Schola Polyphonica
A summer course of very high standard which has met in various cities and centres.
International Academy of Sacred Music
The International Academy of Sacred Music was established by Michael Procter in 1992, and has been based for several years at the Istituto Artigianelli, a converted monastery surrounding the magnificent church of S. Maria del Rosario, known as the 'Gesuati' on Zattere. The Academy is devoted exclusively to the sacred repertoire assosiated with the Basilica di San Marco, from the time of Adrian Willaert up to the beginning of the 17th century, and enjoys the unique privilege of singing the Solemn High Mass at San Marco, usually on Trinity Sunday.
Early Music in the Liturgy
For many years Michael Procter has attempted to offer opportunities for the liturgical performance of Renaissance sacred music, and this has become a major element in most of his courses, which has of course recently found its justification in the statement by Pope Benedict XVI. This in no way diminishes the need for such courses, both to help those involved in church music to understand how the repertoire engages with the liturgy, and to provide a context for the music to those outside the Church who wish to understand more about the music as such.
Early Music on the Elbe
This series of seminars began in 1994 and has covered considerable ground, from the 15th century to Bach, with a remarkable extra event in 1995 when to celebrate the 750th anniversary of the church a reconstruction of a 13th century Vespers was celebrated. The seminars attract many singers from far away, including several British and Dutch participants.
Institute of Art, Music and Language
The Institut was formed in an impromptu meeting on the Rialto in Venice in 1994. Its work brings together the specialist fields of the two founders, the painter and teacher Claudia Procter and the m,usician Michael procter, together with languages. The programme includes the annual Summer Academy in Normandy and weekend choral courses in Baden and Hamburg.
Early Music Singing
The occasional public weekend courses which Michael Procter has held in England since 1981.
Easter Academy for Singers and Painters
The Easter Academy was held for several years near Assisi, and moved only when the earthquake forced many priests from the city to take refuge in the villa we had always used. The course found a temporary home in Passau but hopes shortly to return to Assisi.
Summer Academy of Singing and Painting
A summer week in the Calvados area of Normandy, in a Praemonstratensian Abbey near historic Bayeux. The choir sings Vespers each evening with the Canons, and takes part in the final Sunday mass.
Early Music in Berlin
The September 2007 weekend is the 21st in Berlin!
Music in Monasteries
The revival of monastic life in the 19th and 20th centuries has gone unnoticed by the 'man in the street.' Yet an astonishing number of abbeys and monasteries throughout the world provide places for recharging the spiritual batteries. Our occasional courses give suitably inclined singers and others opportunities to benefit from the spiritual atmosphere and to work on sacred music in a context which can otherwise rarely be found.
Early Music in Baden
A series of seminars around Karlsruhe. Future plans are not yet certain.
Purcell Project
A series of seminars held in 2003.
Early Music in Munich
The series is now invitation-only. A preliminary enquiry is therefore necessary.
50-plus
A misjudged attempt to provide challenging musical opportunities for those who are automatically excluded from many choirs and courses on grounds of biological age. Obviously none of them wanted to sing with their contemporaries - so we are still seeking a solution!
