Join us for a wonderful singing week at the beautiful La Maison Verte, a converted wine-maker’s mansion in Roujan, a village in the Languedoc region of France. The tutors will be Jane Harris, Director of Songways, and Brendan Taaffe, composer, workshop leader and multi-instrumentalist from Vermont, US. The chefs will be the fabulous Ken and Alison Miller, whose food is simply superb.

We will sing each morning and afternoon in the spacious rehearsal space at La Maison Verte, with Jane and Brendan taking turns to lead the group. There will be time in the middle of the day to savour lunch in the old Wine Barn or in the shaded seating areas in the courtyard, to relax, and to enjoy the pool and garden. The evenings will be free, to eat dinner together, socialise and relax.

One day in the week we will have a visit from fabulous local Occitan ballad singers. Occitan, an old language that sounds similar to Catalan, was suppressed by the French monarchy but managed to hold on in Languedoc and Provence. The songs are wonderfully rhythmic and full of life and spirit. We will have an afternoon workshop with one of the singers and a private concert from the group that evening.

On the Thursday afternoon we will visit the handsome Chateau-Abbaye de Cassan, only a mile away, and sing in the 12th century Romanesque church. There will be one free afternoon during the week to explore further and one evening we will put on a cabaret for each other.

All are welcome, no need to read music.

Here’s what singers said about our first singing week at La Maison Verte in 2016:

One of the best singing holidays I have experienced

Inspirational teaching… welcoming and inclusive

Two exceptional teachers who complemented each other beautifully

Fantastic venue … superb organisation

Beautiful, restorative, life-enhancing …. a magical experience