Jacobs Academy Schola Cantorum

July 17-23, 2023

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 undergraduates or high schoolers aged 16 and above. Most applicants will have sung at other choral courses and weekly in an ensemble or church choir.

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 will create a strong sense of personal contribution and group identity; it will also allow our faculty to offer mentorship and nurturing to each participant. Graduate students currently at JSOM will 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) will offer contrasting literature. Space is built into the schedule for private vocal coaching. The climax of each day’s activity will be a liturgical event open to the public, for example Evensong, Compline, or Vespers. The Schola and its organists will 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.

Two full scholarships (underwritten by Schoenstein Co.) will be chosen from among organ applicants; these players work with faculty in the areas of choral accompaniment and improvisation. The organ scholars also receive private lessons from either Dr. Janette Fishell or Dr. Christopher Young, at the Jacobs Organ Academy (which runs concurrently with the Schola course).

Music Directors Dana Marsh and Jeffrey Smith

Organ Faculty Janette Fishell and Christopher Young

Voice Faculty Steven Rickards

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

and Steven Rickards: Adjunct: Faculty: Jacobs School of Music: Indiana University Bloomington

Location

Housing, meals, and rehearsals are located conveniently on the beautiful IU campus. From Friday to Sunday, we move to beautiful St. Meinrad’s Abbey. The chapel of this abbey is acoustically magnificent This inspiring architectural gem is set in a bucolic part of our state, and our visit is a climax to the week. The facilities on offer at St. Meinrad’s are simple, but excellent. Retreats Saint Meinrad Archabbey

Fees and Deadlines

$ 70.00 Application fee due with submitted materials on or before

March 15, 2023. (Wait-listed candidates to be advised before April 15.)

$ 900.00 Course fee, including tuition, housing and meals, to be received on or before

June 15, 2023.

Application requirements for Singers: unedited recordings of

Two solo works either sacred or secular.

One must be in a language other than English or Latin.

A recording of an ensemble of which you are a member.

(The above items may be taken from live performances or may be recorded exclusively for this application.)

Two reference letters; one must come from a professional musician who can speak with first-hand knowledge of your work.

Application requirements for Organists: unedited recordings of

An organ work of Bach

An organ work of a composer born after 1800.

A hymn of at least four stanzas, which may include improvised elements, if desired

An anthem accompaniment, ideally with a choir

(The above items may be taken from live performances or may be recorded exclusively for this application.)

Two reference letters; one must come from a professional musician who can speak with first-hand knowledge of your work.

Apply here:

Schola Cantorum: Program Descriptions: Jacobs Academy: Indiana University Bloomington