Cambridge Choral Summer Course
Come experience the vast riches of the most concentrated square mile of choral music-making on earth. The Cambridge Choral Summer Course welcomes select conductors and choral enthusiasts for a unique educational venture, a behind-the-scenes glimpse of life in Cambridge. This eight-day residential course features lectures, observations, singing, and interactions with the world’s leading conductors, practitioners, and choirs.
Instruction
Studies will cover a variety of topics, including conducting, vocal pedagogy, chant, music history, etc. Members will attend rehearsals, observe demonstrations, and hear from conductors and scholars in interactive lectures. The famed King’s and St John’s choirs will be in residence during the course.
Course members will form a choir to sing with eminent conductors. While the 2027 conductors have not been announced, in 2026, for example, Dr Barry Rose OBE – formerly at St Paul’s London, Guildford, and St Albans cathedrals – led members in singing an Evensong service in Ely, while Nigel Short – conductor of Tenebrae – led Course participants in a service of Compline in London.
The course will include a banquet – in Cambridge called 'Formal Hall'. Enter into the life of Cambridge fellows and students to participate in this venerable tradition.
Faculty
The 2027 Course Faculty is in progress
and will be announced soon.
In Residence
The idyllic Cambridge Backs flow from the colleges of Cambridge University, down to and beyond the River Cam. Sir Simon Jenkins includes the Backs in his top ten list of England’s Best Views. Moving across Queen’s Road one finds the gardens and buildings of Harvey Court, residential home for students at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University (pronounced 'keys').
Course members will reside here at Harvey and enjoy the full immersive experience of student life in single en-suite modern accommodation. Breakfast will be taken here at Caius while lunches and dinners will be served around town, including various college dining facilities.
What participants say
An incomparable immersion into the workings of the English collegiate and cathedral choir experience. Access to the top choral conductors in England was second to none! Superb experience, exceeding all expectations. What an incredible gift you are providing for the choral world!