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The 2025 ECI Choir
Intense Music. Intense Culture.
The English Choral Intensive is open to interested singers interested in developing their knowledge of sacred choral music, church history, English culture, and technical chamber singing skills.
Singers spend the week as the chorus-in-residence at St. Albans Cathedral in Hertfordshire, England, the oldest Christian worship location in England, dating back over 1,700 years.
While resident, the Scholars participate in the high cathedral worship services of the Anglican church, providing the music for choral evensong services every evening and for Sunday morning service at the end of the week. The ensemble also travels and performs formal and informal recitals at other historic cathedrals and locations throughout southern England.
The singers prepare a significant volume of repertoire: between 30 and 40 different works are performed in a week's time. While there is no expectation of memorization, participating singers are required to sing musically and sensitively in a variety of styles. This format of singing and pacing is a significant attribute of the cathedral residency. Every worship service serves as a de facto stand alone performance, requiring singers to be confident in their preparation and sense of ensemble.
The Director
Dr. Joe Svendsen serves as cantor for Faith Community Lutheran Church, where he conducts the Faith Lutheran Kantori, the Voices of Faith choir, and serves as the director for the church's Music Series. Svenden is the Director of Choral Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the Artistic Director of the Las Vegas Master Singers. Additionally, he has sung in professional chamber choirs and as a Baroque soloist and has prepared choruses for many professional orchestral and opera performances. He is passionate about helping singers develop ensemble singing skills and knowledge of sacred music, chamber singing, and historical choral repertoire.
APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED
What does it cost?
The cost of the week is approximately $2,000 plus airfare from the singer's point of departure. All flights must arrive at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on the prescribed arrival date. The Intensive arranges all hotel accommodations, transportation, and entry fees for daily excursions, with breakfast and dinner provided at the hotel every day. COST IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE dependent upon exchange rates, opening or closing of attractions and accommodations, and the cost of fuel. The final price will be locked in before the first down payment is due.
Who can sing?
Singers come from all walks of life. All singers must fill out an application by no later than December 1 of the year preceding the Intensive. Interested students must have a valid passport for travel to the United Kingdom. Music teachers and graduated professionals should contact Dr. Svendsen directly at joseph.svendsen@faithlasvegas.org to learn more.
How many singers participate?
The ensemble has no maximum number, though every effort is made to keep the balance between voices (SATB) as even as possible.
2025 Itinerary
The itinerary for the 2025 English Cathedral Experience is as follows:
Friday, July 18, 2025 - Arrive in England. A coach or taxi will take you from London to the hotel at St. Albans.
Saturday, July 19, 2025 - Acclimation and rehearsal day OR optional day trip to Windsor.
Sunday, July 20, 2025 - Rehearsal Day. Attend morning and evening worship services at the Cathedral and rehearse the week's repertoire
Monday, July 21, 2025 - Oxford and Evensong. Breakfast at the hotel and depart for Oxford. Daytime recital at King's College Chapel. Free time to explore Oxford city, the Ashmolean Museum, and more. Return to St. Albans for rehearsal and evensong. Evening free.
Tuesday, July 22, 2025 - Cambridge and Evensong. Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Cambridge. Walking tour of historical city of Cambridge, followed by free time exploring the city. Board bus and return to St Albans. Rehearsal at cathedral, followed by 5 pm evensong. Evening free.
Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - Stonehenge and Bath. Breakfast at the hotel and depart for Stonehenge. Tour of Stonehenge UNESCO site. Lunch on the road, then to Bath. Evening recital in Bath, followed by group dinner, and evening free to explore.
Thursday, July 24, 2025 - Bath and evensong. Tour of the Roman baths UNESCO site and walking tour of the city of Bath. Lunch on your own. Return to St Albans for evensong and evening on your own.
Friday, July 25, 2025 - London and evensong. Breakfast at the hotel and early departure for central London. Tour of the Tower of London and walking distance to Tower Bridge, St. Paul's Cathedral. Return to St Albans for evensong and evening on your own.
Saturday, July 26, 2025 - London and evensong. Breakfast at the hotel and early departure for central London. The coach will drop singers at Parliament Square. Nearby attractions (within walking distance) include Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the houses of Parliament, 10 Downing Street, St. James's Park, Buckingham Palace, Horse Guards, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, and the London Eye. Return to St Albans for rehearsal and evensong. Reception with cathedral clergy and staff after evensong service.
Sunday, July 27, 2025 - Breakfast at the hotel. Morning Mass, early afternoon recital, free time in St. Albans, Evensong. The ensemble will present music for the cathedral's 11 am high mass service, followed by lunch, then a 30-minute daytime recital at the cathedral's chapel. The rest of the afternoon is free until evensong. After the final evensong service, there will be a formal dinner to celebrate a successful week of song.
Monday, July 28, 2025 - Depart St. Albans for London and fly back to United States.
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