An opportunity to be immersed in high quality music making, learning and performing exciting repertoire while enjoying the festival atmosphere and local culture.

The Festival Chorus meets for the first time on Wednesday morning, 23rd July, when rehearsals start for our ‘Ever ancient, ever new’ programme under the direction of Brian MacKay. The singers of ZAVE, our resident professional vocal ensemble, will be on hand throughout to provide coaching and support, and to sing in the Festival Chorus for both concerts.

This inspired programming couldn’t be more aptly named, as poetry and chants from the distant past are given new life through the beautiful music of contemporary composers, which we are privileged to sing in stunning historic surroundings.

We sing every day, developing the ensemble and our skills through professionally led full rehearsals, sectionals, and vocal technique sessions. For those seeking extra coaching or wishing to further improve their vocal technique during the festival, we also offer individual sessions with a specialist singing teacher.

In between rehearsals and concerts there is time to socialise, explore, and enjoy a pastel de nata or two…

We travel to Batalha on Friday afternoon to rehearse with our professional orchestra for our first Festival Chorus performance in the famous Capelas Imperfeitas (‘Unfinished Chapels’) of the Mosteiro da Batalha.

Our choral week concludes on Saturday evening, 26th July, with a concert in a simply magical setting: the main cloister (Claustro de D. João III) of the Convento de Cristo in Tomar, with its magnificent architecture and astonishing acoustics.