Every year, singers from all over New England come together to work with Artistic Director Chris Shepard and many members of CONCORA for a week of music-making, culminating in a concert on July 20. The Summer Festival will kick off the 2019-20 CONCORA season—Ivory, Wood and Steel, featuring choral music with a range of instrumental accompaniments. The public concert is at 4:00 PM on Saturday, July 20.

For the summer program, we will showcase music for choir and four-hand piano. Of course, the single most famous such composition is the Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes. We will also include three wonderful arrangements of Scottish folksongs by Mack Wilberg, the conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

As new feature this year, we are offering the opportunity to participate in three classes before the regular weeknight rehearsals begin. Monday's class is a Reading Session of New Choral Music from Local Composers. Wednesday's feature is a Master Class with Chris Shepard. Friday is an informative session on "Maintaining Vocal Health" with CONCORA soprano Patricia Doyle, MA, CCC-SLP, Assistant Professor in the Division of Otolaryngology at UConn Health.

Every year, CONCORA invites high school and college students to serve as Interns for this Summer Festival. Interns get to work with Artistic Director Chris Shepard and many members of CONCORA doing this week of music-making. Interns will receive free tuition and access to three classes (a new feature of this year's festival).  Costs to the Interns is only $36, which covers their music purchase.

Festival tuition is $195, plus possible additional costs for extra classes and meals.