Program Details
Location
London,
United Kingdom
Term
Winter Break
Housing
Hostel
Hotel
Languages Taught In
English
Sponsor
College of Liberal Arts
Program Eligibility
Student Type
UofM Students
Student Year
Freshmen
Sophomores
Juniors
Seniors
Graduate Students
GPA
No Requirement
Events & Info Sessions
There are currently no events for this program. Explore more events on our events page.
About
Experience the grandeur of English sacred music right where it was born, in London and St Albans. Participate in a world-premiere commercial recording of Harold Darke’s "Youth Rides Forth", perform in historic London churches, and engage in masterclasses led by premier UK conductors. The trip culminates in a majestic gala concert at the historic St Albans Cathedral, performing Parry’s "De Profundis" side-by-side with the Hertfordshire Chorus.
Between rehearsals, you’ll stay near Tower Bridge, explore iconic London landmarks, and enjoy a free weekend to discover the city, including an optional studio tour of the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio. Gain invaluable professional recording experience, elevate your vocal technique in world-class acoustics, and create unforgettable musical memories in the UK.
Program Model
Housing & Meals
Spend 9 nights in London at Wombat’s City Hostel, located near Tower Bridge, followed by 3 nights at the Holiday Inn Express Watford Junction—offering easy access to St Albans Cathedral for our final concert.
Daily breakfast and 3–4 group dinners are fully included in the program fee. You will cover your own lunches daily, providing flexibility during sightseeing. Wombat’s features a shared guest kitchen, allowing for cooking hostel-prepared group dinners together.
Application Deadline
October 2, 2026
Program Dates
January 3–17, 2027
Program Structure
Program Level
3000
Courseload
One 3-credit course
Academics
This intensive January term course offers a dynamic exploration of the English Choral Tradition and the "English Musical Renaissance." Through daily rehearsals, professional recording sessions, and collaborative performances in London and St. Albans, you will engage deeply with early 20th-century British music.
Academic study centers on the theoretical and rhetorical construction of works like Harold Darke’s Youth Rides Forth and Hubert Parry’s De Profundis. You will analyze how historical contexts and cathedral acoustics shape performance choices.
This course will be a MUS 3272 course which will earn 3 credits. It fulfills the following Liberal Education requirements:
- Arts & Humanities
- Global Perspectives
The course will also count as 3 credits of classroom instruction toward an Ensemble Minor.
Program Leader
This program is led by Matthew Mehaffey, Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities in the Department of Music. For more information, contact Matthew Mehaffey at [email protected].
Excursions
- VOCES8 Centre & Royal College of Music: Professional workshops, clinics, and commercial recording sessions at premier London musical institutions.
- St Albans Cathedral, St Paul’s, & St Michael’s: Historic sacred venues hosting rehearsals and our side-by-side gala concert.
- Guided Historical Sightseeing: Expert-led tours covering iconic landmarks, including Tower Bridge, the historic Castle area, and more.
- Independent London Exploration: Ample free time to discover London’s world-class museums, West End theaters, and historic neighborhoods.
- Mid-Residency Excursion Weekend: A 2 day break (UK hotel provided) to explore surrounding English cities or venture to Paris.
Accessibility
If you have a disability and plan to study abroad, visit our Accessibility Abroad page to learn about considerations, answer questions, and request accommodations before you go abroad.
Program Fee
The cost of participation generally includes tuition and registration fees, orientation, and international health insurance. It also includes housing, excursions and most meals. Contact the program leader for more information on the program fee details and flights.
Billing & Payments
Visit Billing for information about the billing process for application fees, deposits, and program fees.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Financial Aid is available through your FAFSA and Learning Abroad Center, as well as through School of Music Scholarships.
Visit Financial Information for information on using financial aid and scholarships for study abroad.
Enrollment Note: This program is considered part of spring enrollment for the purposes of registration and financial aid.
Flight & Deposit Advance
The Flight & Deposit Advance (formerly Bridging Loan) is a no-interest/no-fees program that allows you to defer payment of your flight and LAC program deposit until your financial aid is disbursed.
Cancellation Policy
If you wish to cancel your participation on this program, you must log into your Learning Abroad Center portal, go into your program, and submit a cancel request by selecting the "Cancel Application" button on the bottom of the checklist page. The date/time stamp of this cancellation request will determine the refund eligibility according to the above policy.
If you have questions about this policy please reach out to the department or program leader directly.
| Dates | Billing policy |
|---|---|
| 90 days or more prior to start date | Application fee + $500 confirmation deposit retained by the Learning Abroad Center + non-recoverable flights costs* |
| 89–75 days prior to start date | Application fee + $500 confirmation deposit retained by the Learning Abroad Center + non-recoverable flights costs* + 25% of remaining program costs |
| 74–60 days prior to start date | Application fee + $500 confirmation deposit retained by the Learning Abroad Center + non-recoverable flights costs* + 50% of remaining program costs |
| 59–31 days prior to start date | Application fee + $500 confirmation deposit retained by the Learning Abroad Center + non-recoverable flights costs* + 75% of remaining program costs |
| 30 days or less prior to start date | Application fee + $500 confirmation deposit retained by the Learning Abroad Center + non-recoverable flights costs* + 100% of remaining program costs |
*Non-recoverable fight costs refer to those costs billed as a part of the overall program costs. It does not include any flight costs paid by students directly to airlines, travel agents etc.
Apply
You will be charged a $50 application fee for each application you submit.
Complete
When you submit your online application, you will be assigned an application checklist that includes:
- First Step session
Next Steps
- After you complete all required application checklist items, you will receive an automated email message indicating your application is ready to be reviewed.
- Your completed application will be reviewed by the program leader in the sponsoring college/department.
- If admitted, the Financial and Program Commitment form will be added to your checklist. Complete this form to secure your spot on the program. By submitting the form, you also give your approval for the program deposit to be billed to your UofM student account.
- Complete the confirmation checklist, which include the following items in additional to program-specific forms:
- Passport Information
- Emergency Contacts
- Health Information Form
- Online Health & Safety Orientation
- Release & Waiver
- You will receive information about additional steps from the sponsoring college/department.