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Register by October 17 to Secure Your Spot!
| Registration Type | Member Price |
|---|---|
| Early Bird Registration (Sept. 11-Oct.3) | $750 |
| General Registration (Oct. 4-Oct.17) | $850 |
You became Berkshire Choral’s new Artistic Director last year. What has it been like to walk into an organization with such a long history?
When I first moved to Boston back in 2006, I was told about a few organizations that I absolutely had to check out, and BCI was certainly one of them. So when I had the chance, I headed out to Sheffield (Massachusetts) and sat in on a couple of rehearsals. It was absolutely amazing to see so many wonderful singers enjoying themselves and each other while exploring such incredible music. I had no idea then that I would someday become part of the esteemed tradition that BCI has cultivated over the years.
Frank Nemhauser did so many wonderful things with BCI, and I feel both honored and motivated to build upon the legacy he created. But I'm also walking into an organization with such a strong team already in place. President & CEO Steven Smith has done an amazing job stewarding this organization throughout his tenure. And my partner-in-crime Director of Music Sean Taylor is not only steeped in musical knowledge – he's truly a gift because he genuinely embodies the BCI tradition. It's rare that you truly love working with everyone on your staff, and that collaborative spirit actually mirrors what makes BCI special for our singers too.
What have you observed about the people who sing with Berkshire? What do they get out of the experience?
The first thing that strikes me about BCI singers is how they create instant community. While we have some long-timers who return year after year, each session brings together a unique mix of people, and they immediately start building connections with each other in that organic way that choral singing naturally fosters. We don't have tons of time together – just one intensive week – so that community-building is absolutely crucial, and it just works beautifully.
I'm also constantly amazed by the enthusiasm each singer brings. There's this genuine passion for the art form where they dive right into the work from day one. Every rehearsal, they're pushing themselves to learn and grow – there's no quit in them. They're not just going through the motions; they truly love the process of discovery and musical growth. As a conductor, that energy is incredibly inspiring and contagious.
What they get out of it goes beyond just the music-making. They leave with new friendships, expanded vocal skills, and often a renewed sense of what's possible in their own musical lives. It's that combination of artistic challenge and human connection that keeps people coming back.
The 2026 summer season is the first you’ve fully planned. How does it reflect your vision for BCI?
I wanted to create a season that honors our incredible tradition while also taking us in new and exciting directions. On every program, there's probably something you've never sung before, but it sits right alongside pieces that feel familiar and beloved – I think of it as "something old, something new" for every experience.
I'm also passionate about using BCI's platform to bring forward composers and compositions that may have been overlooked or lost in time for various reasons. I want our singers – no matter where you're from or what your background – to see themselves represented in both the music and the composers we've selected. That same commitment to diverse voices and perspectives is also a driving force behind the guest conductors we've chosen.
Ultimately, I want every singer to walk away having discovered something – whether it's a composer they'd never heard of, a piece that moves them in a new way, or even a different side of a familiar work. That sense of musical discovery, combined with our tradition of excellence, is what I hope defines this season and the seasons to come.
What are some highlights that singers can look forward to in 2026?
Oh, this is a tough question because there's so much! I'm incredibly excited about BCI's first-ever a cappella workshop with Deke Sharon. I wanted to expand what we include under "group singing," and Deke is absolutely the perfect person to launch this. That week is going to be a blast, and believe it or not, this kind of "cross-training" will actually strengthen your classical singing too.
I'm also thrilled about our first-ever trip to the Baltics – an exciting program of Brahms and Ešenvalds led by Patrick Quigley. The musical experience will be incredible, but the cultural immersion aspect is equally exciting.
Then there's our program with Beth Willer featuring Ethel Smyth's Mass in D – a piece that will absolutely leave singers feeling fulfilled and inspired. And our first-ever Treble Week, featuring Andrea Ramsey's Suffrage Cantata led by Iris LeVine, is going to be truly special.
I haven't even mentioned the first-ever BCI appearance by the legendary André Thomas! Honestly, I don't know how anyone will choose just one week – which is exactly the problem I hoped to create.
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You are also conducting in 2026 – a week in Denver. What’s your program?
I'm conducting three incredible pieces that showcase different perspectives within the Classical tradition. We'll start with Mozart's beloved Coronation Mass in C Major, K. 317 – one of his most popular sacred works, and you'll hear why the moment we begin.
Then we have the remarkable Dixit Dominus by Marianna Martines, a composer who was actually Mozart's contemporary and moved in the same musical circles in Vienna. She was the first woman honored with entry to the same prestigious academy that Mozart belonged to and her music deserves to be much better known.
Finally, we'll perform the stunning Requiem by Brazilian composer José Maurício Nunes Garcia. He was so influenced by Mozart that he actually conducted the first performance of Mozart's Requiem in Brazil but unlike Mozart's unfinished masterpiece, Garcia completed his Requiem entirely himself.
It's this wonderful conversation between three composers from different worlds, all connected by their shared musical language and passion for sacred music.
It seems that BCI has been undergoing a renaissance of sorts over the past few years. How are things progressing for the organization?
That's such a great question, and honestly, "renaissance" feels like the perfect word for what's happening. BCI is in this really exciting period where we're intentionally broadening our appeal to new and younger singers, and the response has been incredible. This past year, more than a third of our singers were completely new to BCI, and since 2019, our enrollment has nearly doubled.
What's driving this growth is our commitment to creating a variety of experiences where amateur adult singers feel at home and free to grow as both musicians and people. At the same time, we're focused on giving younger singers their first exposure to some of the greatest works in our repertoire – that moment when someone discovers a piece that changes how they think about music.
We still have a long way to go, but I'm genuinely hopeful that by programming great music that's diverse in style and bringing in both trailblazing conductors and established giants of the field, we'll continue making real progress. The energy is palpable, and that momentum feels sustainable in the best possible way.
Registration for all of Berkshire Choral International’s 2026 programs are now open through December 1. Programs range from 4-8 days, held in various locations across the U.S. as well as Tallinn, Estonia, held in May, June, and July. Learn more at berkshirechoral.org.
This article is sponsored by Berkshire Choral International. Thank you for supporting the partners that make Chorus America’s work possible. If you are interested in learning more about sponsored articles, please contact us at [email protected].
