Holden Voice Program Online 2020-2021
Students participating in the Harvard Choruses receive individual, remote, subsidized voice lessons with one of eight master artist-teachers. In addition to the subsidized lessons, these singers also benefit from performance opportunities & collaborations where they can apply the technique studied and share their vocal and artistic growth with a wider audience!
In response to the pandemic and lesson teaching/performances moving online, the Holden Voice Program (HVP) has several new aspects to the program that you will see below. These changes allow for flexibility with singer schedules & situations, and increase moments of peer engagement.
In response to the pandemic and lesson teaching/performances moving online, the Holden Voice Program (HVP) has several new aspects to the program that you will see below. These changes allow for flexibility with singer schedules & situations, and increase moments of peer engagement.
You must be a member of the Harvard Choruses in order to qualify for the Holden Voice Program.
Lesson Information
Lesson Package
- New this year, singers will be able to design their own lesson package, choosing either 5 or 10 lessons across the semester, and lesson lengths of 30, 45, or 60 minutes.
- Any unused lessons from a semester get rolled over. If you are already an HVP singer and you have roll-over lessons coming to you from Spring 2020, those will be added to your requested lesson package.
- Singers will be able to decide on their final lesson package after receiving their HVP Subsidy Award notification on September 20th.
Subsidies
- The HVP lesson rate is $96/hr. All 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.
- New this year, HVP Subsidy Awards will be distributed on a sliding scale. The financial assistance goals are as follows:
- Students on financial aid - 50-90% coverage
- Students not on financial aid - 10-50% coverage
- Graduate students - 25-50% coverage
- Students on financial aid are also eligible for additional assistance through the Music Lesson Subsidy Program, run by the Office for the Arts. This is now a separate award, distributed later in the semester, that can be used to reimburse singers for their personal contributions. Click here for updates on the Music Lesson Subsidy Program.
Location
- All lessons will occur online, using the platform agreed upon by the teacher and student.
Teachers
- There are eight Holden Voice Program instructors, all considered master artist-teachers within the field.
- You can also study with a prior or outside teacher. Email Liz Eschen, HVP Program Director at eschen@fas.harvard.edu to set up.
Performance Opportunities
- New this year: bi-weekly Studio Classes of 60-minutes, where singers sing at least 2-3 times over the course of the semester for the peers in their studio.
- 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.
- Live-streamed Recitals: At least once a semester, students will present solo repertoire in a live-streamed recital that is open to the public.
How to Join
1. Meet the Teachers
- On September 9th, the HVP Instructor video introductions will be made available for viewing.
- On September 11th at 3pm, there will be an HVP Open House where you can meet the teachers and sign up for a trial lesson.
- If you are a member of the Harvard Choruses, you will receive an email from Program Director Liz Eschen on Wednesday, September 9h, with the Registration Form and Zoom link for the HVP Open House. You can email teachers directly at any point to ask about studio availability or trial lessons.
2. Take a Trial Lesson
- During the week of September 14th, teachers will be offering trial lessons! You can sign-up for those in person at the HVP Open House or email the teachers directly from the website.
3. Fill out the registration form
- Fill out the form by Sunday, September 20, 2020 at 12:00pm (EST). The registration form will be sent out to the Harvard Choruses email lists on Wednesday, September 9, 2020.
- This includes your requests for financial aid, teacher, etc.
- Your HVP Subsidy Award will be determined that afternoon; a delay in returning the registration form could affect your award amount.
- Once you have received your HVP Subsidy Award notification, you should decide on a final lesson package & lesson times with your teacher.
4. Enroll in lessons!
- Enroll in lessons by Sunday, September 27 by signing the student agreement which will be provide to you via email.
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
