Summer Intensive Program: Baroque

Instrumentalists and Singers

Please follow the steps below to complete your application. Please note, your application is not complete until we have received your application fee, form, and video.

1. Pay your application fee.

• Pay online.
• Phone the VCM with your credit card at 250.386.5311 | toll free in Canada & the U.S. 1.866.386.5311 (Please note, a 3.07% convenience fee applies to all credit card transactions.)
• Send us an e-transfer. Please call 250.386.5311 or email info[at]vcm.bc.ca for instructions.

2. Submit your application.
See below.

3. Upload your application video.

• Instrumentalists: minimum of 4 minutes of unedited audio or video recording of two contrasting selections of music (at least one of them must be from the Renaissance, Baroque, or Classical era) on either modern or a baroque instrument. Your video should be something you have recorded within the past year. Accompaniment is not required.
• Vocalists: An unedited video or audio recording of:
  • An aria by either Bach or Handel.
  • A second aria by any composer (different from the first aria) written between 1600 and 1750.
  • One of the arias must include a recitative. Accompaniment is required.

  Video upload

  In addition to helping to make sure this program is a good fit for you, the recordings will help the faculty to place students in ensembles.

  Application Form

  Student's full name(Required)

  First Last

  Address(Required)

  Street Address City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code

  Birthdate(Required)

  MM slash DD slash YYYY

  Primary phone number(Required)

  Email(Required)

  Students under the age of 18

  Guardian's full name:

  First Last

  Guardian's primary phone number:

  Guardian's email

  Instrument or voice type(Required)

  Previous music studies (number of years, teachers, degree and certificate programs, etc.):(Required)

  How have you engaged with music-making in the past year (private practice, chamber music and orchestral playing, workshops, teaching, etc.)?(Required)

  Describe your music-learning style. When you receive a new piece of music, how do you approach learning it? Do you enjoy sight-reading?(Required)

  Do you have previous period instrument experience?(Required)

  Yes

  No

  If yes, describe:

  Previous baroque repertoire worked on (including solo, orchestra, choral, chamber):(Required)

  Do you have a baroque instrument and/or bow you can use at this course:(Required)

  Yes

  No

  N/A (singer or harpsichordist)

  (There are some instruments and bows available for loan. Wind instruments used at this course must be pitched at 415. Please see the program description for instrument and gut strings requirements and contact us if you have any questions.)

  If yes, provide details:

  Optional: do you have specific wishes regarding ensemble/solo repertoire you would like to work on? (We cannot accommodate all wishes, but we try our best when we can!)

  Application fee and video

  Please note: your application is not complete until we receive your $33 application fee and application video.

  Application fee receipt number:(Required)

  I will:(Required)

  upload my video to the Conservatory's OneDrive account (preferred)

  email my video to dutta[at]vcm.bc.ca

  How did you hear about this program?
  Google reCAPTCHA

  Google Privacy Policy and Terms of service

Instrumentalists: $680 + $33 non-refundable application fee and Library Resource Fee*
Singers: $825 + $33 non-refundable application fee and Library Resource Fee*

*A 1% Library Resource Fee is added to all Community School registrations to support the Victoria Conservatory Music Library and Archives, which is free to all students and the public. The library is in Room 113 and available online.

Application and bursary application deadline: May 1, 2025

Some bursary assistance may be available. Applicants must comply with all deadlines and requirements. Late applicants will not be considered for financial assistance.

Bursary application

Auditing: $200 + Library Resource Fee*
No application process. Registration deadline: July 1, 2025.

Auditors receive access to audit all masterclasses, group classes, lectures, student and faculty concerts, and ensemble rehearsals. Please note: auditors observe, they do not sing or play their instrument. Auditors are welcome to ask questions and engage in discussions.

*A 1% Library Resource Fee is added to all Community School registrations to support the Victoria Conservatory Music Library and Archives, which is free to all students and the public. The library is in Room 113 and available online.

Register

Program start: Saturday July 12 | 9:30am

Program end: Saturday July 19 | 5:00pm

Classes run daily 9:00am-5:30pm with breaks and some time for private practice (individual schedules may start later or finish earlier). Practice rooms are available.

All programs will take place onsite at the Victoria Conservatory of Music (900 Johnson Street) in downtown Victoria. There are many cafes, restaurants, and grocery stores within walking distance.

Plan your visit

Accommodation
Students are responsible for finding their own accommodation. There are many AirBnB options in the area and students are encouraged to explore affordable summer accommodation options at the University of Victoria.

Christina Hutten, Artistic Director and harpsichord

Chloe Meyers, violin

Kathryn Wiebe, violin

Mieka Michaux, viola and violin

Martin Bonham, cello and viol

Diederik van Dijk, cello

Soile Stratkauskas, flute

Curtis Foster, oboe and recorder

Katrina Russell, bassoon

Byron Schenkman, harpsichord

Erin Bardua, voice

Vicki St. Pierre, voice

Suzie LeBlanc, voice

Faculty subject to change.

A Musical Bouquet Faculty Concert
Tuesday, July 15, 7:30pm | Alix Goolden Performance Hall

Small Ensemble Final Concert; Chamber Ensembles
Friday, July 18, 5:00pm | Alix Goolden Performance Hall | By donation

Small Ensemble Final Concert; Arias and Opera Scenes
Friday, July 18, 7:30pm | Alix Goolden Performance Hall | By donation

Large Ensemble Final Concert
Saturday, July 19, 2:30pm | Alix Goolden Performance Hall | By donation

Concert information subject to change.

Join us for talks by early music specialists on intriguing aspects of Baroque music and performance practice.

Lectures are open to the public at $15.00 per lecture. More information and registration will become available closer to the program start date. (If you are already enrolled in this year’s Baroque Intensive, the lectures are included in your tuition.)

Students are expected to be competent at reading music, and technically proficient on their modern instrument. Prior experience playing a period instrument is beneficial, but not required.

Harpsichordists
Keyboard players will be playing basso continuo parts in ensembles and exploring solo repertoire in lessons and group classes. Keyboard students are not required to have prior experience on harpsichord or with basso continuo playing but are expected to have solid understanding of keyboard harmony and proficient keyboard technique. The Conservatory has designated practice rooms with harpsichords.

Strings
Baroque instruments are encouraged but not required. Those using modern instruments will need baroque bows, gut strings on the top two strings, and will tune their instrument to A=415. There are some string instruments and bows available for loan, and we can assist with acquiring gut strings. For inquiries, please email victoria.baroque.sip[at]gmail.com.

Flutes, oboes, recorders, bassoons
Baroque instruments are required and must be pitched at A=415. There are some wind instruments available for loan. For inquiries, please email victoria.baroque.sip[at]gmail.com

Instrumentalists under 18
The program includes designated ensembles for middle and high school aged students. Minimum level grade 6 RCM or equivalent. Instrument requirements as described above.

Please note: all fees must be paid in full by the registration deadline (excluding those waiting on the result of their bursary application).

Online registration requires payment in full. Payment by credit card will incur a convenience fee. If you do not wish to incur this fee, please contact our office for other payment methods.

Those awaiting acceptance (where applicable) or the results of their bursary application are encouraged to contact us directly to register.

Victoria Conservatory of Music Front Desk
250.386.5311 | info[at]vcm.bc.ca