Berkshire Choral International Inc

Programs: Berkshire choral international (bci) provides choral singers with the opportunity to rehearse and perform masterpieces of the choral repertoire under the direction of world-class conductors and with the help of a professional music staff. Bci is a non-profit educational organization which brings together an average of 200 different adult choristers each week for four weeks. Choristers pay room, board and tuition to rehearse, study and perform the great symphonic choral works under the leadership of distinguished guest choral conductors. In 2017, two of those weeks took place in sheffield, massachusetts, the other two weeks took place in asheville, north carolina and budapest, hungary. The primary program is for adult choristers. Each concert's repertoire is carefully chosen to capture the full range and glory of choral music. The organizational goal is to create an intense learning experience for singers who want to reach more deeply into the choral music experience. Musical activities include attending five hours of choral rehearsals per day; attending classes in such subjects as musical history, theory, sight-singing, how to audition, and how to care for your voice, taught by the professional music faculty; receiving private lessons and coaching from the music staff (for a fee); participating in the lab choir for an apprentice conducting master class with guest conductors; and singing in the saturday night concerts with full symphony orchestra and professional soloists. There is time in the afternoons to relax and enjoy the many activities and attractions each venue offers. Over 830 choristers participated in the 2017 season.