Vocal ensembles Stile Antico and Horizon Voices have collaborated with university lecturers Dr Katie Bank and Dr Katherine Butler on a research-based education project for Year 8 pupils in history or music. Initially this is open to schools in Birmingham (autumn 2023) and Newcastle (early 2024). 

On offer are the following: 

• 4 live Zoom sessions per class (max.30 pupils) with an animateur from Horizon Voices (45 mins) 
• 1 in-person workshop day with Horizon Voices (2 hrs) 
• 1 virtual CPD INSET session for classroom teachers 
• Access to virtual learning area with supplementary materials for in-classroom or home use 
• Stile Antico Family Concert (8 November 2023): invitation to students and their families to attend a follow-on event (optional, and out of school hours and responsibility). The short, free concert will take place at the Barber Institute, University of Birmingham 

Among the objectives are that music students will learn to identify key compositional devices to be found in Byrd’s music and use these to develop their own compositional ideas as well as add greater understanding to their performances of Byrd’s works. History students will gain historical perspective by making connections between Byrd’s works and the social, political, economic and cultural context in which they were written. 

More information on Byrd’s ‘Reasons to Sing’ and its resonance today can be found in a blog by Drs Bank and Butler here. 

byrdcentral.com, horizonvoices.com, stileantico.co.uk