Berkshire Choral International expands the horizons of singers through participation in exhilarating performances, enriching travel and cultural exploration, lifelong music education, and connection to an inspiring community of choral artists. Over the past 40 years, BCI has enriched the lives of almost 9,000 singers through our week-long choral music programs under the batons of dozens of the world’s great conductors in prestigious venues throughout the U.S. and Europe. As an inclusive home for people who love to sing, BCI celebrates and connects the choral music world.
Learn more about The BCI Experience, upcoming programs, online resources for singers, and an historic overview of past programs and conductors.
In addition to serving amateur choral singers, BCI also has a rich history of supporting and training early career choral professionals. Our Apprentice Program provides free tuition and travel support to undergraduate and graduate level vocalists, conductors, and accompanists and the opportunity to study and coach with our faculty and guest conductors.
Mission, Vision & Values
Mission
Berkshire Choral International expands the horizons of singers through participation in exhilarating performances, enriching travel and cultural exploration, lifelong music education, and connection to an inspiring community of choral artists.
Vision
Berkshire Choral International creates harmonious and inclusive communities that value choral music and the transformative joy of singing together.
Values
Community: We foster inclusive singing communities that emphasize the excitement of shared learning and accomplishment, mutual respect, and kindness. Enthusiastic singers of all identities find a welcoming musical home at BCI.
Engagement: We engage with our singers, our professional musical colleagues, and the communities with whom we collaborate to build deep, authentic, and mutually-beneficial relationships.
Stewardship: We thoughtfully steward and advance BCI’s unique tradition as a singer-focused institution that connects amateurs and professionals to the evolving choral music world.
History
Berkshire Choral International was created in 1982 by John Hoyt Stookey with the guidance of founding music director Charles Dodsley Walker. Based on a vision of creating a week-long summer retreat for avid choral music singers in the beautiful Berkshires of western Massachusetts, BCI’s modest first concert featured Verdi’s Requiem under the baton of Robert Page. Since that time, more than 9,000 singers have sung over 250 different weeks of repertoire under the batons of more than 75 luminary choral conductors.
In the 1990s, BCI expanded its horizons beyond The Berkshires to include weeks in Canterbury, England; Salzburg, Austria; and Santa Fe. Today, BCI’s operations are still based in the arts mecca of The Berkshires but produces singing weeks and choral adventures in appealing arts destinations across the U.S. and throughout Europe. Governed by a national Board of Trustees, BCI is under the leadership of Steven F. Smith, President & CEO and Frank Nemhauser, Music Director. BCI is a proud member of Chorus America, American Choral Directors Association, and International Federation for Choral Music.