Thoughts for young singers

David Pountney, opera director:
"A beautiful voice is absolutely not enough – it may even get in the way! Just as important are musicality, phrasing, diction, understanding, energy, intensity, charisma and character. "Understanding" relates to emotional truthfulness, life experience and above all imagination. "Character" is the quality that makes a performance individual – this may even include moments of deliberate ugliness. Singers frequently sacrifice diction for what they imagine is "beauty", but intensity of diction is precisely what punctuates and provides a counterpoint to beauty, bringing intensity and meaning into play. Relentless, unmodulated beauty is bland and frequently self-indulgent. Truth is greater than beauty in a singer, as in life."

Jury sheets available

Folks, your jury sheets are available and are posted on my door. If you'd like to talk about them, just let me know and we'll find a time. I'm around this week. Happy summer!

LISTENING ASSIGNMENTS DUE

Voice students, your listening assignments are due by 9am on May 8. This means your journal entries in your Google documents must be posted BEFORE juries begin! This doesn't have to be great prose, just a few lines about what you listened to, and what you noticed and learned about what you can apply to your own singing. Many of you have been doing this already in spurts, so you're on your way. You may complete your assignment in a variety of ways:

• Watch/listen to 4 hours of YouTube, posting the links in your Google doc
• Listen to a four hour opera on CD (Mozart's Figaro is a good example)
• Watch/listen to a combination of links on YouTube (good vocal role models have been provided for you: if you need more, let me know)
• Watch 4 hours of opera video from the library
• Go to medici.tv.com and choose something to watch
• Start a 14-day free trial on http://www.classicalarchives.com/
• Any other creative solution...just be sure it's a professional classical singer!

As always, if you need guidance, please email me.

Opera Workshop final weeks

Our dress rehearsal will BEGIN at 4pm Sunday. Be dressed and ready to sing by 4pm. We'll do a quick run-through, then break for dinner. Call for our 7:30 concert will be 7pm.

NO CLASS on Tuesday, April 23. Please do attend the Honors Recital that evening at 7pm to support your colleagues.

We'll watch the video on Thursday, April 25. Attendance is required.

Our last class on Tuesday, April 30 will be an opportunity to discuss what we've done, things you'd like to see in the future, and perhaps time for a few more theatre exercises.

Take care of yourselves and be well!

Master class today with Jason Hiester

Join us for a master class with Dr. Jason Hiester, tenor and conductor in Hulsey Recital Hall TODAY from 4-6pm. Come when you can, leave when you must. We'll end the class with a Q & A session if there is time. This master class is sponsored by SNATS at UAB.

SNATS bake sale

The SNATS bake sale is back! Come support SNATS at UAB as they fundraise for the remainder of funds for the last clinician of the academic year. We'll be in front of the UAB Humanities Building all day on Friday, April 12. Goodies galore...and all for a good cause.

Janet Hopkins available for lessons

Folks, Janet Hopkins will be here for a master class on March 26, and is available for lessons at a reduced rate of $50/hour. If you are interested in a half hour or hour-long lesson with her, she has times available at 11, and 12 on Tuesday the 26th, and may make times available before 11 on Wednesday morning if there is interest. Email me if you'd like to reserve a slot...do not wait until after break! Thanks.