Summer Workshop for Singers
July 23-26, 2026
New Special Mid-Workshop Event:
Sing for Justice - a workshop led by our director, Kristina Boerger. She will also give a talk on her lifelong experience with community singing and her experiences in her hometown of Minneapolis, MN this past January.
Friday, July 24, 2026, at 7:00 pm at our venue, Grace Episcopal Church - Open to the Public
Sponsored by Schola Cantorum of Syracuse, Syracuse Community Choir, and Singing Resistance Syracuse.
Venue and Schedule
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.
Thursday:
(no morning session)
2 - 5 pm
7 - 9 pm
Friday:
9 am - noon
2 - 5 pm
7 pm - Sing for Justice (Optional)
Saturday:
9 am - noon
2 - 5pm
6 pm potluck supper
Sunday:
9:30 am service
1 - 2:45 pm rehearsal
3:00 pm open rehearsal
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In 2026, Schola is once 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 received her formative musical training from pianist Annie Sherter and holds a 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, the DePauw School of Music, Augsburg University, and the University of St. Thomas. She has toured with the Rose Ensemble, Western Wind, and Pomerium, and was the founding director of AMASONG, about which a documentary was aired on PBS. Her extensive musical activities and credits, particularly in the area of early music, are detailed here.
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Eileen Allen, this year's Workshop Coordinator, is the addressee for registrations. She welcomes any questions you may have:
Eileen Allen
1112 Westcott St.
Syracuse, NY 13210
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William Byrd, Mass for Four Voices
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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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From singers who have not sung the Workshop before, we request a brief sample of your singing. The sample can be waived in some cases based on experience or references. (No sample is required from singers who have sung the Workshop before.)
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.
With any questions or concerns - either technical or musical - please don't hesitate to contact one of us:
Barry Torres
Eileen Allen
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Tuition is $250 ($225 for early birds who register by June 30). Tuition is waived for singers under 30 (see below).
To register, or to ask questions, see the Registration page.
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Tuition is waived for young singers, ages 16 through 30, 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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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.
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.
Two other hotels, in the $175-200 range, are within walking distance of Grace Church: the Collegian and the Park View.
Prices change. You can (and should) Google these hotels' websites, locate them on Google Maps, and check them out on TripAdvisor.
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).
Free housing in the homes of Schola members may be available to young singers.