2026 Summer Singing Opportunities:
Oakland Symphony Chorus Summer Sing-Ins
Many BCCO members have previously joined this excellent program, and five Wednesday night sessions are now scheduled: July 15 through August 12 at the Valley Center for Performing Arts, 3500 Mountain Blvd, Oakland. Choral leaders include Buddy James, Marika Kuzma, Zach Salsburg-Frank (now Director of the Oakland Symphony Chorus), Ash Walker and Oakland Symphony Music Director Kedrick Armstrong. The programs include many beloved choral works and, especially on August 12, the Poulenc Gloria, which BCCO will present in January. Bring your own music or a score can be borrowed at the event.
Tickets are $25 a session, or $110 for all five. More details and ticket purchase: https://www.oaklandsymphony.org/chorus/summer-sing-ins/
SF Early Music Society workshops
This summer there are three workshops (out of six) that should be of particular interest to choral singers. All are terrific, highly recommended and located at First Church Berkeley (FCC). The Baroque and Med/Ren workshops are week-long, fairly intensive and really dig into early music. Then there is the Choral Workshop, which SFEMS director Derek Tam launched last year for the first time. The repertoire this summer focuses on Andre Campra’s Requiem – a little performed but wonderful composition. Rehearsals will be held each evening, 7 pm, August 10-14, with a performance on Saturday afternoon, August 15.
- Baroque Workshop July 6-12
Registration closes Monday June 22! Can’t do the whole week? Come for Cantata Night. (A one-night sing-in of Handel and Purcell works.) - Medieval/Renaissance Workshop July 12-18
New voice faculty this year: Elena Mullins (Ensemble Alchemy). Two lutenists (one faculty, one apprentice) to collaborate with singers this year. - Choral Workshop August 10-15
Those interested in delving deeper can also opt for additional solo, small ensemble, and opera-scene components to the Choral Workshop. These will be held during the afternoons, with a performance in the late morning of August 15. Registration is $200 for the choral sessions, additional for the other components.
More details on all three, plus registration: https://www.sfems.org/
Schola Cantorum
Six Monday night summer sings in Los Altos, July 6 to August 10. Works include the Mozart Requiem, Haydn Mass in the Time of War (which BCCO sang in January 2025), Carmina Burana, and more. Led by various Bay Area choral leaders. Admission is $25 or $125 for the series. Los Altos United Methodist Church, 655 Magalena Ave., Los Altos.
More information and tickets: https://scholacantorum.org/summer-sings/
For more information:
Linda Berti (bertica1@comcast.net)
Jerry Freiwirth (jfreiwirth@sbcglobal.net),
Co-chairs, BCCO Collaborations Committee