The Voice School Portal

The academic year’s event structure.

Singing on your own and working on technique online is invaluable, but something particular happens when singers come together in the room, listening, thinking, and working alongside others who share curiosity and commitment. That in-person work is most effective when it sits within a wider framework of ongoing study and reflection.

Across the year, The Voice School offers a small number of in-person events with different emphases, some joy-led and invitational, others more study-focused, with time and space to work more deeply with repertoire, technique, and musical thinking, either as a singer or an engaged observer.

Each event has a clear purpose, so choosing the right one matters. Details unfold as the year progresses, and events are designed to connect naturally with the wider work of the studio, so do keep an eye on dates and application information as they are announced.

What Singers Say...

“To have resumed singing and reconnected with that sense of joy and energy has been a real gift.”

“From one attempt to the next, we were led towards singing more freely, with practical ways into both the music and the technique.”

“It’s rare to have such a variety of real in-depth singing practice in only a weekend, involving different acoustics, working with an accompanist and performing to an audience.”

"The accompanist day emphasised the high degree of collaboration and communication required and watching Gillian and Geraldine working together at a totally different level was a real masterclass for us all." 

All wonderful stuff!

Love Your Voice 2026

“Across the weekend, Gillian’s mentoring brought out the best in each of us, whether working on repertoire, technique or performance. The level of insight and detail, both in my own sessions and in watching others, gave me a much clearer understanding of how to approach my singing with confidence and purpose.”

“It was such a welcoming group to sing in front of, which made taking that step feel possible.”

“I arrived with some trepidation after recent mouth surgery, not knowing how I would manage. As on other occasions when I’ve faced health challenges, Gillian guided me carefully through the three days, and I found myself improving and growing in confidence each day. The programme was thoughtfully designed, each day with a clear focus, yet together forming a cohesive whole. Taking part in all three days allowed me to explore my repertoire from many angles, musically, technically and in performance. A really productive and encouraging weekend, which I would recommend to singers at any level who are willing to explore their singing.”

A place to think about singing

My 'Take Note' blog gathers a wide range of thoughts on singing, from vocal technique and repertoire to musicianship and the lived experience of working with the voice over time. You can browse or search for something specific that you're curious about or perhaps speaks to wherever you are in your learning curve ...

Image from the latest Take Note post

Virtually Vocalise Mentoring

This is the long-term online space at the heart of The Voice School, for singers who want to stay connected to their voice in a steady and meaningful way, wherever they are.

It supports the time between lessons, workshops, and performances, through a regular, week-by-week rhythm of mentoring, shared work, and reflection. I work closely with each singer to help them notice what is happening in their voice and build a way of working that holds over time.

This is where your singing becomes part of an ongoing pathway, rather than something that depends on bursts of activity. If you’re looking for a way to continue, this is where it happens. → Click the image to find out more about Virtually Vocalise

New - coming soon ...

Studio 5: August Intermezzo

Keep your singing study simmering through the summer.

Running from 3–28 August, this will be a month-long online space where you can stay engaged with your voice in a simple, practical way — even if life is busy or you’re away.

Alongside the weekly material, I’ll be setting aside time each week for an open, informal Intermezzo chat — a place you can drop in and have a proper conversation. Talk about what you’re working on, ask questions, share ideas, or simply stay connected to your singing in a more immediate way.

🌼 Taking shape now, with more details to follow very soon.

Events, Dates and Deadlines: choices to grab your attention right now ...

I plan Voice School events well in advance, and when booking first opens, there’s usually an early bird payment option available for a short period. This allows singers who like to think ahead to spread the cost and plan their singing activity year-round. Once that early-bird window closes, standard payment applies.

Voice-works series: 8 German Greats

Join me in Chandler’s Ford, Hampshire (UK) on 16–17 May 2026 for two wonderful days studying nearly a century of German song. We’ll work with music by Franz Schubert, Fanny Hensel, Felix Mendelssohn, Robert Schumann, Clara Schumann, Johannes Brahms, Hugo Wolf and Richard Strauss. (You’ll notice there are women in the line-up!)

A weekend of singing, exploring and shared discovery, with a very hands-on approach that people usually find hugely enjoyable. 

Singer application is now closed, but why not join us as an observer? We would love to welcome you!

Voice-works series: 8 Vocal Greats

Join me in Chandler’s Ford, Hampshire (UK) on 11–12 July 2026 for a Voice-works Study Weekend exploring Eight Vocal Greats. Across two focused and enjoyable days, we’ll trace a vocal lineage from Purcell to Britten, with each singer curating up to six pieces from this rich musical field.

It’s an opportunity to bring your repertoire together, make fresh connections, and share the work with a small group of like-minded singers who care deeply about music and enjoy the process of discovering more. Applications close Friday, 15 May 2026. The early bird payment plan is available until 30 April.

More details coming Soon — Voice-works Study Weekend (Autumn 2026)

Your Desert Island Songs

26–27 September 2026 · Chandler’s Ford, Hampshire

Join me for two days of singing, exploring, and shared discovery as we begin the new Voice-works year. This opening study weekend for the new academic year keeps the familiar Voice-works format, while introducing a slightly new direction in how repertoire is chosen, shaped, and developed.

Applications will close on 29 August 2026. Watch out for the Early Bird payment plan! 

Voice-works Study Weekends — a note on preparation

Voice-works Study Weekends are designed for singers who are ready to work in depth. Repertoire does not need to be performance-polished, but it does need to be known securely enough to explore in detail. These weekends assume that you have already spent time preparing your music, engaging with the text and style, and thinking about the artistic questions your repertoire raises. Our time together is then used for discovery, shared listening, and focused development, rather than learning notes or catching up on basics.

Love Your Voice & Sing Joyfully 2027

“This Love Your Voice weekend gave me more insight and practice than any of the week-long summer music schools I attended in my younger days.”

Love Your Voice 2026 took place in Winsham, Somerset (UK), on 14–16 March, and a wonderful time was had by all.

Next year, we celebrate 10 years of LYV & Sing Joyfully. Special plans are in the making.

Dates for your diary: 12th-16th March. 

The Learning Curve: Ways to begin your learning

Below are a few ways to begin orienting yourself within The Voice School, lighter resources you can explore at your own pace.

This Month’s Vocal Technique Focus:

Working with range issues.

Range is one of those things singers often worry about, especially when it feels inconsistent. You might have notes one day that don’t seem to be there the next, or find yourself avoiding certain parts of your voice altogether.

In many cases, this isn’t really about range at all. It has much more to do with how the voice is moving through the middle, particularly the passaggio, where things can feel uncertain or unstable if the underlying coordination isn’t quite in place.

Explore further ... If you’re curious about what’s really going on when range feels limited, tap the image to read more about the passaggio and how it shapes what you experience across your voice. 

Passaggio problems

Passaggio (Italian pronunciation: [pasˈsaddʒo]) is a term used in classical singing to describe the transition area between the vocal registers.

Arguably the most vexing of singers’ issues, the passaggio justifiably earns its hard-to-handle reputation. Let me familiarise you with its workings and how it can be responsible for the limiting beliefs you hold about your vocal range.

Click the image to discover more evidence (there's a YouTube video link too) to explore the full discussion.

Ready to take part?

There comes a point when watching and reading isn’t quite enough, and you begin to want to bring your repertoire into the room and see what happens to it in real time. That’s where the live work begins to feel different. We sit at the piano, we try things, we listen carefully, we adjust, and gradually the music reveals more than it did before.

I’ve always believed that singing isn’t about arriving somewhere finished. As Anaïs Nin wrote, “Perfection is static, and I am in full flow.” That feels much closer to the truth of how voices grow — steadily, thoughtfully, over time.

If you feel ready to step into that process, the next Voice-works Study Weekend event has a singer application deadline of 15 May, and there are observer places too. Sometimes simply being in the room is the first step on the path.

Inspiration in Progress

I also write on The Classical Singer’s Path, my Substack. A quieter, more personal corner, where I share my voice as a singer rather than as a teacher. It’s where I reflect on my own journey, share recordings or stories, and sometimes open conversations that you’re welcome to join in the comments. Subscription is free right now. If you’d like to come and share your own experiences, I'd love that too.

Latest read:  Solo singing is best understood through shared experience. Just click here to hop over and have a browse.