The Jacobs Academy Schola Cantorum is an intensive week-long course for young musicians passionate about performing a cappella and accompanied sacred choral music. Unique in the USA, this course selects, by audition, advanced singers who are high schoolers  and above. Most applicants will have sung at other choral courses and  weekly in an ensemble.

The course welcomes some of our country’s finest young ensemble singers and organists, limited to 24 participants. The small size and auditioned nature of the Schola Cantorum creates a strong sense of personal contribution and group identity; it also allows our faculty to offer mentorship and nurturing to each participant. Graduate students currently at JSoM serve as musical mentors and camp counselors to the participants.

The vocal style and performance practice embodied in the Schola Cantorum is encapsulated by its polyphonic repertoire and an “ensemble“ approach to singing.  Small consorts (quartets or octets) offer contrasting literature. Space is built into the schedule for private vocal coaching. The climax of each day’s activity is a liturgical event open to the public, for example Evensong, Compline, or Vespers. The Schola and its organists prepare each day’s music to be sung in public that evening. This fast-paced schedule will challenge the singers to improve their sight-reading and ensemble skills. The experience is ideal for those aspiring to a career in church music.

The week is partially supported by the American Guild of Organists. Two full scholarships (underwritten by Schoenstein Co. and the Goulding and Wood Co.) are chosen from among organ applicants; these players work with faculty in choral accompaniment. The organ scholars also receive private lessons from Dr. Janette Fishell of the Jacobs faculty.

Located in lovely Bloomington, Indiana, the musical events are held in notable on and off-campus venues. 

For live recordings drawn from the first four days of the 2024 course:

Repertoire for the 2024 Schola Cantorum Course

Bingham: The darkness is no darkness with thee

Boyle: Thou, O God, art praised in Sion

Britten: Te Deum in C

Burk: Responses

Friedell: Evening Service in F

Greene: Lord, let me know mine end

Howells: Gloucester Service

Humfrey: Evening Service in E minor 

Leighton: Second Evening Service

Parry: My soul, there is a country

Parry: Never weather beaten sail

Parry: There is an old belief

Purcell: My beloved spake (with viol consort)

Sheppard: Reges Tharsis

Tallis: Nunc Dimittis a 5

Tomkins: Responses

Wesley: Thou wilt keep him

Weston: Rivers of living water

Whyte: Christe, qui lux es et dies

Psalm chants by Fisk, Smith, Stanford, and Tomkins

Hymn tunes by Croft, Howells, and Parry

Listen to live recordings from summer 2023

The repertoire heard in the 2023 Schola course was: 

Ayleward: Preces and Responses

Boyce: O where shall wisdom

Burk: Preces and Responses

Byrd: Nunc Dimittis (Gradualia, Latin)

Dove: Ecce beatam lucem

Gibbons: Second Evening Service (with a consort of viols)

Gibbons: See, see the word is incarnate (with a consort of viols)

Howells: Behold, O God our defender

Mathias: Jesus College Service 

Sheppard: Libera nos, salva nos

Stanford: Evening Service in A major

Stanford: Evening Service in C major

Stone: Lord’s Prayer

Tallis: Short Service

Tallis: If ye love me

Tavener: Hymn to the Mother of God

Psalm chants by Atwood, Camidge, Cooke and Hancock

Gregorian responses at Compline

Hymn tunes: Angel Voices, Coe Fen, Diva Servatrix, Guiting Power, and Sussex

Participant Feedback:

“This experience challenged me in ways that have drastically benefited my growth as a choral singer and allowed me to make lifelong connections in the profession… opportunities I won’t soon forget.”

– Jordyn T. (Undergraduate at University of New Mexico) 

“It was very instructive to observe and learn from the brilliant Professors Marsh and Smith, whose contrasting conducting and leadership styles were underscored by their common goal of providing adequate room for both individual and ensemble growth. I certainly gained a lot from this program—both musically and socially—and could not recommend it more.”

–  Dhruv G. (Undergraduate at Harvard University)

“I’ll cherish the friends and the memories that I made at the Schola Cantorum. The intense nature of the course gave a realistic picture of what being a professional musician is actually like. It was amazing to see what beautiful music we could make, singers and organists from across the country, in 7 days.” 

– James W. (Organ Scholar for the course and Undergraduate at Jacobs School of Music)

“I had never been surrounded by so many musicians who loved to create the same kind of music that I do. It was captivating.  The music that we created together will remain a highlight of my summer for a very long time.

 – Maria C. (Undergraduate at Vassar College)

Music Directors    Dana Marsh and Jeffrey Smith 

Organ Faculty       Janette Fishell

Vocal Coach         Aaron Cain

Further information on our team: Faculty – Organ Department (iu.edu) and Dana Marsh: Current: Faculty: Jacobs School of Music: Indiana University Bloomington

Location 

Housing and rehearsals are located conveniently on the beautiful IU campus.

Meals for Youth participants are provided on campus. Other participants can choose from a wide variety of local eateries.