SONGFEST 2012 “Breaking the Song Barrier”

Please prepare at least four selections of contrasting style and language of your own choice. One must be an art song, others an aria, oratorio, musical theatre, or additional art songs. One must be in English.

Mentor Program:

Two contrasting selections of musical style and language of your choice. One must be in a foreign language.

Intern Program:

Three contrasting selections of musical style and language of your choice. One must be in a foreign language. One musical

theatre selection is appropriate.

A pianist will be provided for live auditions, or you may bring your own.

PIANISTS

Please prepare four selections - two art songs in contrasting style and two other works of your choice - arias, chamber music or additional songs. Pianists will work closely with all SongFest faculty in both master classes and private sessions. Pianists will perform in all the concerts and performance forums.

You may either bring a singer to the audition or a singer or a "coache di voce" will be provided.

Photography by Ron Hall

The application process for 2012 has now closed. For questions, please contact Linda McAlister at executivedirector@songfest.us.

GRAHAM JOHNSON JOINS THE

2012 SONGFEST FACULTY!

SONGFEST ANNOUNCES

WILLIAM BOLCOM WORLD PREMIERE

SongFest has commissioned 2012 composer-in-residence, William Bolcom, to write a song for medium voice and piano set the Jane Kenyon poem, “Gettysburg: July 1, 1863.” The song, commissioned by SongFest and funded by the Elizabeth and Michel Sorel Charitable Organization, will be premiered at SongFest 2012 by baritone Nathan Wyatt and pianist Lucas Wong.

2012 PROGRAMS OF STUDY

PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM

for Singers and Collaborative Pianists

“Breaking the Song Barrier”

Performing workshops for career-oriented singers and collaborative pianists. Master classes, public recitals, and limited private coachings. No age limit.

Click HERE for the 2012 Audition Flyer.

YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM

for Singers

The SongFest Young Artist program is designed to provide intensive study and training for talented young singers (normally completing a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree) in a healthy, professional, and positive environment. Instruction includes performing master classes as well as song literature classes, movement, repertoire classes, diction, and coachings. These young singers will have the opportunity to join the Professional Fellows for performance in various master classes and public performances in addition to their own classes.

INTERN PROGRAM (June 18-28)

for Singers

APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR INTERN PROGRAM EXTENDED UNTIL MARCH 30, 2012!

The SongFest Intern Program is designed for highly talented young singers between the ages of 15-18. This program provides intensive study for young singers in a healthy, professional, and unique learning environment, learning from leading musicians and colleagues in the program. Singers are challenged to improve their technical and expressive musical skills, and to explore the great classical songs and arias. Students will have private lessons, as well as daily coachings, classes in diction, repertoire, and technique. These aspiring singers will have their own master classes and be selected to perform on select concerts. By interacting with the more experienced singers, they will be exposed to many different faculty and layers of learning.

Click HERE for the 2012 Intern Program Flyer.

MENTOR PROGRAM FOR VOICE TEACHERS AND COACHES

A new program designed for professional teachers or coaches. We are now offering two full-tuition scholarships for the Mentor Program for NATS members. Click HERE for more information.

APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR MENTOR PROGRAM EXTENDED UNTIL MARCH 30, 2012!

Click HERE for the 2012 Mentor Program Flyer.

For more information about the Mentor Program, please contact Rosemary Hyler Ritter at 310.384.3706 or songfest@earthlink.net.

REPERTOIRE

After acceptance notification and payment of the tuition deposit, the repertoire selection process will begin. Each singer and pianist will work closely with Artistic Director Rosemary Ritter to choose repertoire to be prepared for the program. All music must be fully prepared and memorized before arriving at SongFest. In addition to the specific repertoire choices of the singers, faculty will assign selected songs.

Click HERE for a PDF version of the SongFest 2011 Program Book.

ACCEPTANCE NOTIFICATION and DEPOSIT

Participants will be notified of acceptance by March 5, 2012 or earlier. Accepted applicants must pay a non-refundable $500 tuition deposit within two weeks of acceptance.

TUITION, PAYMENT SCHEDULE,

and HOUSING

For information about TUITION, PAYMENT SCHEDULE, and HOUSING, click HERE.

SCHOLARSHIPS

The Marc and Eva Stern Fellowship Program

SongFest will award 6 outstanding singers and pianists full fellowships for 2012. Singers and pianists demonstrating a commitment for communication of the text, a strong radiant presence and a unique sound will be qualities the panel will look for in each applicant.

Click HERE for Scholarship Information.

Click HERE for the 2012 Scholarship Form.

SongFest is proud to announce the recipient of the

2012 SongFest-NATS Mentor Fellows:

Dr. Robert Brandt, baritone, is Assistant Professor of Voice at the University of Delaware, where he teaches private voice, German diction, and opera workshop. Since his move to Delaware in 2007 he has been active as a concert soloist in works such as Mendelssohn's Elijah, Haydn's The Creation, and Brahms' Requiem. He has also appeared with David Amado singing Schubert lieder as part of the Delaware Symphony Chamber Series. His special love for the German lied led to an invitation to participate in the International Robert Schumann competition in Zwickau, Germany. His operatic roles have included Mandryka in Richard Strauss’ Arabella, Sir Joseph Porter in H.M.S. Pinafore, Pooh-bah in The Mikado, and Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream where he worked with the late Colin Graham. Dr. Brandt earned BM and MM degrees in Vocal Performance from Brigham Young University and the DM degree in Vocal Performance and Literature from Indiana University.

Nathan Krueger, baritone and member of the Wisconsin NATS chapter, holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, the University of New Mexico, and a DMA in Voice Performance from the University of Arizona. He currently serves on the voice faculty at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where he teaches applied voice and directs the Opera Theatre program. He has performed with the Milwaukee Florentine Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago Chorus, Madison Bach Musicians, Arizona Opera, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, the Tucson Chamber Artists, L'opera Piccola in Chicago, Milwaukee Opera Theatre, Opera Southwest, and he appeared in two productions with the Santa Fe Opera Showcase. During the summer of 2009 he made his international debut with a concert tour of Indonesia with the Swara Sonora Trio. As a member of the trio, he commissioned and performed the world premiere of Ananda Sukarlan's song cycle, "Love & Variations." In addition to their performing activities, the trio taught master classes throughout the island of Java. Mr. Krueger can be heard on recordings by the Santa Fe Desert Chorale (Clarion) and the world premiere and Grammy award-winning recording of Robert Aldridge's Elmer Gantry (Naxos).

Ivy Walz, mezzo-soprano, is an Assistant Professor of Voice at Ithaca College, School of Music. She is a candidate for the DMA from the College Conservatory of Music and holds the Bachelor and Master of Music from Ithaca College. She was recently a semi-finalist in the Joy of Singing Competition and was a regional finalist in the NATSAA competition in 2010 and 2008. She has performed with Cincinnati Opera, Spoleto Festival USA, Des Moines Metro Opera, Syracuse Opera and Tri-Cities Opera. She has also performed with the Akron Symphony, Binghamton Philharmonic, Orchestra of the Southern Fingerlakes, and most recently she performed the Soprano II solos in Mozart’s Mass in C minor with the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra. Ms. Walz will be featured on a collaborative recording of American Parlor Songs from the 19th century with tenor David Parks. Vocal studies are with Barbara Honn and Mary Stucky. She has coached with Donna Loewy and Kenneth Griffiths.