Calling All A Cappella Enthusiasts!
Your Ultimate A Cappella Experience Awaits
If you’re looking for more a cappella in your life, we have a surprise for you.
Our a cappella retreats are designed not only for you to level up your a cappella skills, but develop new perspectives and build connections with new people in a focused, growth-driven space over just 3 days.
Expect this and more in just 3 days
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Growth
Learn by doing exercises to take back to your group. Masterclasses and 1:1 time with the director to cover specifics such as vocal technique, arranging, directing, and group management.
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Community
These are your people! You were all crazy enough to go to a house in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of people you haven't met to live together and sing a cappella for 3 days. We do our best to cultivate those relationships.
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Fulfillment
Learn, polish, and perform an a cappella set from scratch. Plenty of time for spontaneous jams, collaboration, and karaoke.
More than 100 inspired singers
and more than 40 have participated in at least 2 retreats - they just can’t get enough!
This is AcaX
What does an AcaX Retreat look like?
Professional a cappella instructors
10-14 fellow singers at the same level as you
A custom arrangement with the right amount of challenge
A 3-day collaboratively designed schedule which gets everyone involved
Professionally recorded & produced into a live music video
7:30 Optional group run on a forest trail
8:30 Fresh coffee and self-serve breakfast
9:30 Vocal and physical warm-ups and technique workshop
10:00 Rehearsal 1: Sectionals and rotating small groups
12:00 Lunch: lasagna and roasted vegetable medley
1:00 Free time: board games, nap, etc. or optional 1:1 consultations (voice lesson, arranging, group management, etc.)
2:30 Participant led activity - tea tasting, improv game, or whatever else you’re passionate about
3:30 Rehearsal 2: Dynamics, tone and vowel unification
6:30 Dinner led by volunteer “head chef”
8:00 Open-mic night
9:00 Free time: jam sessions, meaningful conversation, or some alone study time
Beginner
“I Will Survive”
opb. Gloria Gaynor
Arranged by Robert Lee
No matter your skill level,
we’ll meet you there
Intermediate
“A Million Dreams”
from The Greatest Showman
Arranged by Robert Lee
Advanced
“Still Feelin’ You”
opb. Couch
Arranged by Robert Lee
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Maybe you’ve seen Pitch Perfect, or have been impressed by Pentatonix. Perhaps, you even had friends in college who sang a cappella. All of these make you want to try it yourself, but a voice in your head says:
”I don’t think I’m good enough.” ”I can’t read sheet music.” “I need to improve my voice before joining a retreat.”
Actually, we’ve got you covered. Your AcaX Retreat will be designed to meet you where you are and help you grow from there. A cappella is taught as early as elementary school - we have facilitators experienced in teaching the fundamentals. Treat this as your gentle entry into a cappella.
And if the videos are intimidating, know that we produce every track fully (there is some Hollywood magic at play)! We truly do work with full-on beginners to singing.
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Maybe you’re already singing, or have sung in a choir or a cappella group in the past. Or maybe you’re an enthusiastic karaoke singer who’s never sung a cappella. You might be wondering:
“Is my singing healthy?”
”What are the best things I can do now to improve?”
”I’m ready to explore! What else is out there?”
“What is my voice REALLY capable of?”
A weekend a cappella retreat will answer all those questions. With the right amount of challenge, you will see yourself singing like you never did before, and feel excited to even sing even more!
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Maybe you’ve sung a cappella in the past, but life has gotten busy and you just can’t commit to a regular group. Maybe its been a while since you’ve sung excellent a cappella.
Maybe you’ve been frustrated with a cappella in the past - previous groups were toxic, learned too slowly, weren’t focused, or just weren’t up to your standard.
Our a cappella retreats may just turn that all around. At your retreat, you’ll rehearse with an auditioned group of focused singers under a professional director, singing a part customized to your range and vocal strengths written by professional arrangers.
This was a peak musical experience for me—the first time I felt really pushed as a singer in more than a decade. It was thrilling to sing such rewarding and challenging music with such inspiring peers.
Andy
I've always wanted to do more singing activities as an adult, but it's super difficult to do so after college, especially if you don't have any previous experience. The retreat was an awesome way to explore my interest in a fun and low pressure environment with an awesome teacher and others with a similar interest!
Jack
One of the most transformative and rewarding musical experiences in my 15 years of a cappella singing. Came to sing some music, left feeling artistically renewed and with beautiful new friendships.
Addy
What’s different about the retreats?
Weekly rehearsals will help you get better, but retreats allow for Intensive Focus for Accelerated Growth.
Like a wellness retreat, our a cappella retreat offers a dedicated time and space where participants fully immerse themselves in the craft. The focused, collaborative environment makes it easier to take risks, stay focused and disciplined, leading to rapid, visible improvements in your singing and musicianship.
Diverse Singing Experience.
A whole new group at each retreat provides invaluable growth opportunities.
A new group of singers, and maybe a new role for yourself. Exposure to different voices, techniques, and feedback helps participants refine their skills, offering fresh perspectives and accelerating your musical journey. A retreat is also the perfect time to try a new skill, such as vocal percussion or a different voice part, or maybe even leading a sectional.
Deep Community and Belonging - rehearsals foster this, but the best bonding happens after dinner or during breakfast.
Participants are naturally inclined to connect and collaborate, building meaningful relationships quickly. The extended time brought about by living together for 3 days—beyond short rehearsals—allows for deep, impactful conversations and a strong sense of belonging.
“The actual arranging of the song, I think, is understated as a value add. The post-retreat work of editing/mixing as well is another value add. What really makes it worth it though is a dedicated time and space for people to come together with a common goal. Technically possible without this setting, but crazy difficult to actually create.”
Hello! I’m Robert.
Hello! I’m Robert, your Music Director. I am a full-time singing teacher and a cappella director. I’ve been singing in vocal ensembles since I was 6, and leading them since high school.
I have been privileged to be part of groups in Hong Kong, Rhode Island, and different scenes in the San Francisco Bay Area. The art-form is part of my identity, and the friends that I’ve made along the way have been a main source of community and belonging for my whole life. Outside my own groups, I lead workshops at festivals, for companies such as Google, and at high schools.
Beyond a cappella, for the past few years I’ve been diving deep in effective gathering design and life coaching. It was these explorations that pulled me towards putting together meaningful events and gatherings that create growth and connection.
I have been running a cappella retreats for my groups since 2018, and have loved every moment of each of them. I’m excited to bring this opportunity to you, too!
Neha
Robert does an amazing job introducing acapella and creating confidence in all of the singers. I especially appreciate his patience, willingness to go above and beyond for us, and in all his dedication to putting on this amazing experience!
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Now, all you need to do is…
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We’ll reach out with a cohort assignment. If you’re happy, secure your spot with a deposit.
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APPLY
Not an audition! Everyone gets a spot, but we need to know your level to place you in the right cohort.
ACCEPT
ATTEND
Show up and join us to explore your unique voice and your part in beautiful harmony.
FAQs
How much are the retreats?
While it varies by location, duration, and cohort size, we design our programs with cost in mind. Expect cost per person to be around $250-350 (USD) per day, which includes housing, food, and 4-5 hours of professionally-led a cappella per day, among further curated programming. Certain preferences for accommodations, such as private rooms, may come at an extra charge as well. Please note that transportation is not included.
Ultimately, a cappella should be accessible to all. A limited number of discounted spots are available each session on a case by case basis. Please send us an email to learn more.
Can I use my employer benefit?
We can send you an invoice that separates out the music instruction from the cost of stay. Previous attendees have successfully been reimbursed fully or partially. Contact us for details.
Can you tell me more about how the cohorts are selected?
To ensure that the pace and difficulty is appropriate for everyone, all participants should be at a similar musical ability.
Singers of all levels are encouraged to apply, although some ability to match pitch and hold a melody are helpful skills to singing multi-part a cappella arrangements.
Other factors include balance across voice parts, preferences from the sign-up survey, and availability.
What will we be singing, and what if I don’t read sheet music?
Arrangements will be curated to match the abilities, voice makeup, and interests of the cohort. We will also accommodate different learning styles, providing both sheet music and sung learning tracks for those who prefer to learn by ear.
You may be encouraged to step outside your comfort zone, such as demonstrating something solo for the rest of the group, but no one will be forced to do anything they don’t want to do.
More information on logistics, such as lodging, transportation, and food?
We will be staying at a new retreat space 2 hours north-east of San Francisco.
Once we settle on a final cohort, we will ask for participants to volunteer as head-chefs or assistants for specific meals which we will enjoy family-style. Few things build friendships like cooking together and sharing food. We will also help to coordinate carpools. Food and transportation costs will be calculated and split fairly at the end of the retreat.
There will be space in the sign-up process to let us know about specific dietary or lodging requirements or concerns, and we will do our best to accommodate. You are also welcome to email us at retreat@acahub.co to inquire.
Can I bring a +1? What about the whole family?
This is a possibility, space permitting. As the cohorts are carefully curated to maximize the musical experience, keep in mind that some of the weekend will be closed to additional attendees. There is room in the sign-in process to let us know if this is important to you.
What is your COVID policy?
We cater to the needs of the most conservative of each cohort. If there is a participant who would like everyone to test within 24 hours of attending, we will facilitate it.