Summer 2026
Expand the menus below to view course details, as well as important logistics information for students.
Have questions or need help?
- Registration and logistics: Summer Arts Program Coordinator
- Course content: Contact the course instructor.
- Technology use (Canvas, email, etc.): Office of Information Technologies
Available Programs
CoOPERAtive
July 5-10, 2026
Application Deadline: February 14, 2026 (via YAP Tracker)
The CoOPERAtive Program, established in 2006, has been a leader in crafting unique experiences for developing singers. In 2025, we are forging a new path by focusing on the WIN—Workshop for new operas, providing an Innovative opportunity to work with creators, and enabling participants to acquire New skills essential for contemporary opera performance.
This immersive experience is designed to equip emerging opera singers with the skills and insights necessary to excel in the evolving landscape of contemporary opera.
Conducting Intensive
August 2-8, 2026
Sunday: 6 - 9 p.m.
Monday - Friday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., 7 - 8:30 p.m. (selected evenings)
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Cost (auditor, no graduate credits, full participation in the course): $600
Cost (3 graduate credits): Billed at the university's current rate.
Instructors: Donald Nally, Beth Willer, and Stephen Spinelli
Breath, gesture, and listening are the fundamental building blocks of the advanced conductor. This course will focus on their coordination as a means of connecting to ensemble musicians and audiences. Conducting music appropriate to a wide range of choirs, students will have daily podium time in a masterclass environment in order to further develop their ears, methods of analysis and score preparation, leadership and guidance effectiveness, and point of view. Additionally, lectures/discussions will cover new repertoire, and philosophies of ensemble leadership. This course will culminate in a 3-camera edited video capture of each student conducting the full class/ensemble of 30 singers. Additional sessions will include reading works appropriate to university and advanced high school and church choirs, rehearsals with all three instructors on repertoire in which they specialize, and opportunities to socialize and ask questions.
Repertoire to be drawn from (subject to change): J.S. Bach, Judith Bingham, Johannes Brahms, Jonathan Dove, Gerald Finzi, Edie Hill, Herbert Howells, Gabriel Jackson, David Lang, Felix Mendelssohn, Rosephanye Powell, Florence Price, Heinrich Schütz, Judith Weir, and Eric Whitacre.
Choral Festival
July 26 - August 1, 2026
Sunday: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Monday - Friday: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., 6:30 - 8 p.m. (selected evenings)
Saturday: 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Cost (auditor, no graduate credits, full participation in the course): $375
Cost (2 graduate credits): Billed at the university's current rate.
Instructor: Donald Nally with Scott Dettra, collaborative keyboards
Registration due by June 15, 2026. No audition is required.
Join us for an inspiring week of choral singing led by Donald Nally, Westminster Choir College’s Director of Choral Studies and multiple Grammy Award winner.
The Choral Festival explores masterworks of the choral repertory, primarily through intense rehearsals and a culminating performance, augmented by discussions and practice of score preparation, study, collaboration, and performance. Choral musicians convene for a week of community, growth, and artistry, experiencing the unique culture and atmosphere that has characterized Westminster Choir College for 100 years, emphasizing listening, ensemble building, vocal production, choral techniques, point of view, excellence of performance, and thoughtfulness. Lectures and discussions will augment the immersive environment, including a look at new repertoire, and a sing-in of additional works (a big hit last year!).
The cost for this unforgettable week-long festival is just $375. Don’t miss your chance to work with one of the leading choral conductors of our time.
Concert Program (subject to change):
Britten, Festival Te Deum
Hurd, Love bade me welcome
MacMillan, Kyrie from Mass (Westminster)
Friedell, Draw us in the Spirit’s tether
Clausen, Set me as a seal
Bingham, God be in my head
Howells, Thee will I love
Smith, Jerusalem
Hoiby, At the round earth’s imagined corners
David Lang’s poor hymnal (Boston version – abridged)
Experience the thrill of singing choral masterworks under the direction of Donald Nally, Westminster Choir College’s Director of Choral Studies and a four-time Grammy Award winner. No audition is required – just bring your passion for singing and previous choral experience. (Participants must be able to read music and are expected to prepare the music in advance.)
Tuition for this week-long experience is only $375. Join singers from across the region for the opportunity to learn from Donald Nally, one of the world’s most celebrated choral conductors! Sign up today!
Voice Pedagogy Institute
July 20 - July 24, 2026
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost (auditor, no graduate credits, full participation in the course): $600
Cost (3 graduate credits): Billed at the university's current rate.
Kathy Price, Jonathan Price, resident faculty, and guests
Westminster's Voice Pedagogy Institute is a focused, intensive program that gives a detailed overview of science-informed and experience-driven voice pedagogy. Participants each year include singers, voice teachers, coaches, speech-language therapists, conductors, and other professional voice users who wish to deepen their knowledge and become better teachers. Emphases are on both classical and commercial singing styles. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from our faculty via lecture, look in lessons, and interactive panel discussions.
Westminster Voice Pedagogy Institute 2026
This summer, join director Kathy Price (WCC), Co-Director Jonathan Price (NYC/Rider MT), Mark Moliterno (YogaVoice®), Nicholas Perna and Jared Trudeau for Westminster’s Voice Pedagogy Institute.
You can participate in-person on campus (campus accommodations available), synchronously on Zoom, asynchronously via recordings, or in whatever combination your schedule affords. VPI may be taken for graduate credit or a low audit fee. Our 2026 session will meet from July 20 - 24.
Special Topics in Choral Pedagogy: Church Music in the 21st Century
July 13 - July 17, 2026
Cost (auditor, no graduate credits, full participation in the course): $600
Cost (3 graduate credits): Billed at the university's current rate.
Tom Shelton and Noel Werner with guest instructors.
This course explores how sacred choral traditions can thrive alongside contemporary practices, emerging technologies, and new models of community engagement. Students will examine practical strategies and forward-thinking approaches that strengthen both musical leadership and congregational participation.
Join Tom Shelton (Westminster Choir College) and Noel Werner (Nassau Church, Princeton) and guests for five days packed with interactive sessions. We'll cover all of the following and more!
- The Liturgy of Living
- Vocal Techniques
- Conducting/Coaching
- Beyond Music: The Art of Faithfulness
- Worship Arts Focus
- Aesthetics of Worship
- Videography in Worship
- Visual Art in Worship
- Social Media
- The Art of Livestreaming
- Children’s Choir/Youth Choir Participation in Worship
- Special Education in the Choral Rehearsal
- Social Justice as an Outreach of Ministry
- Stylistic Journeys – Black Gospel Music Performance Practice
- Working with Aging Voices
- Copyright Law and the Church
- Daily Music Reading Sessions
- Organ for Pianists
We will have two evening gatherings, including a hymn festival at Princeton United Methodist Church led by Mark Miller (Yale University).
Guest instructors to include: Kim Kleason (Nassau Church, Princeton), Sarah Perry (Westminster Choir College), Kathy Price (Westminster Choir College), Steve Pilkington (Christ Church NYC), Lauren Yeh (Nassau Church).
Course Information
All students should have received an invitation via their Rider email to join the course on Canvas, the university’s learning management system. View frequently asked questions about the use of Canvas as a learning tool.
Students taking the course for credit and students auditing the course will have the same classroom experiences.
Auditors are entitled to full participation in daily course activities but will not receive academic credit. Auditors may also be exempted from some assignments at the discretion of the course instructor.
Students wishing to change from audit to credit must do so before the start of class.
Email casdean@rider.edu if you would like to change your status.
If taking a course for credit, an undergraduate degree is required. Applicants are required to submit an official transcript showing that an undergraduate degree has been conferred. No prerequisites are needed to audit an adult summer course.
Additional information
View Rider University's campus map (PDF) for parking lots and building locations.
Housing is available in single ($30 per night) or double ($25 per night) dorm rooms. The cost for linens (pillow, blanket, sheets, towels, washcloths) is $24 and will be added to all housing reservations.
To reserve housing, visit the Housing portal in myRider no later than one week before the start of your program.
Parking for WCC summer adult programs is in the lot between Gill Chapel and the Fine Arts Building. Please download this pass and display it on your dashboard for the duration of the program.
Billing for Summer II classes will happen shortly after the Memorial Day holiday. Bills for tuition and housing will be available on your myRider page. Course participants should check their Rider email regularly for billing information and course updates.
For help with billing, contact the Office of the Bursar.