6th -8th February 2026

 

Fully booked 

About the Weekend

 

This weekend run by Recorders at Plymouth, offers you the opportunity to play in a recorder orchestra in a relaxed, friendly and supportive environment.

 

Orchestras are an increasingly popular type of recorder ensemble and it’s not hard to see why.  Large scale orchestration gives recorder players the opportunity to be part of exciting textures and colours that quartets and quintets simply can’t achieve in ensembles.

 

You should be able to sight read and be competent at holding your part.  The recorder orchestra will consist of eleven sections: Sopranino, Descant 1 and 2, Treble 1 and 2, Tenor 1 and 2, Bass 1 and 2, Great Bass and Contra Bass. Consideration will also be given to the instruments you play, as we need a good balance for the orchestra to work. This may mean you don't get your first choice of instrument. We need more of the larger instruments, from tenor downwards and just one person playing each of the sopranino and descant parts.

 

Players indicate which instruments they would prefer to play in the orchestra on their enrolment form. You will also need to list the instruments you will be bringing to the course. During the weekend players remain within their elected orchestral section for all the orchestral playing sessions with Helen Hooker.  Many players particularly enjoy this aspect of the weekend as it allows them to grow in confidence within their section. In the ensemble sessions Ian and Mark will share the conducting. In these sessions players are free to choose to play different recorders.

 

The closing date for enrolments is 1st December 2025. Further details about the weekend including a map to find the venue and confirmation of the orchestral section in which you will be playing, will be sent shortly before the course starts.  All music will be provided for the weekend but you do need to bring a music stand and pencil in addition to your recorders. You are advised to take out your own insurance in case of illness. We have insurance if the course needs to be cancelled because of snow, so you will get a refund if this should occur. The course has been running for many years and only once has it been cancelled because of snow.

 

About the Conductors

 

Helen Hooker

Helen Hooker studied the recorder at Trinity College of Music under Philip Thorby, graduating in 1993 with a first-class degree and the Post-Graduate Certificate in performance with distinction. She now enjoys a varied career, including a mixture of performing, conducting, teaching, arranging, writing and photography Helen is an inspirational conductor and well known to recorder players, she is a visiting Conductor and Musical Advisor to the Society of Recorder Players, Helen is regularly booked for playing days and pastoral visits to SRP branches across the country.  She also runs her own recorder orchestra weekend in the Autumn and is also a Director of the Recorder Summer School that takes place in August. Helen is Musical Director of the Thames Valley Recorder Orchestra and mellow tones an 8' orchestra.

Ian Hiscock and Mark Bennett

Both Ian and Mark are professional musicians who for many years taught in a number of schools and now give private tuition in music theory, singing and a variety of instruments. They have been the musical directors of Recorders at Plymouth for more than 20 years. In addition to recorders Ian plays harpsichord and Mark plays viols and flute. They perform with a variety of musicians as The Greenwood Consort.

Your fee for the weekend will depend on the package you choose:

 

Residential for the weekend (includes tuition, music, all meals and accommodation):

 

Single occupancy with en-suite: TBC

 

Single occupancy no en-suite: TBC

 

Sharing with en-suite: TBC

 

Sharing no en-suite: TBC

Single occupancy with en-suite  garden cabin: TBC

Sharing with en-suite garden cabin:TBC

 

Non-residential for the weekend includes all meals except breakfast  TBC