SUMMER CHORAL INSTITUTE is produced through a partnership between the National Philharmonic and the Montgomery College. The Institute is open to those singers (students entering grade 9 thru graduating grade 12) who want to strengthen their voices through a week-long program of intensive choral training. The Institute will include small group sessions, workshops, individual voice lessons, large-group rehearsals, and other music-related training. The week will culminate in a final concert, held with the National Philharmonic's Summer Chorale, at the Montgomery College's Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center.

The faculty of the Institute includes Stan Engebretson, Artistic Director of the National Philharmonic Chorale and Co-Founder of the Institute; Molly Donnelly, Professor of Music at Montgomery College and also Co-Founder of the Institute; Predrag Gosta, Assistant Conductor of the National Philharmonic; and Theodore Guerrant, accompanist and coach at the University of Maryland Music Department.

Experience in a school, church or community choir, or study with a private voice teacher, is required. Scores will be provided beforehand to give participants a chance to study them and learn the music in advance.

The repertoire generally includes pieces from a variety of choral genres, including classical, gospel and spirituals, jazz and musical theater. This year we will be celebrating the 200th anniversaries of Haydn and Mendelssohn, and the 250th anniversary of Handel, by singing classics such as "Zadok, the Priest" and one of Haydn's Masses. In addition, participants will be singing works by American icons such as Duke Ellington, with selections from his Sacred Service, featuring chorus and tap dancers.

The 2009 Summer Choral Institute will be held from July 27 to July 31, 2009, in the Music Building at the Montgomery College, Rockville Campus, Monday through Friday, from 3 to 9 pm daily. Tuition for the week is $200 (which includes a $50 deposit). The tuition covers all music and administrative cost. Some financial assistance is available - please inquire.

To register, please download and complete the application form (PDF), and mail it along with your $50 non-refundable deposit, to the address indication on the form.

THE SUMMER CHORALE
Adult singers (college age and over) from around the area are invited to sing with members of the National Philharmonic Chorale. The Summer Chorale is produced through a partnership between the National Philharmonic and Montgomery College, and is led by distinguished faculty from area universities and choral groups.

The Summer Chorale is open to those singers who want to enhance their choral singing ability through a week-long program of intensive rehearsals. The Summer Chorale also provides the experience of singing with a large high-quality ensemble. The program will culminate in a final concert, held together with the Summer Choral Institute, at the Montgomery College's Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center.

No auditions are necessary but singing experience is required. This experience including singing in a university or community chorus, or in a church choir.

The repertoire sung is generally one large challenging piece plus several shorter pieces. Previous years' selections include Brahms' Lieberslieder Waltzes, Dello Joio's Song of the Open Road, Mozart's Te Deum, and Copland's At the River. For this year's repertoire see the above.

The 2009 Summer Chorale will rehearse on Tuesdays and Thursdays evenings, July 21, 23, 28, 30 at 7 to 9:30 pm, in the Music Building of Montgomery College Rockville Campus. The final concert will be on Friday, July 31, 2009 at the Montgomery College's Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center. The cost of the Summer Chorale is $50, which covers all music and administrative cost.

To register for the 2009 Summer Chorale, please download the Registration Form (PDF) and send it, along with the $50 tuition fee, to the address on the form.

For further information, or if you have any questions, please contact Nancy Brun by email at nancy@nationalphilharmonic.org.