CHORAL SYMPOSIUM | Vienna Summer Music Copy

CHORAL SYMPOSIUM.

Scholarship. Performance. Culture.

ERYNN MILLARD | ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP

Erynn M. Millard, Ph.D., maintains an active international presence as conductor, clinician, and presenter, with engagements in Japan, Bolivia, Spain, Mexico, Germany, Belgium, Taiwan, and Panama. She serves as Director of Choral Activities at Florida International University’s Wertheim School of Music & Performing Arts in Miami, where she conducts the FIU Concert Choir and teaches conducting and choral literature.

PROGRAM DETAILS &
REPERTOIRE

Arrival July 1st - Departure July 14th

Program Fee: €3750 Includes housing, Local Transportation, Facilities, Lessons, Masterclasses, and Cultural Excursions

An Exceptional Opportunity for Aspiring Vocalists and Music Educators…!

The Vienna Summer Music Festival’s Choral Symposium is a two-week intensive designed for aspiring conductors and dedicated choral singers. Conducting fellows receive masterclass-style podium training with a full choir, preparing 2–3 octavos for performance and receiving high-quality video footage for graduate school and professional applications.

Singers form the core of two concerts: Mozart’s *Requiem* and a diverse octavo program spanning Renaissance masterworks, Romantic gems, and contemporary choral voices. Participants also take part in sessions on choral technique, rehearsal strategy, and music pedagogy led by international faculty.

Set in the cultural heart of Vienna, the symposium offers rigorous artistic training, distinguished mentorship, and an international credential that strengthens graduate and professional portfolios alike.

Repertoire Includes:

Requiem, Mozart (MAJOR WORK)

Cntique de Jean Racine, Faure

Sicut Cervus, Palestrina

O Schoene Nacht, Brahms

O Lord, In Thee Have I Trusted, Handel

Kyrie (from Missa in Angustiis), Haydn

O Love, Hagenberg

I am Loved, Harris

Ain'a That Good News, Dawson

Can We Sing the Darkness to Light, Pederson

Earth Song, Ticheli

Even When God is Silent, Horvit

For You I will Be an Island, Cook

Choose a Track

There are two tracks available for the Choral Music Symposium

Choral Scholar Track

Choral Scholars form the heart of the symposium’s ensemble, performing in two major concerts: Mozart’s Requiem and a diverse octavo program featuring works by Palestrina, Brahms, Fauré, Hagenberg, Dawson, and more. Morning sessions include masterclasses and interest seminars in choral technique, pedagogy, and repertoire, while afternoon rehearsals prepare the Scholars to form the ensemble for the Conducting Fellows.

This track is open to all adult singers (18+) with strong choral skills, regardless of major. Scholars gain invaluable professional experience performing in Vienna while engaging with a wide range of repertoire and conductors in an intensive, collaborative environment.

Conducting Fellow Track

Conducting Fellows receive daily podium opportunities with a full choir, preparing 2–3 octavos for performance in the symposium’s choral concert. Each Fellow conducts both in rehearsal and performance, with high-quality video footage provided for graduate school and professional use.

Fellows also participate in the rehearsal and performance process of Mozart’s Requiem, working alongside faculty and international artists while contributing as singers when not conducting. Mentorship, masterclasses, and immersion in Vienna’s choral tradition make this a unique professional development opportunity for emerging conductors.

Featured Faculty

Our faculty consists of established choral music leaders from the USA to Austria.

Erynn Millard

Program Director

Christian Schulz

Vienna Symphoniker

Pantelis Polychronidis

Coach

A SERIES OF CLASSES

Each morning, participants gather for seminars that balance practical skills with cultural immersion. Designed for both singers and conductors, these sessions offer tools, insights, and perspectives that strengthen artistry and deepen understanding of Vienna’s rich choral tradition.

Conducting & Rehearsal Techniques

Explore gesture, pacing, and ensemble communication, developing strategies to lead rehearsals with clarity, efficiency, and musical depth.

Vocal Pedagogy & Ensemble Soud

Examine healthy singing foundations and rehearsal strategies that build confident voices and unified choral tone.

Choral Artistry Across Eras

Trace the threads connecting Vienna’s historic masters with today’s diverse choral voices. Discover how timeless traditions and new perspectives can shape meaningful performances today.

German Diction for Singers

Engage with the sound, rhythm, and nuance of German through practical application, guided by native expertise.

History & Context

Unpack how Vienna’s choirs and composers shaped the global choral tradition, connecting past innovations with present practice.

Professional Perspectives

A conversation with Vienna Symphoniker’s Christian Schulz on the life of an artist in Vienna and the skills needed to navigate today’s musical world.

Application Requirements

Applicants for the CHORAL SYMPOSIUM should submit one to two videos of yourself conducting or leading a choir either in rehearsal or a performance.

If you do not have video materials, you may instead submit a 500–750 word essay explaining your interest in choral music.

If you are applying as a singer only, please submit a video of yourself singing in a choir.

All application and audition materials including YouTube links, audio files, headshot, resume and must be submitted via a single link to an approved file sharing site such as Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or iCloud.

Resumes (optional) may be submitted as PDF or Word Document files only, and should include the applicant’s first and last name.

Video auditions need to be submitted as YouTube links, and audio auditions should be submitted as MP3 files, and should be included in the materials included in the single file sharing link. File names should include the applicant’s first and last name, program of interest, and the creation date of the recording. (Example: Emily Brown_Choral Symposium_08/16.MP3)

All applicants will be contacted by The Vienna Summer Music Festival for a phone or video conference interview, and should receive an initial response in 7-10 business days.

After completing the application, you will be redirected to PayPal to complete a $35 submission fee.