Gawain has a host of award-winning recordings to his name, and works with many of the world’s finest and most progressive interpreters of Early Music. Though CEM’s Renaissance Summer School is Gawain’s only current course directorship, his research and expertise in the field of ornamenting early music has also led to him becoming increasingly in demand as a coach for both singers and instrumentalists. His experience as a professional singer and player of reed instruments and recorders contributes to Gawain’s reputation as a highly versatile musician. Gawain brings to the position a combination of practical expertise and a wealth of historical knowledge, as well as a firm belief in fostering an inclusive approach: ​

Gawain has invited a new team of internationally recognised tutors to work alongside him. They are experienced and patient coaches who provide expertise across an enormous range of instruments. They include Clare Wilkinson (voice), Jacob Heringman (lute), Dr. Uri Smilansky (viols and recorder), Catherine Motuz (sackbut and improvisation) and William Lyons (shawm, traverso, recorder, pipes, curtal). ​Don’t miss this rare opportunity to study and perform exciting repertoire from ‘The Sounds of Court and City in 16th-century France’ with The Courtiers of Grace. Full information can be found here. 

​Gawain joins revered Baroque course director Peter Holman, who has been expertly guiding CEM’s much-loved courses for many years. Participants from age 18 upwards who have suitable skills are warmly welcomed, and financial support and course scholarships are now available through Cambridge Early Music’s ‘Selene Webb (née Mills) Memorial Bursary Fund’.
 
The Baroque Summer School, Paris versus Versailles, runs 28 July-4 August 2019; the Renaissance Summer School, Le Cris de Paris, runs 4-11 August 2019. Places are available on both courses and applications are welcome.

Cuts in funding, reduced participation and falling numbers taking music have created an “existential crisis” (Lord Black, House of Lords, 18 October, 2018). Concerns continue to be expressed in the press today.
 
Ahead of the newly appointed government panel’s first meeting to develop a model music curriculum (meeting on 5 February), and in response to an ever-deepening crisis which has seen only 295 teachers signing up to train as music teachers this year (a drop of 55% in the last 8 years), a new initiative has been launched this week by a unique partnership of leading research institutions, professional musicians, education providers and charitable bodies in Cambridgeshire. 
 
The three-year project, Roots, trials a new model for music provision within primary and secondary schools across the region. Despite Cambridge’s outward prosperity, the disparity in wealth and opportunity across the county is broad. Areas of Cambridgeshire are among the most deprived in the U.K. and many of its schools struggle to make provision for music.

​Roots draws together all ages in teaching music. The vocal strand is led by internationally acclaimed educators, VOCES8; the group is Associate Ensemble at the University of Cambridge and on 18 January released its latest album, Enchanted Isle, on Decca Classics. The strand trains teachers, university and school students in the VOCES8 method, encouraging learning through participation in a series of vocal and rhythmic exercises. In turn, teachers and older students train younger students to become leaders in their own communities, developing their confidence as young leaders.