The Australian soprano and early music specialist will be teaching at the first Perth Choral Institute Summer School.

The Perth Choral Institute has announced a new initiative to bolster choral singing in Western Australia, the Perth Choral Institute Summer School. The eight-day residency for singers between the ages of 15 and 25 has been designed to provide an intensive week of training in singing and choral music, giving students the opportunity to work with mentors who have links to WA, including bass-baritone Andrew O’Connor and soprano Sara MacLiver.

The aim of the course is to provide choral experience for singers who may not have access to grassroots training at an early age. “We’re hoping to further raise the very high standard of ensemble singing in Perth,” MacLiver tells Limelight, “and to develop singers at a young age (in a choral forum). These young singers will have an opportunity to learn some basic vocal and choral techniques, to develop their aural skills and to perform in a variety of genres.”

MacLiver believes in the importance of early opportunities for choral singing for a number of reasons. “There is the opportunity to learn more about music through the choral experience and to...