CABARET CONNEXION 2026 - ALL DETAILS

What makes this festival truly special is the opportunity to connect with others who share a passion for music and cabaret. Whether you’re here to learn, share, or simply enjoy, you’ll find a welcoming community of like-minded individuals. It’s a chance to build meaningful connections in an atmosphere that’s both inspiring and relaxed.

Follow 2 steps to attend the Cabaret Connexion follow:

1. REGISTER for Cabaret Connexion 2026

TO REGISTER

2. SIGNUP for your preferred individual workshops and master classes (first come-first serve)

TO SIGNUP SESSIONS

Sunday November 1, at Sonia Oyola’s House : Amandine Larachide & Julie Morel present “Les filles de Joie”
Monday November 2, Meet & Greet at DANK Haus
Thursday November 5, Piaf Perspectives at L’Alliance Française de Chicago
Saturday November 7, Showcase rehearsal, concert at DePaul, Montmartre’s Show in Old Town and a private show with Isabelle Georges
Sunday November 8, Showcase concert at Rizal Center and Our Blues & Jazz Opening at Buddy Guy’s

46 workshops, master classes, and round tables will be held November 2-6, 2026 at
DANK Haus,4740 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60625. The public and fans are invited to attend the 1:30 pm round table discussions, too.

9:00 AM Doors open to complete registration and get ready for the day.
9:15 AM, Three concurrent morning sessions (comprised of 75-90 minute workshops or 3-hour master classes)
12:30 PM Lunch
1:30 PM Round Table discussions
2:30 PM Three concurrent afternoon sessions
5:30 PM Refresh, travel and dine, including dinner shows.
8 PM Evening concerts and encounters

The Round Tables are an opportunity for us to learn more about the history of cabaret, to take a look at some of today’s challenges, and to imagine its future. 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm.
We meet at DANK Haus

Monday, November 2: Cabaret History: Paris with Eric Vincent, Berlin with Johanna Paliege
Tuesday, November 3: Business of Cabaret – Katrina Miller and Anne Sophie Guerrier
Wednesday, November 4: Vocal Health: Dr. Susan Armand, Michael Sokol
Thursday, November 5: Building Your Press kit – Anne & Mark Burnell
Friday, November 6: How Cabaret Can Change the World & Politics – Anne Fromm and Thomas Kellner

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Attending the entire conference

The early bird discount to attend the entire conference and concerts in Chicago is $1075. The conference fee includes singer’s participation in all session blocks, concerts, open mics, meet & greet (pizza and salad included), and registration fee. To maintain the discount, the fee of $1075 should be paid in full by October 1st. Standard fare for the full conference is $1200 and will apply for those who register after September 1st.

A la carte fees – if not attending the whole conference

It allows you to participate fully in a workshop or master class session. Each 3-hour block comprises either a masterclass or two 90-minute workshops for $125. There are two blocks each day of the conference (morning and afternoon, Monday-Friday, November 2-6). You must attend at least 5 blocks plus group rehearsal in order to sing in one of two showcase concerts (November 7 and 8 matinees).1 block – $125
2 blocks- $250
3 blocks – $375
4 blocks- $500
5 blocks- $625
6 blocks- $750
7 blocks- $825
8 blocks- $950
9 blocks- $1025
10 blocks- $1150

À la carte options are available on a limited basis. Participants registered for à la carte sessions will need to purchase concert tickets and the meet and greet separately and will pay the processing fee of $25.
Meet-and-greet (light dinner included) – $25,
Concert tickets will vary in price from $20-$35.

The option to audit (observing but not actively participating) is $60 per block. The one-time processing fee of $25 is applied to all participants.

Financial aid

Financial aid subsidies are available for those in need. Please let us know if financial hardship would prevent you from fully attending the conference. To reserve your place, all registrations should be accompanied by a minimum deposit of $150 (refundable in full before September 1). Paying by check or Zelle is fee-free and preferred. Paying in installments is also available.

If you need financial aid to cover your conference fee, please contact Claudia at claudia@workinginconcert.org or 773-509-9360.

Concert tickets are à la carte

Concert details in the works!

How to Pay for registration

There are several ways to pay for your participation in the Connexion: Check; sending fee free via Zelle, or paying online through a credit card. For all credit or debit card transactions through Square, we add the 3% processing fee.

Checks are payable and can be mailed to:
Working In Concert
4730 N Hamlin Ave
Chicago, IL 60625-5705

Zelle can be sent to bk@workinginconcert.org

Workshops (W) and masterclasses (MC)

Master classes will focus on individual singers one-by-one (usually 10-15 minutes for each) whereas workshops offer a more collective round-robin experience. In both cases, get ready to sing!

Many of the workshops will be 75 to 90 minutes long in order to accommodate more themes. Therefore it may be possible to attend 4 in one day.

Jeanie Carroll will lead daily warmups.
Non-singing auditors are welcome to observe all sessions.

I look forward to opening up the performer to look at the lyric and the melody as a team, as a map in telling the story. The meaning of each word, how it helps create the thought, the mood, the truth in the moment.- how it feels in the mouth, on the tongue- the smoothness or percussiveness of the words and how that influences the thought. How each lyric leads in to the next as if by surprise, and how it helps to form the thought and the story as a whole.

I only hope that my class will help the singing actor to illumine the text and therefore the song. That it will all be based on the immediate truth of the moment. That each time they perform it that they will discover the lyrics anew and therefore each time it will be fresh and new for them as well as the audience. The performer must always know what each word means and how it resonated in the time it was created as well as how it will resonate or land with the current time.- to pay attention to the alliteration, the onomatopoeia, to the punctuation,- the periods, exclamation marks , and commas. Transitioning from thought to thought is also something we will work on.

How the songs are strung together can take the audience on a journey, or illuminate the songs that follow after or reveal something special or interesting about the singer. Juxtapose different styles so that you entertain as well as educate your audience. How to take in a room and gauge your audience- to play with your audience and to create a particular mood.

Check and correct if necessary the correct diction of song lyrics performed in French by singers of American or other languages.

On your feet interactive workshop finding your personalized arrangement of a song. Including a discussion of practical Biz Goals to do today: bookings, venues, non-traditional spaces, websites, collaborations, recording, releasing and promoting music, social media, and graphics (to be continued at the Round Table!)

“I offer a training session during which we will explore theatrical games and improvisation exercises to help us move closer to that famous sense of letting go, which fosters the engagement and freedom of expression we so greatly need on stage.” We begin with group exercises before working individually with each participant on their song. We will work individually to use theater techniques to place a song in a context and embody a character, so that it’s no longer just about singing but about telling a story. We begin with a few theater-inspired exercises to encourage engagement and freedom of expression. If we extend for 3 hours, each student takes turns presenting a song of their choice and learns to interpret it as if it were a theatrical scene. The use of body language, eye contact, and presence within the environment plays a key role in conveying emotions more authentically to the audience. Experimenting with how letting go can lead to more authentic results than control

A workshop to rediscover the voice in a new way through vowel chanting and other vocal and energetic practices drawn from ancient cultures. These practices are powerful tools to help you feel better in your body while enhancing your vocal abilities. 60 or 90 minutes

Join renowned musical director and vocal coach Beckie Menzie for a session focused on how to identify and find the right material and then how to make it your own. Beckie will guide you in finding the right key, arrangement, lyric interpretation and presentation style and remove the obstacles that prevent you from making the leap from ‘good singing’ to delivering a powerful performance.

Find YOUR funny in Cabaret! Jokes, comedy songs, and fun conversation with your audience add variety and joy to your show. You will learn how to relax into comedy. We’ll explore timing and comic beats, where to place comedy in your show order and so much more. When you make your audience feel all the feels don’t forget to make ’em laugh!

While other workshops will explore the text and subtext of our lyrics, let’s focus on what happens before and between the songs. Taking in the room and your audience. Talking with and bringing your public along for the journey. Whether the song serves as a soundtrack to the world we live in or as a vehicle for traveling to another time, its “preamble” helps point the way.

Does your vocal technique get in the way of your communicating a song? Or is it more likely that your attempt to communicate a song gets in the way of your technique? David will help you assess and then balance your strengths and weaknesses of both the technical aspects of singing and the skills needed for implementing compelling and effective choices in dramatic or comedic song communication. Prepare two selections in any genre from which one will be chosen.

The human face has about 30 different muscles on each side. The possibilities for expressing emotions using individual muscles and combinations of muscles are vast. Would you like to harness this kind of expressive power in your performance? This workshop will introduce you to the different muscles and show how to organize them into emotional recipes. From these recipes, we can authentically portray and shift expressions with precision to add deeper meaning to your stage performance.

Instruction on the elements that comprise authentic Blues, R&B, Country and Jazz. We will cover the Blues scale and Pentatonic scales for “licks and runs” and how to use them for authentic embellishments of words. We will discuss the use of vibrato, delayed vibrato and no vibrato. Back Phrasing and anticipation will be addressed. Diction in various styles. A pronunciation guide for Jazz will be handed out. Audio examples will be played. A handout sheet for pronunciation will be distributed.

Whether you sing opera, jazz, Broadway or pop, Elisabeth will address vocal techniques to make the healthy and most resonant choices for each. Elisabeth will lay her hands on your voice to find new expression. We will cover breathing, support, power, projection, dynamics, vibrato, vocal colors and resonances, head and chest registers, personal expression, and blending registers and the Mix for high powered high notes. Handouts with vocal techniques for practice will be distributed. Audio demonstrations will be played throughout this session.

ACHIEVING MORE RESONANCE IN YOUR VOICE USING VOCAL EXERCISES: Everyone has a chest voice and a head voice register. One does not exclude the other. Finding out how to get that “ping” in either register is what makes the thrilling notes everyone loves to hear and to experience. Learn some vocal techniques that help to achieve greater resonance by learning some specific exercises that you can practice.

Learn how to combine brain training and play to bypass muscle memory, break through vocal barriers, and accelerate your learning time. Build a voice that is powerful, versatile, and always dependable.

We will start with a brief discussion on how our brains work, how we learn, and why traditional vocal methods don’t necessarily serve us well. Then we’ll move into an ‘all-skate’ demonstration of NeuroVocal training and some small group playful exercises to teach different vocal ‘colors’ and techniques quickly. We’ll spend the majority of our time in a masterclass-like integration session, where volunteers can work in front of the class.

Bring your problems, leave with solutions. Got a note that you just can’t get in that song? Have a general vocal challenge that keeps rearing its ugly head? Have vocal questions you’ve always wanted answers to? I guarantee you’re not the only one with said struggles or questions. VocalLab is your chance to get answers and solutions for you and your peers.

Participants should bring their questions and music if they’re working on a specific challenge in a song.

Auditors welcome. We’ll get to questions from auditors if we move through participants’ questions quickly enough.

Stretching. Breathing. Choosing a song. Experimenting – exploring the possibilities of interpretation
Let’s start from your point of view, connect with your body, and be in the moment. Get out of your comfort zone. Isabelle brings methods on how to learn a text and work on it, to give you more confidence and a larger range of interpretation choices.

We’ll begin the week with all the accompanists (pianists and accordionists) to explore: The relationship between pianist and singer soloist is technical, psychological and spiritual. Speaking the Language of your Accompanist. Whether meeting for the first time at an open mic or working for years with a pianist partner, there’s an essential vocabulary to share. How best to use rehearsal time. For singers and accompanists, let’s explore what each brings to the partnership.

A “drop-in” opportunity for individuals looking for special material. We’ll set a time for Jonathan to have “office hours” to help you find lesser known songs for your cabaret show. Jonathan’s encyclopedic knowledge of songs from 100 years of the movies and Broadway is phenomenal.

In cabaret, anything is possible. You can be whoever you want, especially not yourself. Become a creature of your own making, in a world where all rules and norms are abolished. In cabaret, we can create characters, half-human, half-fantasy, to reflect the world through theatrical artifice, exposing its distortions through art. In cabaret, we are in the present moment, in the now. In cabaret, the ego laughs at itself and mimics others. In cabaret, everything is expressed with irony, irreverence, and a rebellious spirit—a glitter-dusted simulation of the world. This is what we will explore together using theatre games: finding that “creature” within each of us, lying in wait, ready to be expressed.

In this 90-minute workshop participants will explore 7 effective storytelling techniques focused on fostering vulnerability, deep listening, and personal connection through small group exercises and actionable intimacy-focused storytelling activities.

This masterclass is marvelous opportunity to learn from peers as each participant takes turns performing prepared material during class. We will explore creating your story, choosing your songs, picking your musicians, and living through your character in cabaret.

Unlock a smarter way to train your voice using today’s most powerful apps, tools, and habits—giving you practical experience to kickstart consistent, effective vocal practice and track your growth with confidence. 90 minutes

Lou Ella Rose, multidisciplinary artist and seasoned producer, has spent 18 years crafting compelling live performances. With a parallel 23-year career in information technology focused on data, business intelligence, and big data for marketing programs in Fortune 500 companies, she bridges artistry and innovation to empower performers in today’s digital landscape.

Bring your show ideas to this 90-minute hands-on workshop and learn how to shape a compelling concept, design your brand, and use digital tools to efficiently build and promote your cabaret—with real, practical examples you can apply right away.

The cabaret artist is often faced with a dilemma: how do I communicate the beauty and flavor of a beloved song in its original language but still make it accessible to an English speaking audience? My masterclass will teach the art of the blended song—including key passages that guide the audience in their own language while retaining the framework of the original beloved language.

In this class/workshop/masterclass you will bring your favorite songs from every era—from Plaisir d’amour and Home Sweet Home to Hymne à l’amour and Sweet Home Alabama—where we will examine the vocal technique appropriate to you and the song you’re singing, giving you the tools to make your vocalism exciting, vital and healthy. Let’s sing til we’re 100!

75-minute workshop to discuss your look, your costumes, props, set pieces and image projections… the importance of visual elements in the cabaret room

In this 90-minute workshop, we will introduce and explore the concept of the middle voice or mixed voice in singing. This vocal register is often misunderstood or overlooked by many singers, but it plays a crucial role in achieving a smooth transition between chest voice and head voice, providing vocal flexibility, control, and a richer sound palette. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the middle voice, learn exercises to develop it, and apply this knowledge to enhance their vocal technique and artistry.

This unique workshop blends the calming, body-centered practice of yoga with the expressive, liberating power of singing. Designed for all levels—no prior yoga or vocal experience required—it offers a supportive space to explore the deep connection between breath, movement, and sound.

Participants will begin with gentle yoga sequences focused on posture, relaxation, and breath awareness. These movements help release physical tension and open the body, creating the ideal foundation for vocal expression. From there, the workshop transitions into guided vocal exercises, toning, and group singing, encouraging participants to discover their natural voice.

By combining mindful movement with sound, this experience promotes stress relief, emotional expression, and a sense of inner harmony. Whether you’re looking to build confidence, deepen your breathing, or simply enjoy a creative and uplifting practice, this workshop invites you to connect with yourself in a whole new way. 60 to 75 minutes

75 to 90 minutes: Singers will engage in exercises to enhance their performance by moving with purpose, planning transitions within and between songs, and becoming comfortable to engage the audience. We will practice direct eye contact, smiling and using facial expressions to convey the song’s emotions. Mic techniques will include becoming comfortable holding the mic and using it correctly. We will practice expressive hand gestures to match the song’s energy and purpose.

How to host a show (i.e.: be the conferencier/ MC) and explore audience involvement, interaction and incorporation by means of simple games, rounds, comedy and dramatic effects.

Correct pronunciation of vowels and consonants in German songs, exploring potential exaggerations and dramatic intensifications, narrative arcs and humorous variations.
Ideally, using a specific song as an example.

Interacting with the accompanist. Follow the accompanist’s cues, but also state your musical intent clearly and confidently. This workshop may combine with Wilfried’s Feeling the Rhythm

The accompanist can follow and catch up with the soloist, but it’s still more enjoyable when you have a sense of rhythm and harmonic progression. Exercises to physically feel the rhythm.

Bring a collection of 4 to 6 songs you sing. In your key. Know the tune and words VERY WELL.
Please send all songs, but especially anything non-standard as PDFs to share with the accompanists as soon as possible to info@workinginconcert.org .
It is very useful to bring three printed copies (for coach, pianist, and yourself).
Some accompanists and teachers prefer lead sheets, others a written score. In any case, please tape the pages to spread out accordion-style or have them in a 3-ring binder. Be sure the score is marked with any changes you use (repeats, codas, ritards, tags and the like). If using plastic sleeves, use matte (non glossy).
People wanting maximum work time are smart to choose SHORT songs, and songs that most pianists can sight-read at ease. Memorized and learned accurately.
We recommend printing out the lyrics separately as well. Very useful to several sessions: a separate page of lyrics for each song, for you and the coach to mark up as needed.
To participate in a Showcase concert (Saturday November 7 or Sunday, November 8): You must attend at least 5 blocks of Workshops and Masterclasses. Bring at least 2 or 3 songs you love to sing. One of these will be chosen for the finale concert. Theme to be announced in July.
For vocal technique sessions: Bring a song or two you find challenging, for which you want help with registration and resonance, high notes and low, the mix or blend, power and projection, dynamics, color and vibrato. Wear an outfit that allows you to be physically comfortable.
For the sessions on franglais and singing in other languages, we suggest bringing a song that has both French and English lyrics, to compare the process. For example, If you go away / Ne me quitte pas ; La chanson de Maxence / You must believe in spring; La vie en rose; Autumn leaves / Les feuilles mortes; My way / Comme d’habitude; Les moulins de mon coeur / The windmills of your mind; The good life / La belle vie (Spanish, Portuguese, others can be brought to the session as well: Maria Grever’s What A Difference A Day Made is originally in Spanish.)
For jazz styling, bring a relatively familiar song from the classic songbook. You are encouraged to send a list of 4 to 6 songs in advance. You’ll end up working on one of them. Be sure your printed lead sheets are taped accordion style (this is usually easier than in a binder). Lead sheets must have the melody, lyrics and chords.
For show creation, promotion, character and persona sessions: Prepare a list of all the songs that would potentially be in your one-person or group show (a list of 20 to 35 songs). Any genre of song.
Include songs in a “comedic” sense: comedy-style song from Broadway/ cabaret/ parody/etc. It can be a “funny” song or one in which we’ll find the humor. Any genre/style.
Bring paper and pen. A voice recorder to record your own work!
Any simple “Props/Costumes” you might want to use.
Chicago area singers are encouraged to attend SongShop, ongoing weekly song interpretation sessions in advance of the conference. Tuesday evenings at DePaul School of Music and some Saturdays at private homes. SongShoplive.com
Download the handouts for some classes : Class Handouts – Working In Concert