Sherborne
Summer School of Music
2026
Wind Conducting Course 2nd to 9th August
In association with WASBE
Mark Heron Course Director
with Bjørn Sagstad and Agata Zajac
composer in residence Martin Ellerby
This internationally recognised course is for conductors at intermediate and advanced levels with an interest in wind repertoire, or a desire to immerse themselves in issues relating to conducting wind and brass instruments. Up to twenty-five students will be accepted as “active” participants. Observers are also encouraged and will be fully involved in the course, but they will only conduct at the discretion of the tutors.
An integral feature of the week is that all active participants receive podium time with an ensemble each day and a performance opportunity at the end of the week. This year we are fortunate to have the eminent composer Martin Ellerby join us. Martin will not only spend time with the class but will also assist in the preparation of his works for performance.
The course will begin at 14.30 on Sunday afternoon in order that all participants will have the opportunity to conduct on the first day.
Participants will explore the physical language of conducting, score preparation, rehearsal technique and repertoire knowledge. All conducting sessions are filmed by camcorder and students are asked to bring a standard SD memory card to create a record of their work. This will also be used for regular review sessions during the week. The course runs concurrently with the Wind Ensemble and there will be close liaison between the two including the opportunity for selected students to work with that ensemble.
All participants should bring any instruments that they play to accommodate ensemble work within the class. (If for any reason you are unable to bring your instrument[s], please let the summer school office know when you enrol). Students should, as a minimum, prepare thoroughly the works marked with an * before commencement of the course. You may then wish to select further pieces from the remaining repertoire – it is usually more beneficial to know some of the music well, than all of it not so well. More experienced students may also wish to prepare works from the Wind Ensemble repertoire list.
Ellerby
Ellerby
Ellerby
*Woolfenden
*Binney
Respighi
*Vaughan Williams
Mozart
Laughton
Armada
Menorcan Dances
Wessex Dances
Illyruian Danes
Charivari
Huntingtower
English Folk Song Suite
Serenade No.10 in B flat major, K.361, “Gran Partita”
I saw the Northern Lights from Whitworth Park
Ellerby
Flagello
Ellerby
Horowitz
Ellerby
Binney
Moe
Turnball
Wolfenden
Laughton
Tributes
Love & Nature
Give Me the Splendid Silent Sun
Bacchus on Blue Ridge
Wessex Dances
Charivari
Sketches of Pain
African Dances
Illyrian Dances
I saw the Northern Lights from Whitworth Park
) downloadable PDFs are available to
) purchase from
Ariel Music
Maecenas Music
Maecenas Music
Boosey & Hawkes
Barenreiter
A downloadable PDF score is available from the Summer School Office
Wind Ensemble : Repertoire
Wind Conducting Course : Repertoire
Wind Conducting Course Application Form
Please note. The summer school does not have a music shop on site. Students should acquire their course materials before they arrive at the school either from their local music shop or from our nominated internet supplier, Forsyth Music where you will find the music for your course ready to purchase
https://www.forsyths.co.uk/189389-sherborne-summer-school-2026
Further background information about this course can be found at: markheron.co.uk/sherborne-summer-school
The Art of Choral Direction The George Hurst Conductors’ Course Practical Conducting Course Scholarship Scheme
“Very knowledgeable staff with a plethora of different ideas - a great course”