How to Enroll
- Submit your registration.* Begin by submitting your registration online. If applicable, you may need to submit additional supporting materials.
- Make your tuition payment.* All programs have limited capacity, so be sure to complete your full tuition payment to reserve your space in the program.
- Request housing. If you will be age 15 or older by the start of your program and require on-campus accommodations, complete the Residence Hall Contract in the Next Steps tab of your registration portal .
*Please note: This program has limited capacity. Submission of registration materials alone does not guarantee participation in the program. You will secure your spot by paying in full. When the program capacity has been reached, registrants who have not paid in full will be placed on a waitlist.
The Vocal Summit program offers styles in pop-rock, pop and R&B, jazz, and musical theater. You'll select one style to study during the program and participate in several core classes throughout the week.
- Solo coaching: These are small classes where singers perform solo songs with accompaniment in a master class setting. Students will be coached on interpretation, phrasing, expression, timbre, register, key selection, working with a band, count-offs, cues, cutoffs, microphone technique, and stage presence.
- Ensembles: Vocal ensembles are groups of 20–40 singers directed by Berklee faculty and accompanied by a rhythm section. Each ensemble will perform one musical selection at the final concert.
Students will also select workshops to attend throughout the program. Electives for 2022 are not yet available, but the following list of electives offered in 2019 will give you a sense of what to expect:
- Vocal Technique Overview
- Improvisation for Vocalists
- Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Background Singing
- Ace the Audition
- How to Record and Mix Vocals
- Voicework: Vocal Technique
- Empowerment for the Emerging Artist
- Learn to Beat Box
- Singer-Songwriter Workshop
- Soul, R&B: The Past, Present, and Future
- Musical Theater Audition Techniques
- Demystifying the Mix Voice
Below is a sample of a typical day in the program.
| Time | Event |
| 8 AM–8:50 AM | Breakfast |
| 9 AM–10:50 AM | Ensemble or solo coaching |
| 11 AM–12:50 PM | Ensemble or solo coaching |
| 1 PM–1:50 PM | Lunch |
| 2 PM–3 PM | Visiting artist presentation |
| 4 PM–5:50 PM | Workshops |
| 6 PM–7:20 PM | Dinner |
| 7:30 PM–8:50 PM | Visiting artist concert |
| 9:00 PM–10:20 PM | Open mics |
Schedule subject to change.
The program culminates in a final showcase of student ensembles. Each student will take the stage and participate in at least one ensemble.
Students also have the opportunity to perform in open mics each evening. Open mics are a great chance for students to perform in a different style than their elected style for classes.
All performances are open to friends and family.
All students 15 and older with six months of singing experience are welcome to attend.
Program Directors
-
Todd Ward
Associate Professor -
Associate Professor
Visiting Artists
Radius
Radius is a professional a cappella group based out of Chicago, Illinois. Radius was formed in the midst of the global pandemic with the intention of creating top-tier virtual content and bringing some light to the world. After working on virtual projects, the group converged on Chicago for the summer. Radius has performed all around the country, helped raise over $1 million for the Berklee City Music program, and has taught thousands of students from around the world.
Michael Mayo
Whether Michael Mayo is performing with his band, as a guest, or alone with a looper pedal, the L.A. native’s commanding and other worldly vocalese has gathered critical and commercial acclaim around the globe. Mayo is a veteran international performer whose highlights include singing at the White House, the Kennedy Center, the Monterey Jazz Festival and North Sea Jazz Festival, among any others. Most recently he has recorded and performed with Herbie Hancock, Jacob Collier, Kneebody, Gretchen Parlato, Josh Groban, Ben Wendel, and Scary Pockets.
Once you're enrolled visit our Next Steps for Enrolled Students to make sure you have everything you need for your program.
Check Your Email for Important Information
- You should continue to check the email that you used to enroll in the program for important information.
- You will receive a detailed check-in email with information regarding your assigned arrival location, housing assignment, and a link to view your program schedule one to two weeks prior to the start date of your program.
- When you arrive on campus, you will receive additional program information to guide you through your program.
What to Pack
- Please prepare four songs that you're confident performing (preferably from memory) for your solo coaching class. Bring four copies of a lead sheet for each song you’ll sing, making sure the song is in a comfortable key for you. To learn more about how to convert sheet music to a lead sheet, see the resources below:
- For hygiene reasons, vocalists are required to bring their own low-impedance microphone and microphone cable (XLR). If you bring a mic, please label it so it does not get lost. Review our list of instruments and gear to bring to your program in this knowledge base article.
- If you are staying on campus, you can reference this packing list with any additional items you’ll need while attending your program.