Yes! Singing in Catalonia, near the Spanish Pyrenees. At the colorful and welcoming Can Portell—known from the B&B Vol Liefde. How fun is that?
Can Portell is a beautiful estate that dates back to 1690 — a former manor farm with extensive gardens, beautiful terraces and… a lovely swimming pool.
A stay at Debbie de Jong’s Can Portell means you’ll have everything you need, enjoy hearty breakfasts, lunches, and dinners every day, and can relax by the pool whenever you like—okay, after you’ve sung, of course.
What does *Cantar a Catalunya* look like?
- You’ll arrive on Monday, August 24, around 4:00 p.m., and we’ll have our first singing session that evening.
- From Tuesday through Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., you’ll take Ilse’s classes.
- After that, we have a hearty lunch. Before dinner, we sing for about an hour every day, followed by a delicious meal.
- On Friday night, we’ll be performing for the other guests and invited neighbors—it’s going to be a party!
- On Saturday morning, we’ll say goodbye to each other again.
What repertoire will we sing?
Ilse chooses often a mix of pop, soul, gospel, jazz, and a song in the language of the country where we sing: so a Spanish canção. Don’t you speak Spanish? That’s okay, it can also be sung phonetically.
Ideas:
Extend this singing vacation with a stay in the charming, historic city of Girona. Game of Thrones was filmed here, so you’ll surely want to admire the cathedral, take a stroll along the ancient city walls, and sample some tapas at Plaça de la Independència.
Or immerse yourself in the art of Salvador Dalí in Figueres.
Another option: head to the vast Spanish beaches of the Costa Brava!
This singing retreat includes:
A 5-night stay at B&B Can Portell (shared room), including 5 full breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 5 dinners
Welcome drink
All of Ilse’s workshops and classes
Performance
Not included: Travel expenses to and from Spain & other beverages
Cost: €1,095 if you book before January 1, 2026
Based on a shared room with a shared bathroom
If you’d like a single room with a shared bathroom, the additional charge is 200 euros
If you’d like a single room with a private bathroom, the additional charge is 275 euros
What are you flying on:
Girona is the closest option; you can fly there from Amsterdam, Rotterdam, or Eindhoven. Or take the train to Girona. Ilse will send you detailed travel information when you register.
What is the group size: about 16 singers, so that we can sound like a beautiful choir
More about Ilse:
Ilse has been organizing singing vacations since 2010. She often sings with groups in France, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Portugal. She studied at the Amsterdam Conservatory, is known for her 10 jazz albums, and performs worldwide. You might recognize her if you watch a rerun of *Gooische Vrouwen*. Through her singing vacations, she combines her two great passions: singing and coaching in beautiful, sunny locations across Europe.