In the Gathering Storm, Dipper, Malkin, Churchill-Moss and Moore Created an Oasis of Music
Folk Ensemble Workshop Weekend with Dipper, Malkin, Churchill-Moss & Moore
Prior's Field School, Godalming
23 - 25 October 2026
When not one, but two named storms (Austen & Boelo) rattled across the UK one late October weekend, we were seriously regretting our choice of wine for the Folk Ensemble Workshop Weekend with John Dipper, Dave Malkin, Archie Churchill-Moss and Tom Moore. It felt somewhat ominous as we deposited the bottles of ‘The Gathering Storm’, a delightfully citrusy white from Spain, in the fridge at Prior’s Field School.
We needn't have worried as the intrepid workshop participants started arriving, well armed with musical instruments and wet-weather gear. Soon the common room at Huxley House, our base for the weekend, filled with conversation, laughter and music. After a warming fish and chip supper, it was time to get to work in the Recital Room.
This year’s ‘Big Tune’ (usually a traditional piece of music with local connections, chosen by the tutors) was Guildford Assembly, from Thompson's Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, vol. 3 (London, 1773). Through a combination of teaching by ear and learning off the score, our tutors got us all playing the tune together and enjoying the sound that we were making. The variety of instruments - strings, including a double bass, reeds, woodwinds and brass - all played a part.
Over the next two days, there were many more opportunities to play together, in smaller ensembles under the guidance of one of the tutors, as well as all together in the evening sessions. We learnt about arrangement and orchestration, phrasing and dynamics, harmonising and accompaniment, rhythm and groove, and understanding the characteristics of different instruments.
"A wonderful weekend immersed in music - just glorious! All the tutors were so generous of their time, thoughtful and (really goes without saying) accomplished."
This year, we held the tutors’ concert on Saturday evening. With the storm whisking around outside, we were all happy to be in the cosy Recital Room, it felt intimate and informal - and John, Dave, Archie and Tom delivered a true ‘masterclass’ in ensemble playing.
Every moment that we had to play music together was a joy - from the evening sessions, small impromptu huddles of people sharing tunes, to the highlight of the weekend on a bright, sunny Sunday when all the ensemble groups performed for each other. Truly a sum of the parts adding up to a much bigger and lovelier whole!
Gallery (photo credits: Iryna Baybara & Jo Hughes)
Thanks Yous
Thanks to all our participants for making the weekend such a great experience for all of us, and for all your lovely comments! Here are just a few of them:
"The accommodation and the catering were all fantastic, we were very well looked after.
The tutors were all fabulous."
"I really enjoyed the weekend, and I think it was better than last year."
"The connections I made, the chat with other participants finding their way into music, was super."
"It was a great success! Special thanks to all the tutors, who were brilliant."
Huge thanks to John, Dave, Archie and Tom - who have all been so committed to making this weekend a success. They spent almost every waking minute of the weekend with us, teaching all day and playing in the concert and sessions at night.
Thanks to all the staff at Prior's Field School for keeping us very comfortable and well fed, and for providing us with such lovely surroundings to make music in! We couldn't fault the set up this year.
A very special thank you to my friend Iryna and her son Luca for spending the weekend with us. Iryna - you thought of everything and did it before it came into my head! I really couldn't have run the weekend so smoothly without your help. And to Luca - hearing you play the saxophone fills me with joy and hope for the future!
As always, to my wonderful Mum (who celebrated her 90th birthday just after the weekend) for her legendary brownies and unconditional love.
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