  Margreet Honig Summer Academy – France (a.k.a. ”Zen, Singing and Acting”) “An intimate summer academy for classical singers, limited to ten participants, set in a natural environment.” The Margreet Honig Summer Academy – France (also known as Zen, Singing and Acting) will take place from June 27 to July 4, 2026. The Saturdays are reserved for travel, with the course starting on Sunday and concluding on Friday. The location is L’Huy Préau in France (Morvan). Teachers: Margreet Honig and Selma Harkink (vocal coaching), Marc Brookhuis (zen), Elsina Jansen (acting / drama), and Jorian van Nee (pianist). The Margreet Honig Summer Academy – France is intended for young professional classical singers and students Bachelor years 3 and 4 and Master. The course fee is € 700 (incl.21% VAT). (If you are registered as self-employed, you can likely reclaim this VAT amount from the tax authorities. If you are still studying, you may be eligible to claim professional or study-related expenses, including VAT, as a tax deduction through your income tax return.) You will need to arrange and pay for your accommodation at Préau (including food, room/tent) separately. The estimated total cost is approximately €1450. For more information on accommodation options and costs, visit www.preau.nl Course Language: English. Application: Send your c.v. and two audio links or mp-3 files (we prefer links) before April 1st 2026 to: masterclasses@margreethonigfoundation.com Content This summer course consists of three complementary components: Zen, Singing, and Acting. Where Zen invites the participants to go on an inside journey, singing and acting are the expressive elements. In the strict rituals of the Japanese Zen, the focus is meditation. At the same time, Zen encourages you to show your own true color. In singing, the same challenges arise. Singers must perform within the constraints of vocal technique while still expressing their unique sound. They also need to prepare for that critical ”moment of performance,” such as an audition or a concert. Perfectionism, high expectations, and self-doubt are common challenges. Acting is the opposing color in this workshop and puts things into perspective. Like Zen masters putting their sandals on their head or sticking out their tongues to the students, Acting – improvisation and humor – can help dealing with the pressure and prove a necessary balance. In this part of the workshop, we will focus on physical awareness, improvisation, staging scenes, and audition training. The course consists of six days. Each day features group lessons in Zen and Acting, as well as individual singing lessons. Participants will be taught by either Margreet Honig or Selma Harkink, and sometimes by both together. This depends on what the voice teachers think the singer needs most on that day. The final day (Friday) is slightly different: Zen takes place in the morning, while the afternoon is reserved for preparing the final (informal) presentation for the guests of Préau. The Margreet Honig Summer Academy – France began in 2009 (under the name Zen, Singing, and Acting) at L’Huy Préau. Since then, approximately 160 singers have participated in this program. Participant testimonials: ”A transformative course!” ”Well-organized, with good facilities and excellent course content.” ”The connection between the three aspects of the course was truly fascinating, and I will carry that into my future career.” ”I experienced the summer course as an incredibly enriching week. The combination of singing, Zen, and acting worked even better than I had anticipated. This course stands out from others by truly focusing on the personal growth of each individual, without imposing a universal method or approach.” ”I loved: the warm atmosphere, the teachers’ collaborative spirit, discovering Zen meditation, the singing lessons with Margreet, and the amazing food! ”For an impression of this course, see this photo collage: Link |
KMS - Kungl. Musikhögskolans Studentkår 