Course

Singing for Joy is a welcoming class in choral ensemble singing — no experience needed. Each session begins with playful body-based warmups drawn from dance, theatre, and vocal training to help you breathe, move, and sing with ease. We learn traditional rounds and part-songs from around the world by ear, exploring harmony, vocal color, and style. Experienced singers may anchor sections or try trios. Past participants often leave humming a tune and feeling better than when they arrived.

Faculty Bio

Lauren Carley — singer, choral director, retreat leader, and writer — has performed globally, led Bay Area choirs for nearly 20 years, and taught at NYU, AMDA, OYC, OPC and UC Berkeley. She coaches voice across disciplines and holds degrees in music and interdisciplinary arts.

This is an In Person-Only Course

• Classes meet in person at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, at 3491 Mount Diablo Blvd., Lafayette
• Limited to 40 members
• You must be a current OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn about membership, including our fee assistance program.

Schedule Highlights

• Course starts on Thursday, Oct. 16, and ends on Thursday, Nov. 6
• Classes meet for 4 weeks, 2 hours per session (1-3 PM)
• All course materials will remain available to view and enjoy through Dec. 31

Member Praise for Lauren Carley 

OLLI is fortunate to have a vocal/singing teacher of this caliber. 

Lauren so knowledgable, supportive, warm and easily understood. She taught us things about the human anatomy and vocalizing that we could never have learned by ourselves.

I loved the fact that Lauren is so inclusive and non judgmental. She is very knowledgable and presents voice as an instrument.

Faculty Q&A

• Read an interview with Lauren Carley from our archive.