The art of inspiration: celebrating Choral Fest 2024

Dr Andrew Gower

Principal & Chief Executive Officer, Morley College London

One of the fantastic legacies of Gustav Holst’s time at Morley as Director of Music (1907-24) is the College’s reputation for choral music and singing.  Noted contributions of composers of international significance, such as Michael Tippett (1940-51), have enabled Morley to sustain a unique contribution to musical adult education. With a diversity of choirs, for a wide variety of stages and styles – and the Opera School for more experienced singers – the choral tradition at Morley continues to go from strength to strength.

As a former member of Canterbury Cathedral Choir, it was a great pleasure to attend Morley’s annual Choral Fest at the Waterloo Centre for Adult Education. It was a moment of Morley motivation to hear performances by six of the College’s choirs, featuring the ‘Can’t Sing’ Choir, ESOL Choir, Folk Choir, Meridian Choir, Chamber Choir and Kenningtones. The expertise of choral directors Darquise Bilodeau, Kate Portal, Giannis Giannopoulos and Cerys Hogg was twofold, combining technical expertise in choral direction with effective educational leadership, achieving palpably positive impact for participants. It was a moment when Mezirow’s theory of transformative learning came to mind, with the potential impact for our student singers extending beyond ‘just’ the acquisition of skills to something more transformational.  Enhanced self-awareness and growing self-belief facilitate an openness to new possibilities, encouraged by the collaborative enterprise of singing, set within the ideal conditions for learning created through the ‘dual professionalism’ of tutors.

Morley’s Choral Fest tutors combine their discipline-specific expertise in music with their skills as educators. Dual professionalism is perhaps a term that was more prominently part of college conversations a decade or more ago. For example, in preparing for a teaching and learning conference at what was then Thanet College (now part of the highly successful East Kent Colleges Group), being a dual professional was our way of framing the occupational identity of curriculum colleagues, as the College began a significant investment in the professional development of its teaching team.

As part of the discussion then, as remains important now, “the professional in the contemporary era has to be creative”, with their creativity apparent at three levels. Firstly, a criticality and independence of thought; secondly, an entrepreneurial approach to initiating projects; and thirdly assimilating an ethic of performance in service of others.

Now with creativity an added dimension, Choral Fest was but one example at Morley of dual creative professionalism in action. Musical and educational expertise reflecting the character and personality of each choral director, leading with clear commitment to their students in ways that drew them forward, gaining confidence and enjoyment in their performance, encouraged by a willing audience.

Choral Fest 2024 is worthy of celebration – for both the brilliant performance of our student singers as well as the dual creative professionalism of our teachers, advancing Morley’s Mission to inspire individuals and strengthen communities through the transformative impact of lifelong learning. Congratulations to all!

For more information about short courses in singing at Morley, visit here.

References:

1. Mezirow, J. (1997). ‘Transformative Learning Theory to Practice’. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, no. 74, 5-12.
2. Barnett, R. (2008). ‘Critical professionalism in an age of supercomplexity’. In B. Cunningham (Ed.), Exploring Professionalism. London: Institute of Education.