Lift Every Voice

Bethesda, MD, July 18, 2025 – Cantate proudly announces the opening of applications for its 2025-2026 Lift Every Voice Cohort. These extraordinary young singers will join Cantate Concert Choir to provide skilled support to each of the sections while receiving professional-level training and first-hand experience in the performance of varied choral repertoire. Each of these fellows will receive additional support and opportunities from Cantate’s community of seasoned arts professionals: resume consulting, vocal coaching, and oratorio masterclasses open to the public.

LEV is the evolution of Cantate’s Young Artist of Color (CYAC) residency. Launched in 2021 the CYAC – now LEV – aims to address the widespread racial inequity in the field of classical music by providing mentoring and performance opportunities to aspiring BIPOC classical singers to advance their careers in choral music and solo oratorio performance. In the 2025-2026 concert year, one pre-professional soprano, alto, tenor, and bass, selected by audition, will join Cantate Concert Choir and

• Participate as paid choristers in three performances with Cantate Concert Choir, on December 14, 2025; March 7, 2026; and May 9, 2026
• Meet with local and national performance and administrative professionals in monthly Zoom meetings for guidance on career development and professionalism.
• Receive resume and biography coaching from Cantate’s professional network.
• Coach solo oratorio repertoire with Cantate’s artistic director as well as two collaborating choral or orchestral conductors.
• Attend soloist, orchestra, and dress rehearsals, as well as oratorio performances of collaborating organizations.
• Participate in two masterclasses with leading experts on varied oratorio repertoire: Dr. Lloyd Mallory for Messiah solos on Saturday, November 8, 2025; and Maestro Giovanni Reggioli in spring 2026.
• Perform solo and small ensemble repertoire with orchestra at a LEV showcase incorporated into a Cantate season concert. The performance will be professionally recorded for the singers’ personal use, and leading area choral and orchestral conductors will be invited.   

Fellows emerge from their residency with Cantate better prepared for careers in the choral/oratorio field, and with a network of supporters and advocates to enable their success. Fellows are compensated competitively for rehearsals and performances and provided a travel stipend each semester. Resume and biography consultation, vocal coaching, rehearsal and concert access, and masterclasses are provided to LEV fellows free of charge.

Four choral scholars will be selected. LEV Scholars will be expected to attend Sunday evening rehearsals at First Baptist Church of Silver Spring from 7:00-9:30 pm throughout the Concert Season, from Sept 14 through May 9.  Specific Rehearsal dates and details for Cantate Concert Choir performances will be shared when the acceptance offer is made. Fellows will be compensated at a rate of $75 per rehearsal, $150 per choral performance, and $500 per solo performance. Each fellow will also receive a $75 travel stipend each semester to help relieve the cost of transportation. Since the blend of the entire choir and deep knowledge of the music are necessary to professional-level performances, fellows are held to the same attendance expectation as our volunteer choristers: no more than two absences per concert cycle. Fellows are asked to communicate anticipated conflicts with administration at the time of contracting or as soon as they arise. In the case of illness, accident, or act of God preventing rehearsal attendance, fellows are asked to communicate with the choir manager as soon as possible.

Eligible applicants are self-identifying BIPOC vocational emerging classical singers under or about the age of 30, without professional representation. Applicants are asked to submit video or audio recordings for consideration, and they may be invited for an additional in-person audition. Please submit two contrasting pieces of solo repertoire, one in English and one in another language. We ask that at least one of these two pieces be an aria from opera or oratorio. Oratorio selections do not need to be memorized. The deadline for online submissions is 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 23, 2025.

Additional questions about the program may be addressed to Cara Schaefer, Cantate’s Executive Director at exec@cantate.org.