Vocal Summit

Boston
Ages 15+
Your voice—it’s your instrument. Take the next step to develop your sound in this five-day program with instruction in vocal technique, style, performance skills, singing with a band, group singing, and a cappella performance. Open to vocalists, singer-songwriters, and instrumentalists who sing, Vocal Summit will let you explore the world of contemporary vocal music.
Dates
June 16-June 21
Check-in Time
Monday, June 16, 8 AM—11 AM
Move-out
Saturday, June 21, 7 PM
Tuition
$1,295
Housing
$895
Registration fee
$50 (nonrefundable)
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Registration for this program has closed.
 

How to Enroll

  1. Submit your registration by May 1.* Begin by submitting your registration online(Opens in a new window). If applicable, you may need to submit additional supporting materials.
  2. Make your tuition payment by May 1.* All programs have limited capacity, so be sure to complete your full tuition payment to reserve your space in the program.
  3. Request housing by May 1. Students who are 15 years of age or older by the start of their Boston-based program are eligible to stay in on-campus housing. If you meet the eligibility requirements and have indicated that you would like to request on-campus housing, please revisit your registration portal(Opens in a new window) and submit a Residence Hall Agreement.

*Please note: This program has limited capacity. Submission of registration materials alone does not guarantee participation in the program. You will secure your spot by paying in full.

Curriculum

The Vocal Summit program offers styles in pop-rock, pop and R&B, jazz, and musical theater. You'll select one style to study during the program and participate in several core classes throughout the week.

  • Solo coaching: These are small classes where singers perform solo songs with accompaniment in a master class setting. Students will be coached on interpretation, phrasing, expression, timbre, register, key selection, working with a band, count-offs, cues, cutoffs, microphone technique, and stage presence. 
  • Ensembles: Vocal ensembles are groups of 20–40 singers directed by Berklee faculty and accompanied by a rhythm section. Each ensemble will perform one musical selection at the final concert.

Students will also select workshops to attend throughout the program. The following list of electives previously offered will give you a sense of what to expect:

  • Elements of Vocal Technique
  • Vocal Health and Wellness
  • Unlocking Riffs and Runs
  • Crafting a Sustainable Career in Music: Artistry, Business, and Beyond
  • Make Your Vocal Tracks Pop
  • Confidence Under Pressure: Owning Your Moment
  • Demystifying Mixed Voice
  • Unlock Your Songwriting Potential
  • Exploring Vocal Style Through Movement and Fashion
  • Face Music: Doing More with Beatbox
  • Master Class with Artist-in-Residence Ella Bric
  • Sing It into Being: Voice, Culture, and Creation
  • Ace The Audition
  • The Art of Reinvention
  • The Art of Jazz Improv: From the Classics to Contemporary Sounds
  • Making Melodies Mine
  • Social Media and Branding for Artists
  • Ecstatic Expressions: Vocal Distortion
  • Freedom Through Music and Theater
Schedule

Below is a sample of a typical day in the program. 

TimeEvent
8 AM–8:50 AMBreakfast
9 AM–10:50 AMEnsemble or solo coaching
11 AM–12:50 PMEnsemble or solo coaching
1 PM–1:50 PMLunch
2 PM–3 PMVisiting artist presentation
4 PM–5:50 PMWorkshops
6 PM–7:20 PMDinner
7:30 PM–8:50 PMVisiting artist concert
9:00 PM–10:20 PMOpen mics

Schedule subject to change.

Performance Opportunities

The program culminates in a final showcase of student ensembles. Each student will take the stage and participate in at least one ensemble.

Students also have the opportunity to perform in open mics each evening. Open mics are a great chance for students to perform in a different style than their elected style for classes.

All performances are open to friends and family.

Requirements

General Requirements

All students 15 and older with six months of singing experience are welcome to attend.

Participants must possess a proficient level of English to enroll in this program. We do not require proof of English language proficiency (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo) as part of the enrollment or application process; however, you are expected to have a sufficient command of the English language to understand class material and assignments.

Required Materials

Please prepare four songs that you are confident performing, preferably from memory, for your solo coaching class. Bring four copies of a lead sheet for each song you will sing, ensuring the song is in a comfortable key for you. To learn more about converting sheet music to a lead sheet, refer to the resources below:

For hygiene reasons, vocalists are required to bring their own low-impedance microphone and microphone cable (XLR)(Opens in a new window). If you bring a mic, please label it so it does not get lost. Review our list of instruments and gear to bring to your program in this Help Center article(Opens in a new window).

Program Directors

  • Cindy Scott
    Cindy Scott
    Program Director

    Cindy Scott’s technical mastery and commitment to lyrical expression have earned her fans worldwide. She has been steeped in roots music, jazz, gospel, and Southern soul. She plays flute, guitar, and percussion, and is a composer and lyricist. Scott has lived across the southern US and in Germany, Mexico, and Hungary. She has master's degrees in both jazz performance and international business. She came to Berklee from New Orleans' rich music scene and continues to perform with A-list Big Easy musicians. She is an associate professor and the program director of Vocal Summit.

  • Cassandre McKinley
    Cassandre McKinley
    Assistant Program Director

    Boston native Cassandre McKinley is a singer, recording artist, composer, producer, vocal coach, and educator. As an artist and singer, she channels genres ranging from soul, jazz, and blues to R&B, pop, and country, unifying them into a singular sound. This freedom from stylistic boundaries defines McKinley’s approach to making music. In her youth, McKinley studied voice, dance, and theater, and by 19, after attending Boston Conservatory, she was signed with an agent and working as an actor, singer, dancer, print model, and voiceover artist. She has five solo records, including 2006's Til Tomorrow: Remembering Marvin Gaye (Maxjazz/Mack Avenue), hailed by JazzTimes as “a rich, sensual salute,” and 2018's Dragonfly, which features the robust vocal interpretations that she'd become known for. Her music can be heard on hundreds of national and international radio stations and cable and internet music outlets, including iHeartRadio, Spotify, Pandora, and Sirius XM. Currently an associate professor of voice at Berklee College of Music and an instructor at Berklee Online, she continues to perform regularly as a solo artist and featured guest artist.

Visiting Artist

  • Ella Bric

    Ella Bric

    Ella Bric is a Grammy-winning producer, songwriter, and trumpeter, making history as the first woman to win the Latin Grammy for Producer of the Year in 2018. She has collaborated with artists like Wynton Marsalis, Alejandro Sanz, and Karol G, and was a finalist in the Rolex Mentor Protégé program with mentor Lin-Manuel Miranda. With a new conceptual album in the works, she continues to push the boundaries of contemporary music.

Once You've Enrolled

The Berklee Summer Programs Team is excited that you've taken the first step! Now that you've enrolled, here's what to know, to be sure you're prepared before and after you check in for the experience of a lifetime.

What to do first?

Complete These Tasks by June

Prepare to Arrive and Check In

Access the Summer Programs Help Center

Explore some of these top articles from the Summer Programs Help Center.

  • How to Enroll
  • Curriculum
  • Schedule
  • Performance Opportunities
  • Requirements
  • Once You've Enrolled
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Registration for this program has closed.