Date: June 22-26, 2026
Location 1 (preferred): In person at Campus Saint-Jean of the University of Alberta (8406 - 91 St. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)
Location 2: Online (some features are limited) | More information to follow.
Date: June 22-26, 2026
All prices are in Canadian dollars (CAD)
Early-Bird Tuition: (until March 15, 2026)
In-person tuition: $575|$300 (students)
Online tuition: $300 | $175 (students)
! Early-bird registration until March 15th, 2026 !
Regular Tuition: (after March 15, 2026)
Regular In-person tuition: $650 | $350 (students)
Regular online tuition: $350 | $200 (students)
The Summer Institute for Science-Informed Choral Singing and Conducting at Campus Saint-Jean of the University of Alberta (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) is the ideal forum for learning about how the human voice functions and how to teach your choristers to sing in the most efficient, energized and artistic manner possible. Myths about voice function abound in choral settings, too often resulting in fatigue and frustration for singers and directives from conductors that miss the mark. Directors may unwittingly remove colour and energy from an ensemble’s sound, catering to the lowest common denominator in order to attain a perfectly blended sound which often results in an unimpressive, blanded sound.
This institute, guided by the following working definition of Science-Informed Voice Pedagogy, will resolve both myths and missed opportunities:
A hybrid type of singing voice pedagogy that unites science and art by researching current voice science, translating it, combining it with extant historic voice knowledge, and transmitting it to singers. Science-Informed Voice Pedagogy is informed by science, but not bound by it (from Lynn Helding, The Art of Vocology: Practicing Science-Informed Voice Pedagogy (Bloomsbury Publishing; forthcoming).
Institute Leaders Lynn Helding from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music and Laurier Fagnan from the University of Alberta will share their knowledge accumulated over 60 years of combined study and exploration of voice pedagogy, voice science, choral conducting and cognition in order to empower choral conductors, choral singers, voice teachers and choral leaders (such as Assistant Conductors and Section Leads) to understand and apply a full arsenal of current scientific knowledge relating to the physiology and acoustics of the human voice to draw out the vocal expressivity that can and should be just as prevalent in choral singing as it is in solo singing.
Curriculum Overview (click on the 'About' and 'Schedule' tabs above for a more detailed breakdown)
Participants will learn the fundamentals of the five systems of the voice (Respiration, Phonation, Resonance, Articulation, and Cognition) and how they can operate synergistically to create compelling vocal tone replete with colour and energy. You will also learn pedagogical skills and tools that will help to communicate this new-found knowledge effectively to your singers and ensembles. The collective tone of the ensemble will be stressed throughout, but particular pitfalls that tend to compromise blend in certain voice types will also be examined with practical solutions offered. Physiological and pedagogical concepts learned will be buttressed by an in-depth study of vocal acoustics and acoustical analysis. Key concepts of the vocal spectrum such as harmonics and formants (including the singers’ formant) will be explored and elucidated, enabling participants to speak of them authoritatively with their groups. Many of the factors leading to poor intonation, including the intrinsic pitch of vowels and vowel unity, will be examined, as will that ever-elusive concept of vibrato and its control. Although science will be the vehicle, expressive, artistic ensemble singing will be the ultimate aim. Key principles of the bel canto manner of singing will also be explored as a means of applying science-based techniques as beautifully and artistically as possible.
There will be podium time in masterclass settings for those who wish to avail themselves of that opportunity. Repertoire will be provided in advance and participants will have a chance to conduct the Institute Ensemble and receive feedback from both Helding and Fagnan as to how they communicate newly acquired pedagogical concepts to the choir both verbally as well as through their gestures.
Location and logistics
This 5-day institute (June 22-26, 2026) will be held in Canada at Campus Saint-Jean of the University of Alberta in Edmonton’s vibrant French Quarter. Adjacent to the Millcreek Ravine and Edmonton's beautiful river valley with its hundreds of kilometers of trails, the areas offers plenty for outdoor enthusiasts to revel in. There are several restaurants within walking distance. We have also secured hotel accommodation at a very reasonable price ($129 CAD/night).
Registration will open in mid December. You can send expressions of interest by email prior to that date to Lfagnan@ualberta.ca.