Choral Summer School
Summer of Love

28 July – 3 August 2026 at King’s & St Catharine’s Colleges

Join us for a six-day course immersed in glorious music and all the delights that Cambridge colleges
have to offer!

“This was the best singing week I’ve been to
– and I’ve done a few in my time!”

Summer of Love

Our Choral Summer School invites you to immerse yourself in a week of vocal excellence, exploring the theme of LOVE through powerful settings of the Songs of Solomon and other works celebrating love in all its forms.

Live, sing, and unwind in the iconic surroundings of King’s and St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, with rehearsals and performances in some of the most breathtaking chapels in the world.

It’s a chance to level up your singing, meet incredible people, and spend a week living and performing in gorgeous Cambridge chapels under world-class directors. Candle-lit services, talks and workshops, vocal health sessions, a formal dinner, a chauffeured punt down the River Cam, a choral wine-tasting evening – good music, good friends, good times!

“It was like a dream being there, forgetting the ares of daily life and conentrating with like-minded people on choir singing!”

“Uplifting and inspiring to experience top choral directors and to hear and meet the extraordinarily talented organ scholars”

Rehearsing in St Catharine's College Chapel

Fees

All-inclusive fee:

Single ensuites at King’s College (2 people sharing) £2,350

Double ensuites at King’s College £2,250 (single occupancy rate)

Double ensuites at King’s College (2 people sharing) £2,350

Non-residential fee: £1,695

Young singers (Under 30yrs): £1,610

Student Scholars: £995*

The Choral Summer School course fee includes full board for 6 nights in King’s College, all tuition including a one-to-one singing lesson, welcome drinks reception, music hire and other activities. All rooms are en-suite, with bedding and towels provided.

We have a limited number of double 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 (room-share) £955.

A limited number of Student Scholarships are available for singers aged 18-25yrs*. To apply, please email hello@cambridgechoral.com.

* Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.

** Discounted “Bring a Friend” offer places are limited, with earlier applications prioritised. Your friend must be new to CCA.

“Among the many exquisite hallmarks of this course is the attention to fine detail, everything from a welcome bag of really useful goodies, walking buses between colleges, dietary preferences even fine weather for punting on the Cam”

“I can’t wait to tell all my colleagues about it back home!”

“The folk who come to CCA are my tribe!”

Experience Cambridge

This is a deep immersion in Cambridge choral life – step out of your college room and enjoy…

Singing Evensong in glorious Cambridge College chapels, each with a different acoustic, organ and feel
Sing under world-class choral directors including Dr Edward Wickham (Director Music at St Catharine’s College)
A private viewing of historic manuscripts preserved in the University’s libraries
Gala Concert in St Catharine’s College, which friends and family are welcome to attend
Compline by candlelight – a tranquil end to a busy day
Chamber group work exploring selected pieces in more detail
Develop your voice with 1-2-1 singing lessons tailored to you
Nurture your vocal health with daily sessions from our specialist vocal coach to develop and sustain your voice
Exclusive workshops on consort singing and choral directing
Singing madrigals on a punting picnic on the River Cam
Formal dinner with accompanying wines and port
All meals included and prepared by college chefs
College wine tasting

There’s also time to explore Cambridge for yourself, perhaps the most intensive square mile of choral singing in the world; and to visit the famous Fitzbillies tea shop, Jack’s Gelato and The Eagle pub, where Crick and Watson celebrated their discovery of DNA in the old Cavendish laboratory across the road. Part of the fun is of course breaking bread together, and we’ll enjoy delicious food and wines prepared by a team of St Catharine’s chefs – plus the opportunity for warm camaraderie and building new friendships with people who share your passion for singing.

“Can’t recommend it highly enough. It was such fun too!”

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.

In order to achieve a balance of voices, we welcome applications throughout the year, and we will assess them on 31 January, with a further review to balance voice parts on 31 May 2027.

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.

Repertoire: Summer of Love

We’ll indulge in a repertoire of exquisite music spanning chant, psalmody, Renaissance polyphony, masterpieces of the 20th century and choral music from living composers. Our them explores music written in celebration of LOVE, including:

Walton Set me as a Seal

Howells Like as the hart – Howells

Ola Gjeilo Ubi caritas

Timings

Rooms available from 2pm Wednesday

Welcome drinks 3pm Wednesday

Course ends 12pm Tuesday

Apply Here

Cambridge Chorał Academy is an independent organisation, which contracts with Cambridge colleges for the use of facilities. This event otherwise has no connection or association with the University of Cambridge or its colleges.