Choral Stories: Interpreting Secular Choral Music (BSL/ISL CPD)

Sunday 1 November 2026 | 11:00-13:00

Choral Stories: Interpreting Secular Choral Music

Session Description

Secular choral music encompasses a diverse range of styles and themes, including folk songs, popular music arrangements, classical works, musical theatre, contemporary compositions, and community choir performances. These pieces often rely on storytelling, emotion, cultural references, and artistic expression rather than religious content.

In this session, participants will explore how to interpret secular choral works while maintaining meaning, atmosphere, and audience engagement. Discussion will focus on managing multiple vocal lines, conveying emotion and narrative, and making effective interpretation choices within a performance environment.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Identify key features of secular choral music and their impact on interpretation.

2. Analyse narrative, emotional, and cultural elements within choral performances.

3. Explore techniques for representing multiple voices and musical textures in signed languages.

4. Consider how performance context influences interpretation decisions.

5. Develop strategies for creating engaging and accessible interpretations of secular choral music.

Music and lyrics will be sent out in advance of each session. Sessions are interactive, exploratory, and hands-on, with plenty of time for discussion, demonstration, and peer feedback.

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About the Trainer

Paul Whittaker OBE is a Deaf musician, performer, and educator with a lifelong passion for making music accessible. A graduate of Oxford and the Royal Northern College of Music, Paul has worked extensively as a pianist, organist, and music leader.

For over 25 years, he led a national charity supporting Deaf people in music, before becoming a freelance performer and trainer in 2015. In 2007, he was awarded an OBE for Services to Music.

Paul has interpreted major musicals including Les Misérables and Phantom of the Opera, and performed at high-profile events such as the BBC Proms and the Edinburgh International Festival. He currently leads BSL choirs across the UK and is the BSL Leader for Rock Choir.

Series Details

• CPD Points: 2 x Structured

• Trainer: Paul Whittaker, OBE

• Language of Instruction: English

• Notetaker: Not provided

• Cameras: On

• Participation: Active – collaborative and hands-on

• Recording: Sessions will not be recorded