About the Program

Boston Conservatory at Berklee Vocal/Choral Intensive is a two-week summer program for high school–aged singers who are focused on classical singing or musical theater. Taught by Conservatory faculty who have years of experience training young singing artists, this is a chance for young performers to explore their abilities as solo performers and to begin to discover the many professional and educational options available to them as they move forward in their artistic lives. The Vocal/Choral Intensive curriculum is focused on strengthening students’ foundational and performance skills, through performance classes, movement and bodywork, repertoire classes, theory and sight-singing classes, and a devised acting project. Each student will receive coachings and voice lessons and experience master classes with Boston Conservatory faculty. At the conclusion of the program, students can expect to be more complete artists with stronger musicianship skills and more polished performance techniques. They will have a clearer idea of their own artistic and educational goals, and a better sense of the questions to ask. In addition, they will meet talented peers who share their passion for singing and music, and who will help each other become more purposeful and engaging storytellers through song.

How to Enroll

This program is application-based and requires the preparation and submission of additional application materials along with your registration form. Once your materials are reviewed, you will be notified of your decision via email. Due to limited availability, you must accept your offer and pay tuition in full in order to reserve your spot in the program.

Step 1Submit your application
Begin by submitting your application online. Applications will be processed on a rolling basis until the program has reached capacity.
Step 2Make your tuition payment
All programs have limited capacity, so be sure to complete your full tuition payment to reserve your space in the program.
Step 3Request housing
If you will be age 15 or older by the start of your Boston-based program and require on-campus accommodations, complete the Residence Hall Agreement in the Next Steps tab of your registration portal.
Step 4Complete your next steps
Visit the Next Steps section of your program to view and complete any additional requirements. Review the checklist to make sure you are on track.

Curriculum

Below are classes that have been offered in the past to give you an idea of what to expect:

Sight-Singing and Ear Training

Daily work on scales, intervals, and other musical patterns as well as rhythmic exercises to strengthen the music-reading ability of each student. Individual sight-reading levels will be assessed in advance of arrival to ensure that each student is assigned to an appropriate sight-singing and ear training class level.

Music Theory

Music Theory is offered in classes according to level. It covers an introduction to basic materials of music, including treble and bass clef, key signatures and scales (major and minor), and intervals, as well as using those elements to construct simple melodies as part of first and second species counterpoint exercises. This course paves the way for young singers toward greater artistic independence.

Choral Ensemble

Daily work on a wide variety of choral repertoire will include music of the Baroque, Classic, and Romantic eras, and of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Each rehearsal will begin with both physical and vocal warm-ups, and will emphasize individual musicianship, critical listening skills, vocal technique, and style. The work of the chorus will be showcased in the Grand Finale concert of the program.

Vocal Performance Class

All aspects of solo vocal performance are addressed in these classes. The course focuses on vocal technique, dramatic and musical interpretation, and the physicality and characterization of the piece. Both classical and musical theater repertoire will be studied in these classes. Students are expected to bring music that they have already prepared, and everyone will be assigned and will learn new repertoire during the program.

Repertoire Seminar

In this seminar, students will be introduced to repertoire for the young classical or musical theater singer and discover unusual and effective pieces that suit each performer. Singers will gain a better understanding of the technical challenges for pieces in each style, as well as learn more about “what not to sing” and why. Singers will leave this class with a strong sense of what to choose to sing that will give them an appropriate technical challenge but also show off what is unique and special about them as a singer and performer.

Voice Lessons and Vocal Coaching

Each Vocal/Choral Intensive student will be assigned a voice teacher and will receive weekly private voice lessons. In the lessons you will discuss vocal technique, diction, and interpretation, as well as techniques for learning new repertoire. In addition, students will be scheduled for four private coaching sessions where musical skills will be reinforced, and use of text and phrasing as well as stylistic issues will be addressed.

Stageworks

The singing actor has many challenges: singing while acting naturally, singing while moving stylistically, singing while performing choreography, moving slowly while the voice is moving quickly, or moving quickly while the voice is moving slowly. The use of exercises, improvisation, and storytelling helps young singers build confidence in their ability to make decisions about character, objective, obstacle, and strategy. Through this work, performers will jointly build a newly created musical/theatrical scene, bringing text to life through group and solo work, dancing, and song.

Schedule

Below is a sample schedule.

Monday

8 AM–9 AMBreakfast
9 AM–11:45 AMCheck-in
12:30 PM–1:30 PMLunch
1:30 PM–3 PMPerformance class
3 PM–4 PMVoice/Speech
4 PM–5 PMOrientation
5:30 PM–6:30 PMDinner
6:30 PM–7:30 PMChoir

Tuesday

8 AM–9 AMBreakfast
9 AM–10 AMStageworks
11 AM–11:45 AMTheory
12:30 PM–1:30 PMLunch
1:30 PM–3 PMPerformance class
3 PM–4 PMVoice/Speech
4 PM–5 PMHistory of Great Singers
5:30 PM–6:30 PMDinner
6:30 PM–7:30 PMChoir

Wednesday

8 AM–9 AMBreakfast
9 AM–10 AMStageworks
11 AM–11:45 AMTheory
12:30 PM–1:30 PMLunch
1:30 PM– 3 PMPerformance class
3 PM–4 PMVoice/Speech
4 PM–5 PMLearning music boot camp
5:30 PM–6:30 PMDinner
6:30 PM–7:30 PMChoir

Thursday

8 AM–9 AMBreakfast
9 AM–10 AMStageworks
11 AM–11:45 AMTheory
12:30 PM–1:30 PMLunch
1:30 PM–3 PMPerformance class
3 PM–4 PMVoice/Speech
4 PM–5 PMStaff recital
5:30 PM–6:30 PMDinner
6:30 PM–7:30 PMChoir

Friday

8 AM–9 AMBreakfast
9 AM–10 AMStageworks
11 AM–11:45 AMTheory
12:30 PM–1:30 PMLunch
1:30 PM–5:00 PMStudio meetings
8 PM–9 PMDinner
8 PM–9 PMChoir

Saturday

11 AM–11:45 AMPerformance class
1 PM–2 PMBoston Conservatory audition
6:30 PM–7:30 PMHarbor boat cruise

Requirements

This program is for high school students ages 15–18 who are serious about classical or musical theater singing
Participants must possess a proficient level of English to enroll in this program. We do not require proof of English language proficiency (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo) as part of the enrollment or application process; however, you are expected to have a sufficient command of the English language to understand class material and assignments.
- Two clean copies of solo music you are prepared to perform and work on with coaches and teachers
- Up-to-date hard copy of your complete repertoire list
- Device to listen to an MP3 of accompaniment (phones are acceptable)
- Device to record your lessons and coaching (phones are acceptable)
- Clothing that is comfortable to move around in; you may be lying on the floor, upside down, and moving around for the movement part of the day
- Two nice outfits to perform in for the solo recitals, as well as a combination of black and/or white, solids, or prints for the final concert
- Performance-appropriate and comfortable shoes
- Yoga mat or large towel
- Water bottle

Program-Specific Details

Priority Deadline to Apply: February 1

Applications received by February 1 will receive priority consideration and will be issued a decision by March 1. Applications received after February 1 will be processed on a rolling basis until the program has reached capacity.

This program is application-based and requires the preparation and submission of additional application materials along with your registration form. Once your materials are reviewed, you will be notified of your decision via email. Applications will be processed on a rolling basis until the program has reached capacity. Due to limited availability, you must accept your offer and pay tuition in full in order to reserve your spot in the program.

Students interested in applying to this program should prepare the following materials:

Two video recordings of contrasting classical or musical theater songs with piano accompaniment (live piano or piano track). If musical theater pieces are presented, one of them must be a classic-era selection.
Please do not submit recordings of live musical theater shows.
A video recording of a vocalise showing your lowest comfortable note and your highest comfortable note. This can be a simple scale or series of scales that show your range. Choose any vowel that feels comfortable and easy for you.
A repertoire list of solo musical pieces you have worked on in the last two years, and a description of your experience with choral singing.
A description of any music theory or sight-singing classes you have taken.

Video recording submission guidelines:

Sound quality is important and the singer must be clearly audible and visible.
Videos can be made at home or be studio recordings. Smart phone quality is sufficient.
Recordings of the performances should be recent (within the last year).
Please ensure that your video submissions are easily accessible and not set to private.
Instructions on how to submit your materials are available in the online application portal. Create your account to begin your application.

Course Placement

Over the summer, you will meet virtually with VCI faculty to determine placement in music theory and sight-singing courses.

Program Director

Michael Hanley
Michael Hanley joined the Conservatory in 2015 and is an associate professor of voice.
Read Full Bio

Once You’ve Enrolled

The Berklee Summer Programs Team is excited that you’ve taken the first step! Now that you’re enrolled, here’s what you need to know to be prepared before check-in, and what to expect afterward.

Please regularly check the email you used to enroll in your program for important updates. A detailed check-in email, containing information about your assigned arrival location, housing assignment (if applicable), and program schedule, will be sent one to two weeks before your program's start date.
All programs have a limited capacity. Complete your full tuition payment in order to reserve your space in the program.
On-campus housing is limited, and spaces will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis based on the completion of the following steps:
1. Read, sign, and submit the residence hall agreement on the registration portal.
2. The Summer Programs team will review your signed residence hall agreement within 3-5 business days. After review, we will send you an email inviting you to return to the registration portal to view your on-campus housing decision letter.
3. If your request has been approved, secure your spot by accepting your offer and paying the housing fee in full.
Important Considerations
- For students enrolled in multiple programs, please complete a separate residence hall agreement (along with the accompanying housing fee payment) for each program.
- To be eligible to request on-campus housing, a student must be 15 years of age before the start of their program.
- If a student is under the age of 18, the request for on-campus housing must be filled out by a parent/guardian, and both the student and parent/guardian must agree to all the terms and conditions.
- Applicants for Musical Theater Acting Intensive (MTAI) and Vocal/Choral Intensive (VCI) must first be offered admission and accept their offer before their residence hall agreement submission will be considered.
- Since space in our residence halls is limited, a spot in our residence halls will only be guaranteed once a student has fully registered for their chosen program and paid the program tuition in full. Any housing requests or payments made before the completion of both these steps do not ensure a guaranteed place in on-campus housing.
Learn more about housing and campus life by exploring the Help Center.
Accommodations are provided for students with documented medical needs, offering services such as academic accommodations, academic coaching, special housing arrangements, dietary adjustments, and referrals to on-campus support, including adaptive technology and tutoring.
Accommodations are determined through an interactive process involving the student, faculty, the Office of Housing and Residential Education, a dietitian, and Accessibility Resources for Students staff. Requests for academic, housing, and dietary accommodations can be made by following the steps outlined in this Help Center article.

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Vocal/Choral Intensive (VCI)