Singers

Studio Artist Program

• Designed for young singers who are working on a solid technical basis allowing them to focus on interpretation and singing-acting. Singers in this program receive two voice lessons a week, daily yoga sessions, private coaching, private afternoon master classes with our senior faculty, poetry and performance workshops, and concert opportunities. Generally intended for singers who are entering freshman and sophomore  undergraduate studies.

Young Artist Program

• Designed for singers who already have a solid technical basis that allows them to focus on interpretation and communication. Singers in this program receive two voice lessons a week, daily yoga sessions, private coaching, private afternoon master classes with our senior faculty, poetry and performance workshops, acting classes, and concert opportunities. They may also receive opportunities to perform in Professional Program master classes. Generally intended for singers who are entering their junior or senior year or are at the beginning of their graduate studies.

Professional Program

• Our highest level program for singers and pianists. Designed for advanced singers prepared to work at a professional level in daily master classes and private duo coachings with the senior faculty and in performance projects. Singers in the Professional Program are asked to prepare repertoire of their choice in addition to being assigned repertoire for faculty-curated concerts. Voice lessons are not included as part of this program.

Pianists

Pianist Program

• For pianists with a special interest in vocal collaboration. Pianists receive coachings, participation in master classes and concert performances, as well as classes and meetings specifically for them with senior piano faculty members.

NOTE: Still not sure which program is the best fit for you? No worries! Age/education brackets are provided as guidelines. Successful applicants will be placed into the appropriate program by the faculty based on the audition, performance experience and other submitted materials. Apply to one program and we'll do the rest. All programs offer a rigorous curriculum and the opportunity to perform.

2023 SELECTED PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES

The opportunities to perform at SongFest are many and varied for both singers and pianists.  Below you will find a partial list of all of the exciting projects we are planning for 2023.  These opportunities are open to any successful applicant, and performers will be decided upon and notified in advance of the program beginning.

SongFest-Sorel Composer Mentorship Program (June 7-15)

• World premiere performance of the 2023 SongFest Sorel organization commission by Canadian composer Cecilia Livingston.

• Songs of the 4 composers-in-residence, John Harbison, John Musto, Libby Larsen and John Musto will also be highlighted with the composers in attendance.

• The Colburn Foundation Fellows will present a special recital with a faculty pianist.

• Singers and pianists will be selected for participation in many daily masterclasses led by our distinguished faculty.

• The French Symbolists – A special recital coached by Javier Arrebola.

• Selected singers will perform hits from The American Songbook arranged by John Musto, piano with creative direction by Amy Burton – a SongFest tradition.

• A Celebration concert of English Song curated by Roger Vignoles.

• A concert that highlights the musical settings of the poets of the Harlem Renaissance, curated and conceived by Katherine Jolly, soprano and poet Tsitsi Ella Jaji.

• Cabaret program Paris, New York and Berlin! devised by Amy Burton and John Musto.

• E Pluribus Unum – A song program devised by Liza Stepanova featuring American composers with immigrant backgrounds. She “offers a small glimpse of the immense contributions they make to American musical life and is an embodiment of the motto “Out of many, one.”

• A singer/pianist duo will be selected to perform the premiere of the 2023 Sorel commission by Cecilia Livingston.

• Songs of the Here and Now – Concert of New American Song.

• SongFest composers John Harbison, Jake Heggie, John Musto and Libby Larsen will each present a composer forum in which they highlight their song over the length of their career through narration, interspersed with live performances of the songs.

• New this Year! Young Artist & Studio Artist will be featured in themed lunchtime concert series in addition to a final concert.

• The Bach Cantata Program is back! – Directed and coached by John Harbison, the program will culminate in a final concert which includes a full cantatas performed with a Baroque ensemble conducted by John Harbison. Partial repertoire, BWV 161 and BWV 106. Other cantata repertoires to be announced. Please indicate your interest in participating in this program.

• Kuchen & Poesie – New this year! Each morning, we will gather either as a full group or break into smaller groups for specific lectures and classes that delve into a deeper analysis of poetry, composers and the songs of many cultures. These sessions will introduce themes or ideas for the upcoming masterclass sessions and concerts with both in-person and virtual guest lectures.