Ensemble Singing Intensive

The Franco Codex of the Cathedral of Mexico, Villancicos of Guerrero, Italian laudae, and mass movements by Palestrina

June 30, 2024-July 7, 2024

Union College
807 Union Street
Schenectady, NY 12308
United States

Tuition:

$710

Directed by Geoffrey Williams
Faculty: Geoffrey Williams, Anna Lenti, and Michael Barrett with Paul Guttry, Daniel Johnson, and Temmo Korisheli

Amherst Early Music Festival, June 30-July 7, 2024

Festival Theme: The Music of Spain & Italy

The Ensemble Singing Intensive is a high-level, auditioned program for pre-professional and advanced amateur singers with an interest in working in depth with repertoire from the 15th and 16th centuries.
ESI gives participants the opportunity to work closely with like-minded colleagues and professional coaches to refine their skill set for vocal chamber music performance. Students participate in daily rehearsals, ensemble coachings, discussions, and masterclass, working towards a performance at week's end. Along the way, special attention is given to issues such as vocal production and vocal health, approaches to language in singing including diction and rhetoric, as well as development of ensemble leadership skills, including conducting gesture, rehearsal preparation, and communication.

This year's Festival focuses on music of Italy and Spain and the New World. ESI will explore the Franco Codex of the Cathedral of Mexico, Villancicos of Guerrero, Italian laudae, and mass movements by Palestrina.

Audition Due date

April 1, 2024

Faculty

Geoffrey

Williams *

Voice

Michael

Barrett *

Voice

Anna

Lenti

Voice

Daniel

Johnson

Voice

Temmo

Korisheli *

Voice

Paul

Guttry *

Voice

Where

View larger map

Festival FAQs

TRAVEL
Union College
807 Union Street, Schenectady, NY 12308
Close to a major airport (15+ minutes from Albany International Airport), accessible by Amtrak (station is 1 mile from Union College) and Megabus, Union College is 3 hours away by car from NYC and Boston, and 4 hours from Montreal.

MEALS
The meal card is $178 and covers one week of meals starting with dinner on Sunday, June 30, (July 7 for second week) thru breakfast on Sunday, July 7, (July 14 for second week) .A la carte meal prices are $6.75 / $9.50 / $10.50 for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

ROOMS
All standard rooms are air-conditioned with private baths. Budget rate housing is not air-conditioned, with hall baths. Basic linens (sheets, pillow, and towels) are included with all housing. Beds are twin, extra long.

Ensemble Singing Intensive Audition Information

To apply for the Ensemble Singing Intensive Program you will need to submit the following through our audition portal. The due date for applications is April 1, 2024.

$30 registration fee
Your resume or a brief description (one or two paragraphs) summarizing your musical background and experience, including formal and informal training and education.
10-15 minutes of music showing your technique, expression, and understanding of 16th -17th century style. The piece need not be accompanied. Please include composer and title information with your submission.

Scholarships & Work-Study

Work-Study

All participants are welcome to apply for tuition assistance through AEM's Work-Study program. Please fill out the work study application form to apply. Notice of awards will be sent in late May. Questions about Work-Study can be sent to Click here to show mail address.

AEM Scholarships

To apply for all AEM scholarships, including the Washington McClain Scholarship, please fill out this form.

The Washington McClain Scholarship Fund honors the memory of Baroque oboist and Amherst Early Music faculty member Washington McClain. It will fund scholarships for students who have historically been underrepresented in the early music field, including African-American, Latinx, and others. Awards will cover tuition, room and board, and travel and may be used for any in-person AEM event, particularly the Amherst Early Music Festival.

In addition to scholarships, AEM offers work study tuition to all of our workshops, and the Amherst Early Music Festival. Work study is an option for students of any age.

Other Organizations

American Recorder Society offers scholarships to recorder players for Weekend Workshops as well as Summer Festivals. Any ARS member who needs financial assistance to attend a weekend or week-long workshop may apply for this scholarship. Deadline: May 15.

Lute Society of America scholarships include full tuition, room & board, and some travel. Due Date May 1.

Early Music America offers scholarships to help students attend early music and historical performance workshops in North America. Applications due April 1.

Viola da Gamba Society of America offers Grants-in-Aid to its members to attend Workshops and Masterclasses.

The Historical Keyboard Society of North America has established the Funaro Fund Award to support its members to offset the cost of traveling to an early keyboard event.

COVID-19 Policy

The COVID virus is still with us, though happily most people will only get mildly sick if infected. The Festival is a congregate living environment, with a population ranging in age from 1 to 90+ where we live, play music and dance together for several days. Our main approach to preventing Covid will be testing, and, like last year, we need everyone to test and to let us know if they experience symptoms.

Rapid testing is required to attend the Festival for all participants, faculty, and staff. Take an at-home COVID test the day before arrival at Union College, and a second test the morning of arrival. Two-week students take a third test on Saturday July 6. Send a photo of your tests to Click here to show mail address before you arrive on campus. Bring extra tests in case you develop symptoms during the week. (visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.htm… see a list of symptoms)

Masking is optional. Masking decisions are personal and will be respected.

Vaccinations and boosters are encouraged but not required. Anyone with symptoms, or feeling unwell should notify us immediately, and not attend any classes or events. Self evaluation: Before coming to the Festival if you are experiencing symptoms that may indicate Covid, regardless of test results, DO NOT COME. Notify us right away. Anyone who tests positive for Covid at the Festival will be moved to a room in an isolated wing, and have cafeteria meals delivered, or could leave campus.

If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID before arrival, please do not come to the Festival until your symptoms abate and you have tested negative twice over two days. f you begin to experience symptoms of COVID while at the Festival we will ask you to isolate or leave campus until your symptoms abate and you have tested negative twice over two days

(Updated May 22, 2024)