2028 International Choir
The Blue Lake International Choir is comprised of talented and inspired young vocalists and performs a full range of traditional and contemporary choral works.
Each of the groups in the Blue Lake International Exchange Program will visit six host communities in 2–3 European countries with several group excursions throughout the trip. Tentative countries for the 2028 International Choir are France and Germany, but the tour may expand depending on invitations. Final tour schedules will not be available until the late spring prior to tour.
Dates
One full-day rehearsal on campus in early November, 2027
One full-day rehearsal on campus in mid-April, 2028
One rehearsal weekend (Friday evening through Sunday afternoon) in mid-May, 2028
One rehearsal week in mid-June, prior to departure
Approximate tour dates: 3-weeks in Europe from mid-June through mid-July
Homecoming Day and final performance at camp immediately following return from Europe
Confirmed dates for the 2028 choir will be published in January of ’27.
Tuition
Tuition includes supervision and instruction, room and board on camp prior to departure, airfare, coach travel in Europe, and several excursions en route. For an example, the cost of 2027 tuition is $7,290, with a minimum $750 deposit due at time of enrollment. 2028 Tuition subject to change based upon cost of airfare. Scholarships are available for tour alumni and those who have attended Blue Lake as a camper in the 2026 and 2027 season. Financial need and instrumentation scholarships may also be available in some circumstances.
Director
Brandon Johnson
Tour Director and Conductor
Conductor and Tour Director Brandon Johnson is the Founder & Artistic Director of BEYOND, a choral ensemble for professional musicians, and the Director of Choral Activities at Eastern Michigan University. He is broadly recognized for his work with high school & collegiate singers and has conducted ensembles and taught masterclasses across Europe, Asia, and the United States. Choirs under his direction have been invited to perform for multiple state and regional American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and National Association for Music Education (NAFME) conferences. He has performed in the most prestigious concert halls across the country, including Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the renowned Carnegie Hall. He has conducted choral ensembles in every facet of the profession and takes pride in pursuing excellence in choral art to enrich and affirm musicians of all ages. Past artistic appointments include The Director of Choral Activities at Houghton College, Interim Associate Director of Choirs at the University of Michigan, the Founder and Artistic Director of the semi-professional vocal ensemble of Vox Lumine, Artistic Director of the Detroit Performing Artists, the Conductor of the Symphonic Choir at the University of Arizona, the Director of Choirs at Duluth East High School and Springfield Public Schools, and multiple sacred music appointments. Dr. Johnson’s choral-orchestral training includes study with German conductor Helmuth Rilling and American conductors Neil Varon and Dr. Bruce Chamberlain. In addition to his work with university orchestras at EMU and Houghton, he has received invitations to conduct the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Chorus, Buffalo Choral Artists, Continuo Arts Orchestra of New York, Michigan Sinfonietta, Oregon Bach Festival Chorus and Orchestra, Rochester Oratorio Society, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Syracuse Symphony, Cordancia, and The Southern Tier Symphony on collaborative projects. This is Dr. Johnson’s first tour with the Blue Lake International Choir.
