MNDuo Program 2026
WHEN
Virtual Meet and Greet, May 11th, 2026, 8pm CST
August 2-7, 2026 | Twin Cities, MN
ELIGIBILITY
There is no upper age restriction. All participants must be at least 18 years old as of May 1, 2026. Please note that pianist/singer teams are highly preferred, but not required. If you are applying as an individual, you will be required to be available at 2pm on August 2, 2026 to rehearse with your duo partner.
PROGRAM FEES
There will be a $600 program fee for those selected to participate.
If accepted, notice of intent to attend and the first deposit will be due April 1st, 2026 (50% of tuition). Remaining balance due by May 11th, 2026 (remaining amount).
ACCOMMODATIONS
Source Song Festival is unable to provide housing or meals for participants, but is willing and able to help participants find local accommodations for reasonable rates.
FESTIVAL REPERTOIRE LIST
Each singer-pianist team selected to participate in the festival will be asked to curate a repertoire list comprising seven (7) songs for masterclasses, performances, and workshops throughout the week.
Special in 2026 is Arlene Shrut’s direction in performing the entire Italienisches Liederbuch by Hugo Wolf. Each duo will be assigned 3-4 songs from the collection to be prepared, memorized, and perform. Also of note is Margo Garrett’s French mélodie masterclass, specific to the genre and the overall history of the form.
These repertoire lists should be determined collaboratively between singer and pianist and in consultation with the festival's Education Director. In each Duo's repertoire list, the following categories must be represented:
-Three art songs from Hugo Wolf’s Italienisches Liederbuch, selected by mentor Arlene Shrut
-One french mélodie
-One song in Norwegian, one song in Swedish, and one song in Finnish*
*Nordic repertoire need not be memorized for the festival masterclasses.
WORKSHOP PROGRAM
Public Masterclasses with Margo Garrett, Javier Arrebola, Arlene Shrut, Alisa Jordheim, and Kathleen Roland-Silverstein
Private Coachings with Margo Garrett, Arlene Shrut, and Stephen Swanson
Public Performances of Wolf’s Italiensches Liederbuch
Nordic focused language and repertoire lectures
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Completed applications are due by March 1, 2026.
APPLICATION FEE
For the 2026 festival, there is no application fee.
Applications can be submitted electronically. Videos must include two youtube links to recordings, one German Lied and any other song in any language. To apply as a duo, you do not need to have application videos together - it is recommended, but not required. We are more than happy to pair you at the festival, but both individuals need to apply, and state their desire to work with a specific collaborative partner.
NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE
If accepted, notice of intent to attend and the first deposit will be due April 1st, 2026 (50% of tuition). Remaining balance due by May 11th, 2026 (remaining amount).
Repertoire will be discussed between the teams and the Education Director of the Festival.
Questions? juancarlos@sourcesongfestival.org
2026 Festival Faculty
“This is a fantastic program.. a dynamic, engaging, art and passion-filled program... At the risk of sounding too grandiose, participating in the program reminded me why I fell in love with song in the first place.. this was the perfect reminder of what it means to be passionate about your craft.”
Questions? Email
clara@sourcesongfestival.org
“The passion that each member of this festival (the coordinators, guest artists, duos, composers, and audience!) brings to their art is so raw, so vital, so unconditional, and so...human. The effect of creativity, at such a high concentration, in one short week, makes me want to...go out and create something from nothing.”
