Students said they’re warming up their vocal cords for the vocal master class next week.
On the evenings of Monday, Nov. 2 and Tuesday, Nov. 3, students will have the opportunity to attend six voice-training sessions. The seminar includes a group warm-up each day, as well as separate sessions on conveying emotions, reading a monologue/dialogue and completing a vocal obstacle course.
The sessions will be led by Rachel M. Harris, Ph.D, an opera coach and instructor of music appreciation at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
According to the Louisiana State University website, Dr. Harris has a B.M. in Vocal Performance from Fredonia State University and a M.M. in Opera from Binghamton University. She has also worked with the Tri-Cities Opera Artist Residence Training Program. In 2005, she was awarded a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Louisiana State University.
According to Julie Curran, a junior music and psychology major, she’s looking forward to enhancing her stage presence by attending this event.
“I have been studying with my vocal teacher, Kathy Black, since freshman year and this is a huge opportunity to take my performance to the next level,” Curran said. “While lessons are mainly centered around vocal techniques, this master class is all about movement on stage and portraying the character whose song/part I’m performing.”
Participation in the master class requires students to come prepared with a song that can dual as a monologue.
“I am presenting two vastly different songs that showcase very different parts of my voice,” Curran said. “‘On My Own’ from Les Miserables (written by Victor Hugo) and ‘Villa’ from The Merry Widow (written by Franz Lehar).”
Much like Curran, Lena Young, a sophomore biology major, said she’s hoping to bring her prepared song and monologue to life.
“I’m looking forward to this class because I’m really interested in seeing an artistic perspective on the solo that I have prepared,” Young said. “I’m also excited to push myself out of my comfort zone.”
Young will sing and perform a monologue from “Quando Me’n Vo” from La Boheme (written by Giacomo Puccini). This piece is also commonly referred to as Musetta’s Waltz.
While the experience levels of attendees vary, most participants had experience performing before college and have continued their passion for the stage at Bonaventure.
In high school, Young sang in All-County, Area All-State and the Conference All-State choir. On campus, she’s a part of the choir, chamber singers, music ministries and private vocal instruction.
Curran said that, while she’s written music and sang most of her life, she’s also involved in a number of performance-based clubs on campus. Curran said she currently has rehearsals for concert choir and chamber singers, as well as private voice, piano and guitar lessons.
While some students, such as Curran and Young, have a background in performance, they said they’re looking forward to taking the vocal master class as an opportunity to strengthen their skills.
This event is only open to voice students, however, students and faculty are welcome to watch participants perform.
mcgurllt14@bonaventure.edu
