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World-class faculty in spectacular locations
VOCAL PROGRAM - Bar Harbor, ME
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AUGUST 3 - 9, 2025
Bar Harbor, ME
Brazilian/Jazz Immersion
Under the direction of master Jazz and Brazilian vocal artists and musicians, our vocal program seamlessly integrates Jazz and Brazilian repertoire. You are encouraged to bring familiar tunes you'd like to work on, as well as new repertoire to explore. Working towards our end-of-week performance, the vocal program integrates:
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Group & individual coaching with focus on song interpretation and phrasing, including daily sessions with faculty trio
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Technique and intonation
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Scat singing
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Percussion for vocalists
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Participation in one instrumental ensemble daily (vocal, improvisation & percussion)
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Jazz Harmony & Music Theory for Vocalists
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Chart Development / Arranging
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Optional Vocal / Instrumental Collaboration (duets, trios)
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Portuguese pronunciation (for those opting to sing in Portuguese)
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In this context, students will have opportunities to rehearse with faculty accompanist, faculty rhythm section, as well as participating instrumentalists in trios, combos, etc.
Vocal Faculty
Catarina dos Santos
Catarina dos Santos, vocalist, educator, songwriter, and composer (4 CDs) integrates Portuguese Brazilian and Africa.n roots. Her passion for Jazz took her to NYC, where
she studied jazz performance at The City College of New
York, and orchestration at the The Julliard School. While
there, she was lead singer for Nation Beat which fused
North Easter Brazilian Maracatu and New Orleans Second
Line, and performed with Latin greats such as Montego Joe. As composer/producer she has received funding from The Rockefeller Foundation. Catarina has performed extensively, including The Blue Note and Joe’s Pub (NYC), and at multiple jazz festivals including New Orleans and Stowe. She is the lead Vocal Jazz teacher at Lisbon's National Conservatory and teaches Theory and Ear Training at EMARTE. Adding to her artistry, Catarina is a uniquely talented scatter, as well as percussionist.
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Vocal Program Instrumental Faculty
We'll soon be announcing instrumental faculty who will be working with and accompanying vocalists
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Overview of the Week 2025
Our week begins on a Sunday wth afternoon registrationm and our Meet & Greet / Faculty Presentation in the evening. Our daily schedule 9:00 am - 5:45pm has a built-in mid-day break for relaxing, practicing, private lessons, swimming, biking, etc.. Evenings include faculty-led jams with teachers joining in to add to the fun. Highlights include our SMJ Cabaret/Jam (teachers join in), Faculty Performance, and of course, our student concert on Friday night.
Program activities culminate on Friday night. On-campus check-out is on Saturday morning (9am checkout).
Our schedule is designed to enable exchange between between instrumental faculty with vocal and tap program.
Lodging & Meals
ON-CAMPUS
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On campus lodging is available in modern townhouse dorms. Each townhouse accommodates up 8 people, and has a full-kitchen, living area and dining area on the 1st floor. Four single rooms are located on the 2nd Floor, and two double rooms on the 3rd floor.
Each floor has a bathroom with sink, shower and toilet, shared by a maximum of
3 other people if full occupancy on the floor. It is possible to request a double
room to be used as a single, or to request a full floor. Two 1st floor rooms with ensuite bathrooms will be available. Linens and towels are included in lodging fees.
On-campus lodging fees include meals beginning (Sunday dinner
through Friday dinner). Standard, pescatarian, vegetarian and vegan options are available. Lunch-to-go is available with advance notice. Accommodations for dietary restrictions/allergies are available, also with advance notice.
Off-Campus
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B&Bs, motels, hotels and Airbnb’s are close by to COA for those who prefer to stay off
campus. If you commute, you have the option of signing up for lunches (and/or other meals) prior to camp. Standard, pescatarian, vegetarian and vegan options are available. Lunch-to-go is available with advance notice. Accommodations for dietary restrictions/allergies are available, also with advance notice
Fees & Policies 2024
2025 PRICES TBA ... !
OFF-CAMPUS TUITION: $1175
ON-CAMPUS RESIDENCE PACKAGES –
Packages below include tuition, 6 nights lodging, and meals -- from Sunday dinner through Friday dinner.
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Double Room shared with another participant: $1545 per participant
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Double Room shared with non-participant guest: $2055 ($1545 + $510)
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Single Room: $1795
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Double Room used as Single:, based on availability: $1995
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Double Room with ensuite bath, very limited availability: $ TBA
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DISCOUNTS
- $50 discount for full payment by March 15
- $50 discount for referral ($50 for person who refers, and $50 for new student)
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SCHOLARSHIPS/FINANCIAL AID/WORK-STUDY
A limited number of partial scholarships / financial aid/work-study are available based on merit and financial need.
DEPOSITS
$600 deposit is required to reserve your spot
* Feel free to inquire about installment plan if needed.
FORMS OF PAYMENT
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Zelle
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Venmo (no fee if drawn from your bank account or debit card)
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Credit Card can be accepted with Venmo (3% surcharge payable by purchaser)
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Personal Check
CANCELLATION POLICY
Our program is a small program. In light of this, in the event you are unable to attend you have the option fill your spot and lodging/meals, or to apply 75% of your payment (excluding lodging/meals) to next summer's program. While meals are refundable up until one month prior to program start, lodging is not.
COVID-RELATED POLICIES
Completion of registration and payment will confirm that registrant agrees to follow Covid-related policies of both College of the Atlantic and Samba Meets Jazz Workshops
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Venue
College of the Atlantic
Image 1: ​Turrets Building / Image 2: COA Pier
With a setting as inspirating as our faculty, College of the Atlantic (COA) on Frenchman’s Bay in Bar Harbor provides the perfect retreat for you to shed the demands of everyday life – and the perfect opportunity for you to immerse yourself in your music with like-minded adults. Rated by Trip Advisor and the New York Times as one of the top U.S. vacation spots, there’s something for everyone! Our mid-day break provides an opportunity to experience it – from a visit to the top of Cadillac Mountain, biking, walking and swimming in Acadia National Park, or a whale-watching boat ride on the bay. Plus .. you can kayak off the COA pier!
Travel
​ By Air
Fly to Bangor (BGR):
American, Delta, United, and Allegiant (to/from FL) offer flights to Bangor International Airport.
Fly to Bar Harbor (BHB)
U.S. Air offers direct flights from Boston’s Logan International Airport (BOS) to the Bar-Harbor Hancock County Airport (BHB) in Trenton which is about 15 minutes from the College of the Atlantic.
Getting from the BGR and BHB airports to COA​
If you’re flying and not renting a car (you really don’t need one), the Bar Harbor-Bangor Shuttle runs between Bangor International and Bar Harbor and will bring you directly to College of the Atlantic. In addition to its regular schedule which is posted on its website, a shuttle bus can be arranged for a group of people with advance notice.
The Island Explorer – a free shuttle bus service that goes all around Mt. Desert Island – goes between BHB and Bar Harbor.
FLY or TAKE AMTRAK to Portland
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Flying to Portland, Maine (PWM) is a great way to save money on flights and to reduce the number of stops. Portland is approximately 3 hours from College of the Atlantic. To get to COA from Portland, options include car rental or bus (Concord Trailways) to Bangor, and Bar Harbor Shuttle from Bangor to COA.
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​ Bus
Concord Trailways is an unusually hospitable, modern (and clean!) bus service that goes to Bangor, ME. Believe it not, they help you with your luggage, provide earphones for video, water, and pretzels! And the rates are reasonable! Upon arrival in Bangor, you can connect with the Bar Harbor-Bangor Airport Shuttle to Bar Harbor.
Once You’re Here!
College of the Atlantic is located on Mt. Desert Island, steps from Acadia National Park. Keep in mind that you really don’t need a car in Bar Harbor. A free, frequent shuttle bus — the Island Explorer – goes to all towns on Mt. Desert Island and into Acadia National Park from early morning through to about 10:00 pm. There is an Island Explorer stop on campus.
About the Bar Harbor Area
Image 1: Town of Bar Harbor Image 1: ​Frenchman's Bay / Image 2: Biking at Acadia National Park
There’s something magical about Bar Harbor. A celebrated vacation destination on Mount Desert Island that is the gateway to Acadia National Park, it possesses a rich history and culture unlike any other. For non-participating guests, there are endless activity options-- from hiking, biking, swimming in Acadia National Park to a visit to its Rockefeller Gardens, to lunch at the famed Jordan Pond. Short-day trip options include antiquing to whale-watching to jaunts to the Blue Hill Peninsula, Schoodic Point & more. In other words, your guest will have plenty to keep her/himself busy while you’re in workshop sessions. For info: https://www.visitbarharbor.com/about-bar-harbor
