2023 Choral Workshops and Summer Sing

Join us for these interactive and engaging sessions, hosted by CMS Music Director John C. Hughes.
​
All sessions are held at Countryside Unitarian Church, 1025 N. Smith St, Palatine, IL. 
Workshops are $25 each, or $45 for both. There is no charge for the Summer Sing (freewill donations are welcome).
​Don't miss this exciting opportunity to enhance your vocal, choral, and musical skills! 

Vocal Health
​Essentials
for the Choral Artist
May 23, 2023 | 7-9pm

Lori Sonnenberg,
Speech Language Pathologist
and Clinical Voice Specialist,
​Sonnenberg Voice

Singing is an athletic activity that places significant demands on the mind and body. Vocal fatigue, loss of range, and discomfort are common issues that might occur. With increased awareness and the right vocal health tools, choral singers can manage these demands and maintain a healthy instrument for a lifetime of singing. Participants will learn skills that will help sustain the voice, while also enhancing choral artistry. 

The Hidden Vowel:
Creating Beautiful
Vocal Color
May 30, 2023 | 7-9pm

Dr. Nicholas Miguel,
Assistant Professor of Voice,
Western Illinois University

​
Several elements of the vocal mechanism affect the quality of
vowel sounds. By understanding
​these elements, singers can be
better equipped to create more beautiful and accurate vowel colors for any language and context. Participants will learn what these mechanisms are, hear what changing them does to the sound, and practice modifying them in a playful, positive, and experimental way.

Summer Sing:
​Highlights from
​Messiah
June 13, 2023 | 7-9pm

Dr. John C. Hughes
leads choruses from
Händel's masterpiece
​
​
All are welcome to join members of Chicago Master Singers and
Music Director John C. Hughes
for a joyful evening of singing beloved choruses from Händel's Messiah.
Bring a friend or make new ones as we share community through ensemble singing. No rehearsal or advance preparation needed. Please bring your score if you have one, otherwise loaner copies will be available free of charge.

Previous Workshops

Workshop sessions since 2015 are listed below. Many thanks to all of these presenters for sharing their expertise!
  • Singing and Weeds: Thoughts from a Gardening Conductor - Jerry Blackstone 
  • The Spiritual and Gospel Music: Performance Techniques - Keith Hampton
  • How Does a Composer Compose for Choir? - Stacy Garrop 
  • ​Making Those Consonants Pop: Achieving Excellent Choral Diction - Kurt Hansen 
  • Can You Hear the Overtones? Strategies for Great Choral Intonation - John C. Hughes
  • Keeping Your Voice Healthy: Best Practices for Singing and Speaking - Theresa Brancaccio
  • Singing “Baroquely” - Julia Davids and Martin Davids
  • Taking Your Singing to the Next Level with Vocal Coaching - Richard Boldrey
  • Protecting Your Vocal Health - Robert Bastian
  • The Art of Auditioning and Basic Rehearsal Disciplines - Alan Heatherington
  • How to Sing Correctly, Using Your Whole Body - Jeffrey Horvath
  • The Joys and Challenges of A Cappella Singing - Anne Heider

Since our first workshops in Spring 1989, other clinicians have included choral conductors, voice teachers, and professional soloists such as:
 
Cynthia Anderson​
​Neva Bailey
Karen Brunssen
William Chin
Richard Cohn
Cheryl Frazes Hill
John Melcher
Patrice Michaels
Myron Myers
Rebecca Patterson
Martha Swisher
Daniel Wallenberg
 
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