Vocal Summer School for Classical Singers

Apply Now

• Spaces are limited so early booking is encouraged
• Bookings will close at 5pm on Monday 30 June 2025 or when the course reaches full capacity
• Please note that accommodation is not available
• Read our terms and conditions

Ages 16–21

Course Dates & Times

Monday 21 – Friday 25 July 2025
9am–5pm

About Vocal Summer School for Classical Singers

This five-day course led by senior staff from the Vocal Studies department will enable singers aged 16–21 to experience Guildhall School’s world-leading vocal training.

With a joint focus on class teaching and extensive one-to-one tuition, you will work towards an informal presentation at the end of the course. As well as an introduction to singing in Italian and communicating text into song, the course will cover body awareness and performance skills.

Who is the course for?

Developing singers aged 16 to 21 who would like an insight into conservatoire training.

What can I expect?

• One-to-one tuition and coaching with members of Guildhall's Vocal Studies department
• Individual coaching from the Vocal Studies department
• Breathing and body awareness
• Interpretation and performance presentation
• Drama workshop
• English and Italian repertoire masterclasses
• Text into song work
• Work on two songs of your choice, one in English, the other in Italian

Do I need anything for the course?

• Two pieces you are currently working on — one in English, one in Italian
• One piece of prose

How to Apply

Please click the "Apply now" button and fill out the application form. To demonstrate your singing ability, you will be required to upload a video recording* of two pieces that are Grade 6 standard or above to our Dropbox (link in the application form). Applications will be reviewed by the lead course tutors and successful applicants will be sent a booking link to confirm their place.

*Please note that applications will not be sent for tutors' consideration unless there is an accompanying video recording.

Course Fee

£655

Apply Now

• Spaces are limited so early booking is encouraged
• Bookings will close at 5pm on Monday 30 June 2025 or when the course reaches full capacity
• Please note that accommodation is not available
• Read our terms and conditions

Participation Bursaries are available for this course. Please note the application deadline for Participation Bursaries is 28 April 2025.

Eligibility

• For everyone aged 16–21
• Recommend level: Grade 6+
• Participants must have sufficient English language skills in order to fully engage with the course 

About the Course Tutors

This course is taught by Marilyn Rees and Theresa Goble from Guildhall School's Vocal Studies Department.

Marilyn Rees has worked extensively in recital and oratorio, given many broadcasts for radio and television and toured Japan, USA and Europe. Roles have included Susanna, Queen of the Night, Zerbinetta, Poppea and much of the Bel Canto repertoire. A singer with the Bayreuther Festspiele for over ten years and with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Marilyn's holistic approach provides firm technical grounding for young singers and continued refinement for established artists.

Theresa Goble, mezzo soprano, was born in Portsmouth, and studied at Guildhall School of Music & Drama and at the National Opera Studio with scholarships from the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and Scottish Opera, where she was a company member for four years. She has appeared as a soloist with major opera companies in the United Kingdom including English National Opera, Scottish Opera and Opera Holland Park. She has performed extensively in Europe and the U.S.A . Roles include Dalila (Samson et Dalila), Ulrica (Un Ballo in Maschera), Amneris (Aida), Carmen and Kundry (Parsifal).

Regarded for her holistic approach, Theresa’s own insights as performer and teacher draw on traditional Bel Canto technique as well as educational kinesiology, brain gym and inner game principles. Her interest in how students learn, led her to conduct a research project to assess the effectiveness of the use of educational kinesiology in assisting the learning of developing musicians during conservatoire study.