Yes, absolutely! The CLEF Summer Program welcomes musicians of all skill levels. Many participants are volunteers with little or no formal training, and some are brand new to music ministry even. Our faculty members are great at assessing your skills and adjusting their instruction to the needs of the group.

While most participants are vocalists or instrumentalists, we also welcome liturgists and clergy who work with music ministry in their communities. While many of our sessions are specific to ensemble music skills, we also have presentations on liturgy topics during the week and throughout clinic day. When liturgists and clergy attend the program, it enriches discussions and strengthens collaboration.

Yes, though we do require that all attendees be at least 18 years old at the start of the program. We encourage college-age and young adult musicians to attend. The CLEF Summer Program offers formation, mentorship, and community that can be especially meaningful early in a music ministry journey.

The program focuses on ensemble musicianship skills and the principles of liturgical music rather than specific styles. The music repertoire for the week includes music from OCP, GIA, and other liturgical music publishers with a mix of contemporary pieces and more traditional choral pieces. We even have some sessions that include familiar favorites that most Catholic musicians will already know, in addition to new pieces they may learn in other sessions.

The CLEF Summer Program is an immersive experience. We journey through the week together working on a shared repertoire of both new and familiar songs. Instrumentalists and vocalists work separately in the morning ensemble session with a focus on vocal and instrumental skills, then the groups put it all together in the afternoon. The entire group learns from each other throughout the process. We also have one clinic day with 30+ breakout sessions to choose from, and a small ensemble day where the focus is on working in smaller groups to replicate the size of most participants ensembles in their community.

While we certainly pack a lot into a single week, there are breaks built into the schedule each day so participants have time for rest and reflection. The grounds of the Jesuit Spiritual Center at Milford have paved walking paths, a prayer labyrinth, and various places to sit and reflect outdoors. Or, participants may choose to rest in their private room or spend time in the adoration chapel.

We encourage parish musicians, whether in volunteer or paid roles, to talk with their pastor or parish administrator about potential support for musicians to attend the CLEF Summer Program. The cost is typically around $1,000 per person, which covers the week-long program, including lodging and meals at the Jesuit Spiritual Center.

Thanks to the support of a generous donor, CLEF also offers a limited number of scholarships each year for first-time attendees. More information about scholarships will be available when registration opens.

Many of our participants drive from near or far because they want to bring multiple instruments for the week. If you’re driving, the Jesuit Spiritual Center is located at 5361 S Milford Rd, Milford, OH 45150. Plug that into your GPS and you should be able to find us! 

For participants who wish to fly to Ohio, Cincinnati/Kentucky Regional Airport (airport code CVG) is the closest airport. Travel time from the airport to the retreat center is about 45 minutes. The CLEF board is still evaluating whether an airport shuttle is possible this year. Participants who fly may need to arrange their own rideshare service to get to the retreat center. 

No, you don’t need to be Catholic to attend this program or access our online CLEF Life resources. While our founding board members and faculty primarily serve as ensemble musicians in Catholic church communities, we’ve had multiple ensemble musicians from other faith traditions join us at the CLEF Summer Program. To quote a popular song from our faith tradition, “All are welcome.”