UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music partners with Seraphic Fire to launch a innovative vocal training initiative

Training opportunity for students: Master advanced skills under renowned experts via The Ensemble Artist Program.

, and Administrator

2025 September 2 . 5:08 PM

2 min read

UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music joins forces with Seraphic Fire to establish a novel vocal... — UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music joins forces with Seraphic Fire to establish a novel vocal instruction program

UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music partners with Seraphic Fire to launch a innovative vocal training initiative

In an exciting development for the choral and voice performance area at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, the school has partnered with Seraphic Fire to create the Ensemble Artist Program. This unique collaboration aims to merge art and academia, opening up career opportunities for UCLA's vocal students that they may have otherwise missed.

Judith Smith, dean of the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, stated that the partnership reflects the school's commitment to the future of its students. Patrick Dupré Quigley, founder and artistic director of Seraphic Fire, adjudicated auditions for the first cohort of the Ensemble Artist Program, which saw eight students chosen for the inaugural group.

The training program, which begins on the UCLA campus in November, includes a series of masterclasses, lectures, and town halls. Four coaches from Seraphic Fire's roster will be part of the program: Misty Bermudez, Charles Evans, Sara Guttenberg, and Patrick Muehleise.

James Bass, director of choral studies at UCLA, is also the director of education for Seraphic Fire. His expertise and strong ties to Seraphic Fire’s artistic direction will undoubtedly influence the program, which is expected to reflect Seraphic Fire's technical precision and immersive classical and contemporary repertoire.

In February and April 2018, the students will join Seraphic Fire in South Florida for performances. These will be part of Seraphic Fire's 16th concert season and will include Johann Sebastian Bach's "St. Matthew Passion" and Arvo Pärt's "Passio."

Seraphic Fire's educational mission includes helping student musicians learn more about singing as a career. The Ensemble Artist Program offers advanced training for students with esteemed professionals, helping them discover outlets for professional employment.

For full details about the program’s coaches and upcoming performance schedule, the best course would be to check UCLA’s official Herb Alpert School of Music website or the Seraphic Fire ensemble’s official communications, as these results did not provide a full calendar or other instructors.

The UCLA Ensemble Artist Program with Seraphic Fire is unlike any other in the nation, according to Patrick Dupré Quigley. This collaborative choral initiative is set to usher in the next generation of choral artists, reflecting the high artistic standards that Seraphic Fire is known for.