The ten fellows of The Fellowship of the Song take the stage for the second of two scintillating programs.

Dr. Darryl Taylor, internationally acclaimed countertenor, scholar, and professor of voice at the University of California, Irvine, will present a lecture celebrating the centennial of composer Robert Owens (1925–2017). A leading interpreter and advocate for Owens’ music, Dr. Taylor explores the composer’s life, his collaborations with poets including Langston Hughes, and the powerful legacy of his songs within the African American Art Song tradition. Through historical insight and musical illustration, the presentation highlights how Owens’ work preserves cultural memory while continuing to inspire singers and audiences today.

Artistic Director Samuel Martin moderates a roundtable discussion with distinguished composer Lori Laitman and soprano Laura Strickling that illuminates the process of artists engaging and interacting with composers. From the conceiving and commissioning of a new work through the preparation and performance of its premiere, the conversation will draw back the curtain on this often murky process.

LaToya Lain and Casey Robards lead The Fellowship of the Song’s fourth and final song workshop in an in-depth exploration of John Carter’s iconic Cantata.

In this unique staged adaptation of Franz Schubert’s masterpiece song cycle, Winterreise tells the story of a person who has lost their connection to their community. In the isolation brought on by their trauma, the protagonist unravels. Cast away from his home, without a safety net, he plunges into the chasm of mental illness.

LaToya Lain and Casey Robards lead The Fellowship of the Song’s third song workshop in program of Spirituals.

How did the spirituals inspire and motivate the marginalized and oppressed to action? This lecture-recital embarks on a journey through time and across continents, tracing the influence of spirituals on Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Highlander Folk School, as well Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement.

The ten fellows of The Fellowship of the Song take the stage for the first of two scintillating programs.

CSI staff members Natasha Naik and Sam Martin avail themselves to the burning questions held by audience members on how to bring their own unique projects to life. How do you write a grant? What paperwork do you file to start your own nonprofit organization? How do you go about organizing a community concert or event? Best practices for fundraising? It’s an open discussion during this favorite annual Fellowship class.

A journey across borders and identities, Come to Ukraine, Look for America weaves music in Ukrainian, Russian, English, Hebrew, and German into a shared story of resilience, discovery, and renewal. Moving between languages and experiences, this program illuminates unexpected connections between cultures, showing how memory and hope resonate across continents.

Soprano Julia Bullock, this year’s May Festival Director, joins the Fellowship for a characteristically open and enlightening conversation. Moderated by Artistic Director Samuel Martin, questions from the audience will guide this session on topics such as artistic curation, engaging with communities through the arts, and creating a truly unique and meaningful career in the classical vocal arts in the twenty-first century.

Kayo Iwama leads The Fellowship of the Song’s second song workshop in a program of songs by Asian and Asian-American composers.

Kayo Iwama leads The Fellowship of the Song’s first song workshop in a diverse program exploring the joys and trials of love.