Programs
Choral Interns
The Choral Foundation is committed to the support of men and women seeking careers as choral leaders.
The work
What interns do
- Rehearsal leadership
- Concert performance
- Score analysis and preparation
- Conducting auditions
- Working with singers of all backgrounds, from professional to volunteer
The program includes regular consultation and advisement from William Baker, Jamea Sale, and their professional staff.
Dozens of men and women have served one- or two-year appointments as Choral Interns since the program began in 1992. Interns are enrolled in a degree program at the master’s or doctoral level of study, or conducting in a professional setting.
The program has involved students in study at institutions including the University of Kansas, Emory University, the American Conservatory of Music, St. Olaf College, Westminster Choir College, Georgia State University, the University of Missouri–Kansas City, the University of South Carolina, and many others.
Season
Calendar, credit & cost
Presently the Choral Foundation provides one internship in the Kansas City region and one in the Atlanta region each calendar year.
Study begins with one of the summer choruses in June and continues through the local Festival Singers season ending in May.
Continuing-education graduate-level credit is available through MidAmerica Nazarene University, or credit toward a student’s degree program by institutional agreement.
There is no cost for participation in the Choral Intern programs beyond the credit-hour tuition required by the degree institution.
There is no compensation for Choral Interns for their work with Choral Foundation ensembles.
Watch
Interns on the podium
- Kelsey EmmanuelDreyfoos: Songs of the Holocaust — William Baker Festival Singers
- Emily FishKeith Hampton: Praise His Holy Name — William Baker Festival Singers
- Megan MooreFauré: Cantique de Jean Racine, Op. 11 — William Baker Festival Singers
- Niccole Winney (Williams)Stainer: God So Loved the World
- Eric NewlinBeethoven: Hallelujah, from Christ on the Mount of Olives
- Jennifer Berroth (Lahasky)Mozart: Ave verum corpus — Summer Singers of Kansas City
- Albert ClarkHandel: Zadok the Priest — Cobb Summer Singers
Continuing service
Alumni on staff
- Jamea J. SaleStudent Intern; now Executive Associate Director and Director of the Institute for Healthy Singing & Voice Research.
- Christine FreemanStudent Intern, 2007–2008; now Associate Music Director & Senior Vocal Coach, Kansas City.
- Jennifer LahaskyStudent Intern, 2015–2016; now Music Director of the Summer Singers of Lee’s Summit and an IHS&VR Fellow.
- Niccole WilliamsStudent Intern, 2018–2019; now Education Director of the Institute for Healthy Singing.
- Emily S. FishStudent Intern, 2021–2023; now an IHS&VR Fellow.
Apply
Student Intern & Choral Scholar
Applications for the Student Intern and Choral Scholars programs are accepted throughout the year. Decisions for the coming season are made in February and announced in March.
You may download the form or complete the application below.
Stewardship