The joy of getting paid to sing...

It doesn't matter the day, the month or the economic climate, the fact that we are privileged to sing for a living. Here is mezzo Jennifer Rivera sharing her moment of joy after her Berlin Staatsoper debut this week.

Master Class in Kingston

Next week will be a busy week at Queens with a number of artsignite events. Everyone is invited to the Conservatory master class that I will be part of on February 13, 2010. Information is below!

QUEEN’S CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC PRESENTS

VOCAL MASTER CLASS

WITH ELIZABETH MCDONALD AND GREGORY BROOKES

This public master class offers participants and audience members alike a glimpse into the world of the professional singer. Queen's Faculty members Elizabeth McDonald and Gregory Brookes offer instruction and insight into the working methods of student singers of different ages and levels. Performance participants will be vocal students at Queen's Conservatory of Music, and repertoire will include works by Faure, Handel, Weill and Vivaldi. The session will conclude with an open "Question & Answer" period.

Saturday, February 13, 2010 1:30 - 3:30 pm

Free. Donations gratefully accepted at the door.

Room 124 Harrison-LeCaine Hall 39 Bader Lane, Queen's University

Ms. McDonald and Mr. Brookes will be performing at "Night in Vienna", sponsored by Queen's School of Music on February 12 and 13. Take advantage of this opportunity to meet the performers up close!

Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonka sings MET Broadcast

The upcoming HD broadcast of the MET's Simon Boccanegra is being eagerly anticipated by the opera world as Placido Domingo takes on the baritone role of Boccanegra. Not alone on stage, Domingo will be joined by Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonka in the role of Amelia as well as Marcello Giordani, and James Morris with James Levine in the pit.

In a recent interview, Pieczonka talks about the character of Amelia:

...I'm finding the role very satisfying. In fact, to me, Amelia is almost more satisfying than Desdemona and Elisabetta. She's strong, and featured a lot throughout the opera. Unlike Desdemona, who is only featured in isolated scenes, Amelia has a much bigger presence: she's a strong character in a politically charged story, she stands up for her man, and she risks compromising her relationship with her newly-found father. It's a tragic story since her father dies at the end, so she gains a husband, but loses her father, and I really get quite caught up in all the emotion of the opera. The gorgeous costumes are rich and opulent and I feel beautiful wearing them. The sets are lovely. In fact the entire production is beautiful, and everyone loves it. I'm very excited to be a part of it.

Check out your local theatre listings...apparently its sold out in large cities across the world BUT I know I'll get a ticket in small town Belleville! Come join me on Saturday at 1pm for the broadcast!

New look!

As you can see, I am in the process of creating a new look for the blog. While this work is still in progress, I offer this quote of the day:

An amateur practices until they get it right,

a professional practices until they can't get it wrong.

Back to blogging shortly....

Domain Forget Voice Program

And from our belle Provence...

Le Domaine Forget International Music and Dance Academy offers serious students the opportunity to perfect their skills under the auspices of world-renowned artists. The beauty and tranquility of the setting at Domaine Forget inspire creativity whilst the facilities are perfectly suited to the needs of both students and teachers.

Whether you are a young professional or an advanced student, you will benefit from the opportunity to further your musical training through the tutelage of established teachers and the participation in masterclasses given by distinguished international artists.

Voice Faculty include Lyne Fortin and coaches from the Montreal Opera.

May 30-June 10, 2010

*note: while I assume that classes and lessons will be offered in both English and French, this is a great way for English speaking singers to practice their French!

VISI - Vancouver International Song Institute

This just in....

The Vancouver International Song Institute
June 4-23, 2010
UBC School of Music, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
www.songinstitute.ca

"I have never experienced a summer program this focused, interesting, uplifting, and well run. The range of classes, concerts, and lectures was stellar"

- 2009 VISI participant

Welcome to VISI 2010, the interdisciplinary institute for training, performance innovation, and research in Art Song and other genres. VISI offers a summer nexus for collaborative study and projects among performers, teachers of Art Song, poets, composers, musicologists, translators, actors, directors, scholars and researchers in arts, humanities, social science, music neuroscience, and music therapy. VISI is also a gathering place for song-lovers and listeners who can attend classes, workshops, and concerts. If you are new to our Institute, we invite you to discover its mandate and programs at www.songinstitute.ca

For our members and past attendees looking for new program announcements, our re-constructed website is now launched with information about our June programs and events, with many more event details to be posted in the coming months.

Our professionally-oriented Study programs for the June 2010 session include:
The Theatre of Art Song/Collaborative Studies
Song Musicology Mentorship
Pedagogy of Art Song Retreat for Teachers of Voice and Collaborative Piano - "Teaching Art Song from the Inside Out"
Research projects in Music Cognition
Music Therapy Symposium
Special topics for the 2010 session include "The Romantic Self" - Schumann and his Legacy; Surrealism and French Mélodie; Songs of Samuel Barber; Dynamics of Collaborative Partnership.

The Theatre of Art Song/Collaborative Piano Studies faculty includes François LeRoux, Rosemarie Landry, Cameron Stowe, Kenneth Griffiths, and Julie Simson joining a large roster of internationally acclaimed musicians, directors, and scholars. The dynamic New Triad for Collaborative Arts will also be in Residence, through a generous grant from the Sorel Organization.

The Musicology Mentorship is guided by Dr. Benjamin Binder, musicologist and collaborative pianist from Duquesne University, and a forum of scholars including Dr. Richard Kurth and Barbara Heyman.

The Pedagogy Retreat will feature Professor Scott McCoy, President of NATS, with an array of distinguished artists and scholars across many fields of interest related to Art Song interpretation, performance practice, and pedagogy.

If you are a member of the Listening Community VISI welcomes you to attend our many masterclasses and lectures. As well, our customized programs for the general public include some "how-to" workshops in diverse vocal traditions, a Music Therapy Symposium, and a Choral Adventure weekend. Please see the Masterclass and Symposia pages on our website for more information.

Applications are online for the university training programs (theatre, collaborative piano, musicology). Registration forms for other programs will be online in March.

VISI is delighted to announce SONGFIRE, a month-long festival of Song in Vancouver from late May through June in collaboration with City Opera, Turning Point Ensemble, Elektra Women's Choir, Erato Art Song Ensemble, Silk Purse Music Society, Dunbar Heights United Church Music Society, and others. Our Festival brochure will be posted in May.

Plan a VISI Vacation to suit your interests and schedule, and join us for classes and conversations about Song, the Audible Soul of emotion and experience across all boundaries of time and culture.

"I had an inspiring, revelatory, fun, challenging, and altogether fabulous time".

www.songinstitute.ca

All Mac all the time

Happy New Year! Its time to get back into work mode...this Christmas was an "all Mac" holiday...new iPhone and the newest MacBook (yes, I'm spoiled) which have proven to be incredible! I am currently discovering new apps, new features on iTunes and of course, playing with Garageband.

My new favourite apps for singing and teaching include Virtuoso Lite which is a keyboard with 6 octaves and great sound; iTranslate which allows instant translations in 50-odd languages; Intermundia librettos of 24 different operas and Bump which allows iPhone users to exchange their business cards by "bumping" phones (get it downloaded before the NATS convention and you won't need business cards!).

While playing on the iPhone (a great way to kill time while waiting in line) I discovered iTunes U where universities have uploaded videos and audio files of lectures, concerts and tours of their schools! Check out Ithaca, NY and their tutorial on learning Les Berceaux and Indiana University for all the free student and faculty concerts.

Finally, Garageband is the coolest, easiest way to record your lessons, create audio samples for web pages and upload anything into iTunes.

Let me know what your favourite apps are and how you use them in your work and play...you can also see from my picture some of the silliness I have also discovered!

Cheers for a happy and productive 2010!