Schola Cantorum
of Syracuse
Schola has a YouTube channel:
Summer Workshop for Singers
July 24 - 27, 2025 (Thursday through Sunday)
Celebrating the Palestrina Quincentential. For singers of all ages (16 and older) who have experience singing choral music. See "Participants," below.
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Director Coordinator Repertoire Participants
Singing sample
Young singers Tuition/Registration Schedule
Eat/sleep Registration page
Director
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In 2025 Schola is again privileged to have Dr. Kristina Boerger direct the singers workshop. A highly accomplished and vastly experienced singer, conductor and teacher of early music, Dr. Boerger is John N. Schwartz Professor of Choral Leadership and Conducting at Augsburg University in Minneapolis. She received her formative musical training from pianist Annie Sherter, and the doctorate in Choral Conducting and Literature from the University of Illinois. She has directed the choral programs at Carroll University, the University of Illinois School of Music, and the DePauw School of Music. She has toured Europe with the Rose Ensemble and is a long-time singer with Pomerium. Her extensive musical activities and credits, particularly in the area of early music, are detailed here.
Coordinator
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Michael Daly, this year's Workshop Coordinator, is the addressee for registrations. He welcomes any questions you may have:
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Michael Daly
mdaly@MichaelDalyManlius.com
315-682-2066
109 Military Dr
Manlius, NY 13104
2025 Repertoire
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Works of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
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Magnificat primi toni a8
Agnus 2 from Missae Papae Marcelli
Surge propera a5
sacred and secular madrigals
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Kristina has always focused on the basic elements of good vocal production: loose and relaxed onset of sound, well-defined, resonant vowel formation, crisp consonants, and precise, speech-oriented declamation. Another focus is the mutual attentiveness that allows singing without a conductor.
Participants
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This convivial but hard-working early music workshop, is for singers of all ages (16 and older) who have experience singing choral music.
Participants must be able to learn music and to sing in time, and in tune, from a score. Singers from Schola Cantorum participate as informal section leaders. Although the Workshop concludes with an "open rehearsal" on Sunday afternoon, the emphasis throughout is definitely on developing singing skills.
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Singing sample
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We request a brief sample of your singing, from both veteran participants and new registrants. These days it is relatively easy to record decent audio on one’s cell phone (i-phone or android) and to e-mail out the resulting audio file. But let us know if another way would be better, or if you have technical questions.
Schola Cantorum’s Music Director Barry Torres reviews the samples, and in many cases talks with individual singers in advance of the Workshop. You can be sure that Barry, a teacher of long experience, will be listening with a compassionate and understanding ear. A primary goal of the Workshop to help all applicants and participants to improve their vocal skills.
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The selection to record is a short passage from Palestrina’s Missa Papae Marcelli, Credo, mm 74-115 (sing your own voice part). Whole note = 80.
For the score, click here.
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For a recording with scrolling of the score click here. The sample passage starts at minute 3:25 of the recording.
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Send your audio file to Barry Torres, at
barrtorr@gmail.com
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With any questions or concerns - either technical or musical - please don't hesitate to contact one of us:
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Barry Torres
Mike Daly
315-682-2066
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Young Singers Tuition-free
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Young singers, ages 16 through 30, may be eligible to participate tuition-free, thanks to generous donors to the Bruce Memorial Scholarship Fund. Dr. Kenneth Bruce, who died in 2002, sang with Schola Cantorum for many years and was very supportive and helpful to young singers who joined the group. High school student singers (if in New York) should have attained at least Level 5 in NYSSMA solos.
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Tuition and registration
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Tuition is $250 ($225 for early birds who register by June 24). High school, college and graduate students may apply for free tuition (see above).
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To register, or to ask questions, see the Registration page.
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Venue and Schedule
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The Workshop takes place at
Grace Episcopal Church, Madison Street & University Avenue
(819 Madison St., Syracuse 13210).
Knowledgeable singers love the acoustics of Grace's sanctuary. The church is just down the hill from Syracuse University, with plenty of places to eat and shop. The Workshop runs from Thursday afternoon to late Sunday afternoon, including - tentatively - a pot-luck supper Saturday evening, singing as guest choir for the church's Sunday morning service, and a rehearsal open to the public on Sunday afternoon. Singing at the Sunday morning service, if that is feasible this year, would be in appreciation of the church's hospitality to us.
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Saturday:
9 am - noon
2 - 5pm
6 pm potluck supper
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Sunday:
9:30 am service
1 - 2:45 pm rehearsal
3:00 pm open rehearsal
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Thursday:
(no morning session)
2 - 5 pm
7 - 9 pm
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Friday:
9 am - noon
2 - 5 pm
7 - 9 pm
Eat and sleep
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Housing and meals are on your own (apart from the Saturday potluck supper). Eating out in groups is one of the pleasures of this workshop, with the natives guiding the visitors to convenient and inexpensive local eating places.
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Workshop participants have stayed in past years at the Skyler Hotel, about two blocks walk from Grace Church. The price appears to be about $167 per night for a double. Call 315-701-2613.
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Two other hotels, in the $175-200 range, are within walking distance of Grace Church: the Collegian and the Park View.
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Prices change. You can (and should) Google these hotels' websites, locate them on Google Maps, and check them out on TripAdvisor.
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Rooms for $100 or less are available at brand-name motels near the Carrier Circle Thruway exit. These include the Ramada, Days Inn, Red Roof, and Motel 6. From Carrier Circle to Grace Church is about a 20-minute drive (seven miles).
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Free housing in the homes of Schola members may be available to young singers.
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