Sarteano Choral Workshop

The Sarteano Choral Workshop (previously the Sarteano Chamber Choral Conducting Workshop) was founded in 2004 by Brian O’Connell and Gail Leicher. For the past twenty-one summers, more than one thousand choral musicians from forty countries have gathered in Sarteano, a town in the heart of Tuscany known for its beauty and deep sense of community. Together, they have experienced the awe-inspiring power of choral music, building a tradition of musical excellence and forming lifelong friendships. We invite you to become part of the Sarteano Choral Workshop family.

The Workshop welcomes participants from across the choral spectrum—music educators; undergraduate and graduate students; community chorus members and directors; and conductors serving schools, universities, and religious institutions. Each participant finds a supportive, focused environment in which to study, rehearse, and perform choral music at a high artistic level. You’ll find the space to rediscover why you fell in love with choral music in the first place.

Now led by Artistic Director Tony Thornton, Simon Carrington, and voice specialist Jamie-Rose Guarrine, Sarteano Choral Workshop alumni have achieved distinction in the field. Many credit their time in Sarteano as a formative step in their development as conductors, teachers, and singers. Student alumni are regularly chosen for ACDA student conducting masterclasses and pursue advanced degrees in choral conducting and vocal performance at leading universities and conservatories. Former participants now hold major academic, professional, and community choral positions around the world. Others, who attend simply for the joy of singing, continue to enrich ensembles in their own communities.

Notable alumni include Mark Anthony Carpio (Philippine Madrigal Singers), Joan Szymko (composer and conductor, USA), Anthony Blake Clark (Dallas Symphony Chorus and Baltimore Choral Arts Society), Sarah Blythe Shapiro (2025 Winner of the American Prize – Dale Warland Award in Conducting, college/university division), Cameron LaBarr and Erin Plisco (Missouri State University), Caron Daley (Duquesne University), Jurica Petar Petrač (Oratorio Choir of St. Mark’s Church, Croatia), Timothy Shantz (University of Alberta, Canada), Alexander Naji (Kantorei Tokyo Yokohama, Japan), Cheryll Chung (Cantabile Chamber Singers, Canada), Justyna Chełmińska (Warsaw Medical University Orchestra Chorus, Poland), and Gerrit Scheepers (South Dakota School of Mines and Technology). Participants have represented institutions such as Yale University, Eastman School of Music, Westminster Choir College, the University of Southern California, Indiana University, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State University, University of Miami, Brigham Young University, Western Michigan University, Cornell University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Connecticut, Ithaca College, University of Arizona, New England Conservatory, and Boston Conservatory.

We invite you to join us in Tuscany to study, sing, and collaborate with colleagues from around the world. The Sarteano Choral Workshop offers an opportunity to refine your craft, renew your passion for choral music, and form lasting professional and personal connections.

Apply now to become part of this exceptional international community of choral musicians.