Summer Voices for students entering grades 2-12

Location: St. Bernard’s Episcopal Church - Bernardsville, NJ

Tuition: $200

July 28–31, 2025

8:30 AM–1:00 PM

Summer Voices is Music in the Somerset Hills' popular annual program for young singers. Rising 2-12th graders are welcome to join us for 4 days of group activities, individual singing, and musicianship building sessions with our amazing faculty of music professionals.

Stephen Sands, Artistic Director of Music in the Somerset Hills, is highly sought after as a soloist, conductor, music educator and ensemble member by some of the most prestigious institutions and conductors in the United States. A New Jersey Excellence in the Arts winner, Mr. Sands holds his Bachelors and Masters degrees from Westminster Choir College. Stephen is the conductor of Downtown Voices, part of Trinity Church Wall Street’s music program. Stephen is a founding member and Executive Director of the internationally award-winning Antioch Chamber Ensemble. Stephen is also a respected music educator. He has taught choral music to thousands of students in grades 3-12 in the Somerset Hills School District for more than 23 years. StephenSands.net

Matthew LaPine is an active performer, educator, conductor, and composer in central New Jersey. He is the Founder & Artistic Director of Rise Up Chorus, a non-profit community chorus organization whose purpose is to enrich lives through human interaction using music as our commonality. He is Choral Director at Bernards High School, where his choral ensembles have received national acclaim and have performed in various locations along the East Coast, and he sings professionally throughout the tri-state area. Mr. LaPine has been published as a contributing author in multiple works, and has most recently been published with the journal article “Fitting It All In” (in the national publication, Teaching Music Magazine). matthewlapine.com

Kristen Sands Soprano Kristin Sands, co-founding member of the internationally acclaimed Antioch Chamber Ensemble, has made a significant impact in classical music with performances in prestigious venues worldwide. Her extensive experience as a soloist and choral soprano includes collaborations with renowned groups like the Westminster Choir, The Choir of Trinity Church, Wall Street, The New York Philharmonic Chorus, and The Bach Choir of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Kristin’s repertoire spans from early Renaissance to modern premieres, with a special affinity for Baroque music. Her performances, broadcast live on radio and television, and her recordings on labels such as Bridge Records and Naxos, continue to engage audiences globally. A magna cum laude graduate in Voice Performance from Westminster Choir College, Kristin is dedicated to nurturing emerging talent as a member of Drew University's Voice Faculty and maintains a private studio in her family's home.