Each year, Spire Chamber Ensemble invites emerging choral conductors and vocal scholars to participate in the annual Choral Conducting Institute, where young musicians travel from around the world to focus on building skills as choral artists. This immersive program culminates in a final performance that is free and open to the public.

The 2026 Institute, led by faculty Ben A. Spalding (Spire Chamber Ensemble and Baroque Orchestra) and renowned Spire singers, offers conductors the rare opportunity to conduct members of the Spire Chamber Ensemble, one of America’s renowned professional choral ensembles comprised of some of the finest musicians in the United States. Conductors will receive 90 minutes (three separate sessions of 30 minutes) of podium time with members of the ensemble and direct feedback from the clinicians and singers. Designed for school, church, community, and graduate conductors, this institute will hone in on the crucial skills of specific gestural communication, efficient rehearsal techniques, and deeper musical understanding each score presents. The world-class singers of Spire will provide real-time responsiveness full of subtleties of expression that are invaluable to anyone aiming to grow on the podium, all while being surrounded by a supportive and like-minded community. Conductors and auditors will additionally engage one another in daily roundtable discussion and interest sessions. Vocal Scholars participate in workshops covering career development, professional choral singing skills, networking, and more.