They Shall Laugh and Sing launches El Convento Singing Retreat in Andalusia

They Shall Laugh and Sing will take just ten singers to El Convento, a remote mountainside retreat built on the land of an ancient Carmelite monastery in the Sierra de las Nieves National Park.

The week is designed to give singers time, space and expert support to develop their voice away from the noise of daily life. The programme includes individual singing lessons, vocal coaching, joint masterclasses, yoga and breathwork, outdoor singing, mountain air, vegetarian food and time for personal renewal.

The retreat welcomes solo singers of all levels, including experienced singers seeking fresh artistic input, developing soloists looking to build confidence and technique, choir singers interested in exploring solo work and anyone wanting a week of music, nature and reflection.

Stewart will lead voice and interpretation work during the week. He has performed more than 60 major operatic roles and teaches at the Royal College of Music, bringing deep technical knowledge, wide stage experience and a supportive approach to helping singers unlock new vocal freedom and expression.

He will be joined by Nicola Rose, accompanist and vocal coach, whose work includes coaching and accompaniment at Welsh National Opera, Longborough Festival Opera and Opera Holland Park. Rose will offer individual coaching sessions and work alongside Stewart in joint masterclasses.

Yoga and breathwork will be led by Nic Freeman, an Ashtanga practitioner and teacher who has been teaching at El Convento since 2003. His morning sessions will focus on breath-led Ashtanga, beginning and ending with relaxation, with the aim of supporting singers’ physical awareness, breathing and vocal ease.

The week includes individual singing lessons, individual coaching sessions, joint masterclasses, three group yoga sessions, outdoor singing in nature, a guided mountain walk, a river swim and all meals on site. Accommodation is in simple huts or bell tents, with the retreat offering a rustic, back-to-nature environment surrounded by forest, silence and natural spring water.

Accommodation options include single bell tents and single huts at £1,295 all inclusive, and twin huts at £1,195 per person. The fee includes tuition, meals, accommodation, yoga sessions, use of facilities, transfers from Málaga Bus Station to El Convento and back at the end of the course, and a river tour with picnic.

Booking opened on 5 June 2026, with only ten places available. Singers can join the no-obligation mailing list to be first in line when bookings open.