Holden Voice Program 2022-2023
Students participating in the Harvard Choruses receive individual, subsidized voice lessons with one of our master artist-teachers. In addition to the subsidized lessons, singers also benefit from performance opportunities where they can apply what they've studied and share their vocal and artistic growth with a wider audience.
You must be an active member of the Harvard Choruses in order to participate in the Holden Voice Program.
Lesson Information
LOCATION & PACKAGE
- Lessons are given on campus in Memorial Hall, following current Harvard University CO-VID 19 precautions. Lessons may move online at the discretion of the singer, teacher, and HVP Director.
- The standard lesson package is eight (8) 45-minute lessons per semester, but each singer is able to design a package alongside their teacher that keep their goals and commitment level in mind.
COST & Subsidies
- The HVP lesson rate is $100/hr. HVP singers receive financial assistance for the cost of lessons, generously provided by the alumni of the Harvard Glee Club Foundation, Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum Foundation, and Radcliffe Choral Society Foundation, as well as the Harvard Choruses themselves.
- College students on financial aid are eligible for additional assistance through the Music Lesson Subsidy Program, run by the Office for the Arts. This is a separate award, distributed mid-semester, which reimburses singers for their personal contributions. Click here for updates on the Music Lesson Subsidy Program.
- HVP Subsidy Awards are distributed on a sliding scale, determined by the need demonstrated in the HVP Registration Form. Financial assistance goals are as follows:
- College students on financial aid (medium to very high) : 50%-100% coverage (with both HVP and MLSP awards)
- College students not on financial aid (very low to medium): 0-50% coverage
- Graduate students (low to medium): up to 50% coverage
Teachers
- There are eight Holden Voice Program instructors, all considered master artist-teachers within the field. See below for their bios!
- You can also study with a prior teacher or teacher off-campus.
Performance Opportunities
- Studio Classes: Singers from the same studio perform for each other without an outside audience, receive feedback from their peers and instructor, and get a chance to work on aspects of their performance. These will be both in-person and online.
- Masterclasses: A professional singer will work with 3-4 student singers, giving immediate feedback on their performance in various settings. Fellow singers in the audience benefit from the guidance of the master teacher, applying it to their own technique, and also provide encouragement for their performing colleagues.
- Formal Recitals: Singers perform memorized solo and chamber repertoire with an accompanist in a formal setting open to the public. This includes the Senior Showcases.
How to Join
1. Meet the Teachers & TAKE A TRIAL LESSON
- Website: Visit the "Meet Our HVP Teachers" tab above to read about the experience & teaching philosophies of our artist-teachers. You can email a teacher directly to inquire about studio availability and sign up for a trial lesson.
- HVP Instructor Introductions: will be available, either in-person or by video, following Harvard Choruses Auditions.
- Trial Lessons: will be held during the week of September 12th. Harvard Choruses singers who are interested in voice lessons can take a 30-minute trial lesson with an HVP teacher at no cost to them. (Up to 2)
2. REGISTRATION
- Once you know you are interested in lessons, fill out this HVP Registration Form. You do not need to have a teacher yet, although it will help with starting lessons earlier. Filling out the Registration Form does not bind you to lessons; the HVP Student Agreement does that (see "Enroll" below.)
- Registration Form Deadline: Monday, September 26th at 12:00pm (ET). Early forms are accepted and encouraged!
- If you are a College student on financial aid, the MLSP Application from the Office for the Arts is also due on Monday 9/26. In order to receive maximum financial support, you should fill out BOTH applications, ON TIME.
- By Friday, September 30th: HVP Subsidy Award Announcements by email. Your HVP Subsidy Award will be determined from the information in this Registration Form; a delay in returning the Registration Form will affect availability of funds.
- After you have received and reviewed your HVP Subsidy Award notification, you can accept, appeal, or edit the decision.
3. Enroll & Enjoy lessons!
- Week of September 19th: Lessons begin!
- By Sunday night, October 9th: HVP Student Agreement due by email to HVP director.
- Week of October 10th: Student contributions due to HVP teacher. The HVP Subsidy Award goes directly to the teacher; whatever percentage of lessons that was not covered by the subsidy is due at this time.
For returning singers or new singers certain of their commitment, you can start taking lessons as early as the week of September 12th and work through this process (Registration Form, Subsidy Award confirmation, and HVP Student Agreement) while getting into your weekly lesson routine!
questions?
If you have any questions pertaining to the Holden Voice Program, please email Liz Eschen at eschen@fas.harvard.edu. We look forward to hearing you and being a part of your vocal journey!
"It's been really special to take lessons through HVP, and I've been given the opportunities to explore through voice lessons and new tools to bring with me to RCS. Taking voice lessons has also allowed me to stay in touch with experiences from home while also helping me forge new ones here, in the Harvard community. Aside from working on vocal technique, I've also been working on a long journey with music, nerves, and expression with Liz, and I'm so grateful to have this opportunity made available and accessible to me through HVP!"
- Lily Xu, RCS '20
- Lily Xu, RCS '20
