CoLAB Works
at Avaloch Farm | Boscawen, New Hampshire
August 17-22, 2026
||: Eat Sleep Practice Rehearse :|| Perform
CoLAB Works at Avaloch Farm is a collaborative music retreat for pianists and vocalists. It is ample time and space for focused study, reflection and learning from others.
The program brings participants together for morning and afternoon rehearsals with a choral conductor, centered on choral chamber repertoire. This summer’s featured work is a selection of movements from Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes, with five movements prepared for a final performance and professional video recording. At its core, CoLAB emphasizes the art of collaboration—developing the ability to listen, respond, and adapt in real time, and cultivating the awareness and flexibility essential to making music together.
For pianists, the program is three-pronged:
- Practicing intensive and rep class – exclusive use of a piano studio (rotating daily) and afternoon piano rep class to share solo work and exchange feedback
- The CoLAB – twice daily rehearsals with chorus and conductor featuring Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes and other choral chamber works
- Performance + professional recording – a performance of up to 18 minutes of solo piano music, professionally video recorded and edited for personal use
Vocalists are fully integrated into the collaborative experience:
- Ensemble immersion – sing in twice-daily rehearsals with pianists and conductor, making ensemble work the foundation of each day
- The CoLAB – refine blend, independence, and musical sensitivity through Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes and other choral repertoire
- Performance + professional recording – participation in a final performance recorded professionally, creating a polished video resource
The CoLAB itself centers on partnership at every level. Piano four-hands teams are each assigned a movement of the Liebeslieder, working closely with the chorus and conductor—forming both intimate and large-scale collaborative relationships. Pianists also prepare additional chamber works for chorus and piano, further developing their ensemble skills, while remaining encouraged to sing alongside the chorus to deepen their understanding of vocal collaboration.
The program culminates in a final in-house performance, recorded live by a professional engineer. Alongside the pianists’ solo recitals, the full ensemble presents selections from the Liebeslieder Waltzes, with recordings shared afterward for participants’ use.
Set at Avaloch Farm in the New Hampshire countryside, the retreat offers an inspiring environment for music-making. The Concert Barn features Steinway D concert piano, providing pianists with concert-level instruments and vocalists with a stunning acoustic space. Early afternoons are reserved for rest and renewal—whether walking the grounds, visiting local spots, or simply enjoying the quiet beauty of the surrounding landscape.





