Founded in 1996 by Rosemary Hyler Ritter, SongFest is a unique program that focuses on the art of song. Participants from all over the world, ranging in age from high school students to working professionals, gather each summer for an intense program to learn from experts in the field of classical art song. SongFest boasts the best collection of faculty in the world, including pianists Margo Garrett, Graham Johnson, Martin Katz, and Roger Vignoles. SongFest also champions American music and every summer invites composers-in-residence to work directly with SongFest participants in master classes and private coachings. Over the past 17 years, SongFest has engaged American composers Jake Heggie, John Harbison, John Musto, Libby Larsen, Ben Moore, Tom Cipullo, Lori Laitman, Ricky Ian Gordon, among many others. SongFest alumni currently sing at all the major opera houses in the United States and abroad and hold faculty positions at leading American universities.