Pre-Season Michaelmas Song School

Step into the new choral season with confidence, stamina, and the technical know-how of the great Cambridge chapel choirs. Our Michaelmas Pre-Season Song School is an intensive, energising short course designed for singers who want to get choir‑ready and audition‑ready for the season ahead.

• Vocal Technique Training Build stamina, extend your range, strengthen breath control, and learn how to reach those high notes with ease.
• Sight‑Singing Workshops Sharpen your musicianship and boost your confidence in fast‑paced rehearsal environments.
• Ensemble Skills Learn to blend, tune, and communicate like a seasoned choral professional.
• Cambridge Chapel Discipline Train with techniques used by  the world‑famous Cambridge collegiate choirs.
• Psalm Singing & Chanting Master the art of confident pitching, fluid text delivery, and stylistic nuance.

In honour of Michaelmas (St Michael and All Angels), the course explores music shaped by angelic imagery – radiant, soaring, and full of expressive colour. Expect repertoire that challenges and uplifts in equal measure.

Cambridge in early autumn is dreamy: golden light, peaceful courts, the tourists gone, and the city settling into its most contemplative season before the hustle of the new academic year. It’s the perfect backdrop for focused vocal work and musical renewal. Plus there’s a competitive side-quest to clock up the highest number of chapel visits over the weekend! Come and enjoy the late summer sun and some fabulous music in gorgeous chapels!

We are delighted to be working with a superb team of music directors including Dr Edward Wickham (St Catharine’s College and CCA Artistic Director).

Delights in store include candle-lit Compline in St Catharine’s College Chapel, Evensongs in two other colleges and a 3-course formal dinner. You will develop your voice and choral skills with daily voice training and vocal health sessions, and enjoy warm camaraderie with a friendly group of people who share your passion for choral music. 

Our Singing Retreats are designed to immerse you in the rich choral life of Cambridge, with accommodation in one of its historic colleges, and opportunities to sing in college chapels under the direction of celebrated Cambridge choir directors. Alongside the choral workshops, you’ll enjoy complementary cultural and educational talks, as well as meeting like-minded new friends.  

Experience this extraordinary world from the inside:

• Ensuite accommodation in beautiful St Catharine’s College (please bear in mind this is an academic setting rather than a hotel)
• Sing in iconic Cambridge college chapels, each with a different acoustic, feel and organ
• Evensong and Compline under leading Cambridge choral directors
• Vocal health sessions to develop and sustain your voice
• Welcome drinks reception where you will have the opportunity to meet the other participants and the weekend tutors and staff
• Saturday night formal dinner with fine wines from the college cellar
• Complementary cultural and educational talks with academic specialists to give context and insights
• Time out to explore Cambridge

Repertoire

Timings

Fees

£845 full board, £645 non-residential

BRING A FRIEND DISCOUNT: SAVE £50 EACH!*

Student Scholars: we’re pleased to offer a limited number of Student Scholarships at reduced fees for singers aged 18-25yrs*. To apply, please email hello@cambridgechoral.com.

Full course fee includes full board for 2 nights, all tuition, welcome reception, music hire, 3-course formal dinner with private dining and other activities.  All rooms are single occupancy and ensuite with tea and coffee making facilities. Bedding and towels are provided.

We have a limited number of twin rooms so if you’d like to bring a partner along, there’s lots for them to do in Cambridge while you’re singing. They are welcome to join us for meals and social activities and attend evensongs and concerts. Non-singing guest fees on request.

* Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. To qualify for our “bring a friend” offer, your friend must be new to CCA.

Applications

If you’re an experienced choral singer with good note-reading ability, this is the course for you! We seek to create a balanced chamber choir, with places capped at 30-40 places depending on the college. 

Please note: all CCA courses involve walking between colleges to experience different college chapels. Due to the age of this historic city, there are cobbles and steps to navigate, which may be difficult for those with mobility issues.

FAQs – please click to find answers to questions, or don’t hesitate to email our friendly team: hello@cambridgechoral.com.