Welcome to NORVIS Early Music Summer School

NORVIS is the full week-long early music summer school in County Durham which we’re proud to describe as one of the UK’s longest-established and friendliest.  We have had our NORVIS 2025 summer school, at Barnard Castle School, a great success.  BOOKING IS NOW OPEN for NORVIS 2026, our 54th course,  which will take place at the same venue from 1st – 8th August 2026.  

‘The course has been wonderful – every bit as good as I expected, and then much more.  I am leaving with an overwhelmingly positive feeling about NORVIS. I have no doubt that it will be the highlight of my (very busy) musical year.’  

  • If you love playing early music, a week at NORVIS will enable you to progress
  • We teach recorders, Baroque flutes, viols, lutes and early guitars, harpsichords and voices
  • Repertoire from early Renaissance to late Baroque
  • An impressive team of tutors who are specialist performers / teachers
  • A very generous participant : tutor ratio
  • Many participants play other instruments, besides their main study instrument, including Renaissance and Baroque strings and woodwind
  • Bursaries enable more individuals to participate in NORVIS
  • You can see reports from previous NORVIS weeks HERE.  
Tutors in 2025
NORVIS was founded in 1971 in Durham as The Northumbrian Recorder and Viol School by the late Layton and Christine Ring.  These days simply called NORVIS, over time it has broadened to teach recorders and Baroque flutes, viols, lutes and early guitars, harpsichord and voices, and to incorporate many more instruments as may be played by those taking part.
Our musical director is Dr Andrew Fowler. Apply to take part in NORVIS

NORVIS is a registered charity, no 1014801.