VOCES8 International Summer School and Festival 2025

Milton Abbey, Dorset, U.K.

Mon 28th July - Sat 2nd August 2025

UPDATE - 4 October: Adult places on the Summer School are now fully booked, except for the Chamber Group option. If you would like to apply for the Residential or Non-Residential options you can sign up for our waiting list here.

To apply for an adult Chamber Group place or an Under-18 place, please email the Summer School Administrator.

VOCES8 is delighted to host its annual Summer School and Festival at Milton Abbey School. Participants in the Summer School work with VOCES8 throughout the week to rehearse and perform the closing concert of the Festival. The Summer School focuses on major works with orchestra, and the opportunity to work in smaller chamber ensembles which are directed by members of VOCES8. The Summer School package includes entry to the concerts that take place each evening in the Abbey, featuring renowned international artists.

New adult (aged 18 and over) participants must be Friends of The VOCES8 Foundation in order to apply. Click to find out how to become a Friend.

Course Experiences Include

• Engaging with specialist choral techniques in bespoke masterclass sessions with VOCES8

• Rehearsing and performing for a gala orchestral performance on the final Saturday

• Working in chamber groups to present a madrigal, part song, pop and jazz a cappella concert

• Tickets to all Festival concerts, including performances by VOCES8 and APOLLO5.

All sessions on the course will be led by VOCES8. Repertoire will be a diverse selection from the European choral heritage alongside contemporary a cappella arrangements.

Young Musicians’ Course

Our Young Musicians’ Course for participants aged 8 upwards is run by Neil Valentine, a highly experienced music educator and workshop leader. The course follows a separate but parallel timetable to the main Summer School, and the children join in with one of the chamber groups for rehearsals and the concert on Thursday.

The Young Musicians spend their week preparing a vocal and instrumental performance they give on the Friday afternoon in the Theatre, as well as a short performance at the beginning of the Gala Concert on the Saturday in the Abbey.

Teenagers who come to the Summer School have the option of joining the Young Musicians’ Course, the adult Summer School, or a mixture of both, by discussion and arrangement.

Scholarships

We are delighted to be able to offer part or full scholarships to help prospective participants under the age of 18 (or under 21 if still in Full Time Education) to be able to attend the Summer School. For more information and to receive an application form, please email the Course Administrator.

Booking details

• Adult Resident in the School £995

• Non-Resident £795

• Non-Resident ‘Chamber Group Only’ option £550

• Young Musicians’ Course £600 (fully residential, including pastoral care)

Residential option: The course fee includes all board and lodging (3 meals per day), all course materials and tuition, entry to all concerts, and full use of the school’s facilities for recreation. Please note: All resident accommodation is in school boarding house facilities, mostly with shared bathrooms.

Non-residential option: Includes daily lunch and dinner, all course materials and tuition, entry to all concerts, and full use of the school’s facilities for recreation.

Chamber Group Only option: This non-residential option includes lunch, dinner and entry to all concerts throughout the week, as well as participation in all Chamber Group rehearsals (one session each day) and the Chamber Group concert on Thursday afternoon. At other times, participants are welcome to use the facilities at the school and join with other Summer School events such as the Wednesday afternoon Ceilidh.

A £100 non-refundable deposit to secure your place is payable on booking. The full balance becomes due on 1 May 2025.

Travel costs are not included, but a shuttle service between Dorchester Stations and Milton Abbey is provided on the first and last day of the Summer School.

Participant Information

This section will host details about the week, including joining instructions, timetables, downloadable scores, Chamber Group information, and other exciting things!

Please check back here for more information which we’ll add below as it becomes available.

Gala Concert

The 2025 Gala Concert performance work is the newly-composed Requiem by Taylor Scott Davis, which we be paired with a yet-to-be-announced second work.

Participants are encouraged to join the Summer School Facebook group and to use it to communicate before and during the week, and post your pictures and videos afterwards (don’t forget to tag @voces8foundation !).