Vocalpalooza 2025

The CMC Voice Deptartment presents the 2nd annual Vocalpalooza, featuring a day of voice and singing-related activities that bring together all types of CMC vocalists in performance, education, and choral community—students and faculty alike!

CMC vocalists interested in performing in the recital should speak to their CMC voice or choir instructor or contact Voice Dept Chair Ellen Shea.

All are welcome to sign up to participate in the workshops, and join the audience for the recital performances!

Sunday, March 23 from 1–5pm
CMC Mission District Branch
FREE

Donations are gratefully accepted: Your support helps make Vocalpalooza possible, covering costs of bringing together all our talented faculty leaders, workshop educators, performers, and accompanists into one incredible day of voice free to everyone!

Explore diverse facets of the voice, from anatomy to harmony to style, led by CMC voice faculty. Space in workshops is limited, advanced registration is highly recommended . Select your desired event(s) in the ticket options.

1–2pm: Circle Singing with . Learn how to experience musical leadership with the support of an entire group of singers/participants. Discover the joy of improvisation and create music on the spot, with multiple parts, no matter your experience level! No experience or music theory knowledge necessary. It will be tremendous fun, inspiring, and will take you past any sense of ‘I can’t do this’ that may be holding you back in music, or in general! Learn also about the cosmology of sound and how you fit into the beautiful fabric of life, just by being you! (CMC Recital Hall)

1–2pm: The Joy of Practicing with . Level up your practice sessions and learn how to use vocal warmup recordings, fun exercises with our bodies and breath, and implement simple technology like YouTube and a Chrome extension to change the pitch/speed of songs. (Room 12)

4–5pm: American Roots Music with and . In this workshop we’ll cover the foundations of all of American music: Field Songs and Spirituals, origins of barbershop singing and its influence and direct impact on jazz music, Minstrels & Vaudevillian structures of harmonies, ’50s Doo-wop, ’60s—’80s singing groups (soul, jazz, gospel & pop), and modern gospel’s evolution into the contemporary hip hop gospel movement. With the help of the Curtis Family, we will briefly cover those aspects through lecture, demonstration, and immersive audience participation. (CMC Concert Hall)

4–5pm: Vocal Performance Workshop with . Learn the art of expression and stage presence through physicality and character development. Perfect for vocalists who want to take their performances to the next level, this session will equip you with the skills to shine on stage. Open to singers of all levels and interests. Participants are welcome to bring in 1 line of a song to apply the concepts of presence. (CMC Recital Hall)

2-4pm : The Stars, The Moon, and Beyond. A collaborative concert inspired by the beauty and mystery of the universe. Featuring performances by CMC students of private studios, group classes, choirs, and CMC Voice Faculty in a wide variety of musical styles, from solos to ensembles, and a group choir performance. (CMC Concert Hall)

Host or Publisher Community Music Center