Chamber Choir + Choral Conducting Workshop

Application Deadline:  Thursday, March 12, 2026 by 4:00 p.m. (EST)

The Norfolk Chamber Music Festival–Yale School of Music will accept applications from advanced singers and choral conductors for the Chamber Choir and Choral Conducting Workshop. Participants are selected on the basis of ability and supporting materials.

Each conducting applicant must be accepted as a singer first. All accepted conductors sing in the Workshop’s chamber choir.

Application fee: $80 (non-refundable)

Singer Registration: $300 (refundable)

• Fee is due upon acceptance of the fellowship.
• Fee must be paid by credit card. Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted.
• Cash and checks are not accepted.
• Registration fee is refundable after completion of the program subject to deductions in the event of damage or loss to any property or non-compliance with any Festival policies.

Conductor Tuition: $800 (non-refundable) 

• Tuition fee is due upon acceptance of the fellowship.
• Fee must be paid by credit card. Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted.
• Cash and checks are not accepted.
• Singers not participating as conductors will receive an Ellen Battell Stoeckel Fellowship covering the full cost of tuition.

Fellowships

• Singers receive an Ellen Battell Stoeckel Fellowship covering the full cost of tuition, housing, and meals.
• Conductors receive an Ellen Battell Stoeckel Fellowship covering the full cost of housing and meals.

All materials must be received by the deadline listed above. A complete application must include:

1. Online application form
Application Deadline: March 12, 2026, 4 p.m. (EST)
The application includes sections where you will upload all of your application materials. Applications can be started and then saved to be continued at a later time.

2. Audition video
Videos must be uploaded with the application. Videos uploaded to YouTube will be accepted. Recordings of poor quality will not be evaluated. Audition repertoire requirements are listed below.

3. Two letters of recommendation
On the application, you will provide your recommenders’ email addresses. Each will receive an automatic email with instructions on how to submit their recommendation. Letters must be written after January 1, 2025.

1. One recommendation must include contact information (email or telephone).
2. One letter must be from a recognized mentor (conductor or teacher) and must include a description of the candidate’s sight-reading ability.

4. Vocal repertoire list
A list of works (with composers) that you have performed, received coachings on, and/or rehearsed.

5. Singer résumé or CV
Résumé or CV should reflect your experience and studies as a singer. It is helpful to include such information as schools attended, private teachers, performance experience, music festival experiences, and teaching experience.

6. Non-refundable $80 application fee
Once the online application is submitted, you will be prompted to submit the application fee.

In addition to all items above, those applying asconductors must also submit:

7. Conducting video
Video of a rehearsal and a concert performance must be uploaded as part of the application. Please see audition repertoire requirements listed below.

8. Conducting repertoire list
A list of works (with composers) you have conducted in performance, received coachings on, and/or rehearsed.

9. Conducting résumé or CV
Résumé or CV should reflect your experience and studies as a conductor. It is helpful to include such information as schools attended, private teachers, music festival experiences, ensembles/organizations you have conducted, and teaching experience.

Singers and singer/conductors will audition for the workshop via video only. Live auditions will not be held.

Videos must be uploaded as part of the application. Video uploaded to YouTube will be accepted. Poor quality recordings will not be evaluated. Arias and scales must be on separate tracks.  

If you have any questions about repertoire or the technical requirements, please contact the Norfolk office at norfolkmusic.org or call 860 542-3000.

1. Unaccompanied ascending and descending harmonic-minor scales

Demonstrate your vocal range and flexibility by singing ascending and descending harmonic-minor scales, unaccompanied, at a gentle mezzo-piano, one octave at a time. Begin toward the bottom of your range and sing the scales individually, moving the scale up by a half-step each time, concentrating on accurate intonation and secure control. Please do not use solfège syllables but sing legato on a single vowel. If necessary, you may give yourself a single note on the piano at each half-step, but demonstrating your range without doing that is a better demonstration of your skills.

Soprano and bass: minimum two octaves
Alto: at least an octave and a 6th from low G (or lower)
Tenor: at least an octave and a 6th from the C below middle C

2. Vocal works

Two pieces which you feel demonstrate the special qualities of your voice. One of the pieces should be from the Renaissance or Baroque period and should be sung with minimum vibrato (such as you deem appropriate).

In addition to all the materials above, those applying as conductors must also submit:

3. Conducting sample of a rehearsal

Filmed with the camera facing you.
Between three and five minutes in length; five minutes maximum.

4. Conducting sample of a performance

Filmed with the camera facing you.
Between three and five minutes in length; five minutes maximum.

Candidates will be notified by email on or before April 30, 2026, about the status of their application and audition results. All fees must be paid by credit card: Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted. Cash and checks are not accepted.

Singers
The refundable registration fee of $300 must be paid within 10 days of acceptance to secure one’s position. The fee will be refunded after completion of the program subject to deductions in the event of damage or loss to any property or non-compliance with any Festival policies.

Singer/conductors
The non-refundable tuition fee of $800 must be paid within 10 days of acceptance to secure one’s position.

Yale is a community committed to fostering an environment of diversity, mutual respect, and intellectual discovery in which all students can thrive. Acts of discrimination and harassment are contrary to the community standards and ideals of our university. Yale does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, or protected veteran status. 

If you have experienced or witnessed protected class discrimination or harassment or related retaliation or just need to talk, we encourage you to seek support. When you have concerns or questions, you have a wide range of choices for support.

You can reach out to a Discrimination and Harassment Resource Coordinator (DHRC) or the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility.  DHRCs receive concerns and offer advice and guidance related discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

If you would like to talk with someone about sex- or gender- based discrimination including sexual misconduct, you can reach out to a Deputy Title IX Coordinator or the Title IX Office. Additionally, The Title IX at Yale website provides information on accessing support, reporting options, policies and definitions; and education and outreach including resources for pregnant and parenting students.

The DHRC and Deputy Title IX Coordinator for the Yale School of Music is Albert Lee, who can be contacted at albert.r.lee@yale.edu.

Personal data collected by Yale University throughout the admissions process is collected for the primary purposes of considering your candidacy for admission and evaluating your eligibility for financial aid, if applicable. If you are admitted and enroll, your personal data will be used as necessary for registration and to facilitate your education.

The Norfolk Chamber Music Festival – Yale Summer School of Music follows Yale University recommendations and protocols. View Yale University’s COVID-19 policies