expenses).
Every traveller must take out appropriate insurance cover for the trip to Italy.
Contact: Kathie Painter treasurer@hertfordchoral.org.uk
Download the brochure here.
Choral Conducting Training Day at Chingford Parish Church
Manvinder is one of the U.K.’s most experienced conductor trainers with a considerable track record of success in both choral and orchestral training. He spent 25 years as a tutor for Sing for Pleasure – the latter 17 years as its Head of Conductor training – in which time the courses became accredited by the ABRSM and participant numbers reached an all-time high with unprecedented approval ratings.
“Manvinder is an extraordinarily effective trainer of conductors, whether they be just starting out or more experienced. His can do approach, allied to innate sensitivity and humour, together with an ability to convey the essentials of a cast-iron technique, inspires and enables all who work with him. In short, Manvinder is one of nature’s empowerers, and is a joy to work with. ”
Simon Toyne, Executive Director of Music for the David Ross Education Trust
Noted conductor and conductor trainer Manvinder Rattan is delighted to be leading a Choral Conducting training day at Chingford Parish Church on Saturday 10 January 2026 hosted by the Director of Music, Mike Emerson.
The course is designed to support those who have had no or limited formal conductor training and also those who have and wish to progress further.
By the end of the course, participants should be able to:
● Get the music and their gesture thoroughly prepared
● Know each part well enough to accurately vocally model it
● Keep the teaching pacy and effectively lead the rehearsal whilst making it fun
● Deploy a range of simple, clear and meaningful conducting gestures
● Get a musical performance from even the simplest repertoire
● Evaluate their own achievements, and learn from the work of others, in a positive way
Course Delivery
The course is delivered in two ways – technique sessions will include practical demonstrations of many of the key aspects of conducting and the workshop sessions that follow give participants podium time to put into practice what they have learnt. This is achieved within a relaxed and supportive learning environment. Repertoire at this level is deliberately simple so as not to get in the way of learning the technical aspects. Participants themselves form the choir for the course and there is no limit to the number of singing observers who may attend.
Timetable
0930 Arrive
1000 Introductions and Technique session
1115 Workshop 1
1300 Lunch
1400 Workshop 2
1500 Short break
1515 Workshop 3
1615 Wrap up
1630 End
Participants are asked to provide their own lunch (there are several sources close by) and all-day refreshments will be provided.
Apply Here
Please apply for the course using this link by Monday 5 January 2026.
Course costs are as follows;
Conducting participant £49
Concession £35
Singer/observer £5
This will be payable in advance by bank transfer to:
Chingford Parish Church Choir Fund (this is a business account)
Sort code 40-02-40,, a/c 91042319
Ref: Conducting course
Candle-lit Christmas concert
Saturday 20th of December 5 pm Saint Mary’s Welwyn
Candle-lit Christmas concert
Benjamin Britain - A Ceremony of carols
Hertford Chamber Choir
Manvinder Rattan
Manchester Carols
Saturday 13th of December 5 pm, All Saints Hertford
Sasha Manning-Manchester carols
Carols for choir and audience
Hertford Choral Society
Serafine Sinfonia
Manvinder Rattan
A Baroque Celebration
GF Handel - Utrecht Te Deum
J S Bach - Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D
J S Bach - Magnificat in D
Hertford Choral Society
SpiritAto
Suzzie Vango
Tristan Cook
Matt Clark Sotillo
Alex Hardy
Manvinder Rattan
Hertford Chamber Choir at Whitchurch Canonicorum, Dorset
Hertford Chamber Choir guest appearance as part of the music festival at this historic church, conducted by Manvinder Rattan.
Conducting Course at the British International School, Kuala Lumpur
This course is designed to help you be the best choral leader you can be with a carefully designed programme of study.
Evensong at Westminster Abbey
Evensong at Westminster Abbey, conducted by Manvinder Rattan.
Choral Conducting Training Day
Noted conductor and conductor trainer Manvinder Rattan is delighted to be leading a Choral Conducting training day at Chingford Parish Church on Saturday 11 January.
A Choral Safari: Handel's Messiah in Nairobi, in aid of Nairobi Hospice
Every two years, Nairobi Music Society organises a performance of Handel’s Messiah as a fundraiser for Nairobi Hospice – “Voices for Hospices”. We have been invited to bring a group of singers to be part of a massed choir of 500 local singers,
Conducting and Leadership Skills Workshop
This course, designed specially for the Cathedral Music Trust, is delivered in two ways – a technique session to include practical demonstrations of many of the key aspects of conducting and workshop sessions that give participants podium time to put into practice what they have learnt. This is achieved within a relaxed and supportive learning environment. Repertoire at this level is deliberately simple so as not to get in the way of learning the technical aspects.
Vivaldi in Venice
We are planning a concert week-end in Venice as an open singing event, to sing the Gloria in the city where it was composed.
Coronation Choral Celebration
Join us for a royal celebration with Hertford Chamber Choir, Manvinder Rattan and organist William Whitehead.