Ensemble Singing Intensive
Printer-friendly versionJuly 15-22, 2012
Connecticut College, New London, CT
Faculty
Julianne Baird (Rutgers University)
Michael Barrett (Sprezzatura, Blue Heron, Convivium Musicum, Las Huelgas)
Emily Eagen (M6, VOCO, Hesperus)
Grant Herreid (Mannes College, Artek)
Daniel Johnson (Texas Early Music Project)
Aaron Sheehan (Wellesley College)
Program
The Ensemble Singing Intensive offers a focused week of high-level, one-on-a-part singing of late-Medieval, Renaissance, and early-Baroque vocal chamber music. Running as part of the Amherst Early Music Festival, the program will provide a supportive community atmosphere for singers who want to improve their ensemble skills and expand their understanding of early repertoires.
Fees
Applications must include either: $100 deposit and $30 application fee, or full workshop tuition to avoid application fee.
Tuition: $595
Room and Board: from $160
Register online, or print out our registration form to mail in.
Auditions
Deadline: April 15. Notification by May 15.
Applicants are encouraged to submit audition materials digitally. Address your e-mail auditions@amherstearlymusic.org, with subject line following the format "ESI - Your Name, Voice Type", and attach your résumé and 10-15 minutes of music (read below for specifics).
If you are unable to send materials online, you may mail a CD and résumé to Amherst Early Music, P.O. Box 229, Arlington, MA 02476.
The audition recording(s) for ESI should be 10-15 minutes long, in mp3 or mp4 format, and include the following:
- An accompanied solo song from 1400-1700 in English, French, German, Italian, or Spanish. This recording should demonstrate vocal technique and musicianship, including a basic familiarity with aspects of early music repertoire and style.
- A recording that demonstrates your skills as an early music ensemble singer. Please send a recording of roughly 2 minutes in length that is unaccompanied and unedited (just you singing by yourself). The repertory should be a single line from a polyphonic vocal piece (a madrigal, motet, chanson, mass movement, etc.) composed between 1450 and 1650. Please specify the composer, piece, part, and measures you are singing.
- Up to two additional recordings of either solo or ensemble repertoire are welcome, though not required. Please include these if you would like to demonstrate any aspects of your singing that you feel are not highlighted in the other recordings.
Scholarships
Limited scholarship funds are available, particularly for tenors, baritones, and basses; to apply, provide a cover letter with audition packet that details your experience and goals in the field of early music. Early Music America also provides scholarships. You may also consider contacting your local arts and cultural societies about possible funding. We would be happy to help in providing documentation to assist you in obtaining a third-party scholarship.
Work-Study tuition assistance available in exchange for help with various tasks around the festival. Application will be posted and linked here when it is available.