The Festival of Voice is a week-long residential celebration of singing in all its richness — choral, song and opera — bringing together committed amateurs, students and professionals in a shared pursuit of vocal excellence. From 19–26 July 2026 at Milton Abbey School, singers from across the UK and internationally will gather to study, rehearse and perform under the artistic leadership of James Platt and Musical Director Gavin Carr, supported by an international faculty of distinguished vocal tutors and soloists.

At the heart of the Festival are three distinct yet interconnected pathways. Our flagship program, ChoralFest, centres on Messa da Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi, culminating in a public performance on Saturday 25th July and combining large-scale ensemble work with technical and musical development. SongFest explores the intimacy of text and poetry through song interpretation, song cycles and guided listening, refining nuance and stylistic understanding. OperaFest immerses singers in the dramatic and vocal demands of operatic repertoire through ensembles, arias, recitative and contextual study.

While each pathway has its own focus, the Festival is united by a shared ethos: rigorous musical standards, informed vocal technique and a generous, collegiate atmosphere. All participants receive individual faculty attention alongside group sessions, masterclasses and evening recitals, with opportunities for informal performance and community events that enrich the week’s experience.

The result is not three separate courses, but one integrated Festival — ambitious in scope, serious in intent and joyful in spirit — where singers at every stage of their journey come to refine their craft, deepen their artistry and share in the transformative power of the human voice.