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Home Programs VIMA 2027 Track Details

Choral Singers

World-class training and performances

The National Music Academy by Varna International offers rich and versatile choral ensemble training led by Maestro Gregory Buchalter, former conductor of The Metropolitan Opera, together with our Choir Masters. Choral singers will have opportunities to perform repertoire spanning oratorio, opera, musical theater, and Broadway. Join singers from throughout the country for world-class training and performances in major cities of South Carolina, including the Capital City of Columbia, Greenville, and Myrtle Beach along the breathtaking shores of the Grand Strand.

Choral singers may choose between two program options. Choirs and individual singers may participate in the Professor Marin Chonev Choral Festival through a 4-, 7-, or 10-day residency, with the option to extend their stay to participate in additional National Music Academy productions. Alternatively, individual singers may participate in selected Academy productions independently of the Choral Festival. Participants in the 7- and 10-day choral residencies will prepare Duruflé’s Requiem for two public performances with the Festival Orchestra under the baton of Dr. Jim Taylor, Professor of Music and Director of Fine Arts at LeTourneau University.

Program Options Summary:
  • Professor Marin Chonev Choral Festival: Choral groups and individual singers may choose a 4-, 7-, or 10-day residency, with the option to extend their stay by 1 or 2 weeks to participate in Varna’s 2027 National Music Academy production offerings. See details below.
  • National Music Academy Choral Program: Individual choral singers may participate in Varna’s 2027 National Music Academy productions independently of the Choral Festival. See details below.
2027 NMA Choral Singers Performance Opportunities
  • Requiem by Maurice Duruflé (in conjunction with Choral Festival)
  • From Stage to Screen: An Evening of Broadway Favorites & Hollywood Classics (1-week extension past Choral Festival)
  • Into the Woods – The Musical by Stephen Sondheim (2-week extension past Choral Festival)

Professor Marin Chonev Choral Festival Singers

OPTION 1: 4-DAY RESIDENCY

DATES: JUNE 3 – JUNE 6, 2027
(ARRIVE ON JUNE 2, DEPART ON JUNE 7)
TUITION: $590 (OPTION TO CHOOSE AN ACCOMMODATION PACKAGE)
FINAL REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MAY 3, 2027
Accommodation Packages:

CIU Package A: $1,040 · 5 nights, double occupancy, breakfast included

CIU Package B: $1,190 · 5 nights, single occupancy, breakfast included

Hotel Package A: $1,390 · 5 nights, double occupancy, breakfast included

Hotel Package B: $1,740 · 5 nights, single occupancy, breakfast included

What's Included:

A concentrated Festival experience for choirs and singers seeking a focused schedule of performance, instruction, and cultural engagement. The 4-Day Residency includes:

  • Showcase performance for qualifying choirs
  • Ensemble coaching and feedback from Festival faculty
  • Selected lectures, workshops, and cultural programming
  • Festival Fellowship Receptions
  • Admission to all Muzika! Festival concerts taking place during residency

OPTION 2: 7-DAY RESIDENCY

DATES: MAY 31 – JUNE 6, 2027
(ARRIVE ON MAY 30, DEPART ON JUNE 7)
TUITION: $890 (OPTION TO CHOOSE AN ACCOMMODATION PACKAGE)
FINAL REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MAY 3, 2027
Accommodation Packages:

CIU Package A: $1,590 · 8 nights, double occupancy, breakfast included

CIU Package B: $1,830 · 8 nights, single occupancy, breakfast included

Hotel Package A: $2,190 · 8 nights, double occupancy, breakfast included

Hotel Package B: $2,750 · 8 nights, single occupancy, breakfast included

What's Included:

A full residency centered on preparation and performance of the Festival’s principal choral-orchestral work. The 7-Day Residency includes:

  • Complete rehearsal and performance cycle for Duruflé’s Requiem
  • Showcase performance for qualifying choirs
  • Ensemble rehearsals, sectionals, and faculty coaching
  • Expanded academic and cultural programming
  • Festival Fellowship Receptions
  • Admission to all Muzika! Festival concerts taking place during residency

OPTION 3: 10-DAY RESIDENCY

DATES: MAY 28 – JUNE 6, 2027
(ARRIVE ON MAY 27, DEPART ON JUNE 7)
TUITION: $1190 (OPTION TO CHOOSE AN ACCOMMODATION PACKAGE)
FINAL REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MAY 3, 2027
Accommodation Packages:

CIU Package A: $2,150 · 11 nights, double occupancy, breakfast included

CIU Package B: $2,480 · 11 nights, single occupancy, breakfast included

Hotel Package A: $2,990 · 11 nights, double occupancy, breakfast included

Hotel Package B: $3,760 · 11 nights, single occupancy, breakfast included

What's Included:

The Festival’s most comprehensive choral residency, offering full participation in Festival Chorus together with extended opportunities for performance, coaching, study and collaboration. The 10-Day Residency includes:

  • Complete rehearsal and performance cycle for Duruflé’s Requiem
  • Additional showcase or collaborative performance opportunity for qualifying choirs
  • Extended ensemble and sectional coaching
  • Participation as the resident chorus for the full Conducting Workshop
  • Complete sequence of academic and cultural programming
  • Festival Fellowship Receptions
  • Admission to all Muzika! Festival concerts taking place during residency
Application & Audition Requirements:

All choral festival participants must submit a festival application. No audition is required.

Choirs seeking a showcase performance will provide information about the ensemble, anticipated number of singers, and proposed repertoire as part of the application process.

Optional Add-Ons & Exclusions:

Accommodations for Choral Festival Participants:

Participants may register for the program-only option and arrange their own accommodations or select a Festival accommodation package. Accommodation packages are available to both groups and individual participants and include lodging, daily breakfast, and transportation to scheduled Festival activities and performances.

  • CIU package: Accommodations in Columbia International University residence halls, based on double occupancy with shared bath facilities
  • Hotel packages: Double-occupancy accommodations at a Festival-designated hotel

Single-occupancy accommodations may be available for an additional charge, subject to availability.

Meals for Choral Festival Participants:

Daily breakfast is included with all choral track festival accommodation packages. Additional meals may be purchased through an optional CIU meal plan or individually at the CIU cafeteria.


Ground Transportation:

Festival transportation will be provided to scheduled rehearsals, performances, excursions, and other programmed activities. Participants arranging their own accommodations may also use Festival transportation by meeting buses at designated departure points at CIU or Festival hotels. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from designated departure points.


** See more details about our choral festival on the Professor Marin Chonev Choral Festival Page


National Music Academy Choral Singers

Individual choristers have the opportunity to perform in the 2027 productions listed below. Choristers from the Professor Marin Chonev Choral Festival may extend their residency to participate in these productions by adding 1 or 2 weeks to their program package.

Requiem, Maurice Duruflé
From Stage to Screen: An Evening of Broadway Favorites & Hollywood Classics
Into the Woods – The Musical, Stephen Sondheim

DATES: May 28 – JUNE 20, 2027
(ARRIVE ON MAY 27, DEPART ON JUNE 21)
TUITION: $780 PER WEEK (TOTAL TUITION: $2785)
FINAL REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MAY 3, 2027
What's Included:
  • Perform in the ensemble during From Stage to Screen: An Evening of Broadway Favorites & Hollywood Classics under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter, former conductor of The Metropolitan Opera
  • Perform in the chorus of Requiem by Maurice Duruflé
  • Perform in the chorus of the fully staged orchestral performances of Into the Woods under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter, former conductor of The Metropolitan Opera
  • One 45-minute voice lesson per week, taught by our expert voice faculty
  • Ensemble rehearsals with the Choir Master
  • Staging rehearsals with the Stage Director
  • Masterclasses
  • Expanding Your Voice: Classical Foundations for Commercial Styles - This masterclass introduces classical singers to crossover techniques to help them approach musical theatre and other commercial styles with a healthy, versatile technique. Participants will work individually on repertoire that spans multiple styles, discovering how principles of breath, phonation, resonance, and articulation from classical training can support expressive, sustainable singing in contemporary genres. This approach equips classical singers with practical tools to navigate stylistic differences while maintaining vocal freedom and longevity.
  • Bel Canto Masterclass, taught by Amy Shoremount

Manuel García: The Mastery of Breath & Legato as the Key to Healthy Singing

According to the great singing teacher of the 19th century Manuel García, the breath is the "very element of sound." This lecture introduces singers to the anatomy and physiology of the breath mechanism, introduces them to García and his contributions to the world of singing, explores the methodical approach taught for hundreds of years and the irrefutable connection between legato and a well-supported instrument.

  • Italian diction classes
  • Makeup masterclasses
Optional Add-Ons & Exclusions:

Accommodations for Choral Singers (Individuals)

Columbia: Lodging will be in student campus housing. Participants are welcome to make their own lodging arrangements, if preferred.

  • Double occupancy: $350 per week (7 nights)
  • Single occupancy (single bath NOT included): $525 per week (7 nights)

Meals:

Columbia: A meal plan is available for $35 per day. This includes 3 meals each day provided by Columbia International University (CIU). Participants who opt for the meal plan must pay for the entire service. Dietary restrictions will be accommodated.


Ground Transportation:

Transportation is included for those that add lodging to their program package, but participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from the airport.