Positions still open: BALANCE ARTS OPERA BERLIN 2017
BALANCE ARTS OPERA BERLIN is looking for 2 tenors for L’Aumonier (priest) and Chevlier for Dialogues of the Carmelites. (July 5 - 31). Four positions still open for Audition Success Program July 16-29 Berlin. Send videos and audio files to: arodiger@balanceartscenter.com
Audition Success Workshop in Berlin
July 17- 29, 2017
Transform your audition arias in time for the Fall 2017 audition season! Through one-on-one voice, Alexander Technique, acting, musical coaching, you will receive expert advice on how to bring your vocal and acting performance of three arias or songs to the next level. You will also participate in daily master classes and German lessons, plus receive guidance on how to audition in Europe.
This power-packed workshop features:
- 3 videotaped auditions
- 6 voice lessons
- 3 musical coachings
- 3 Alexander Technique lessons
- 2 acting coachings
- Masterclasses in acting, stage deportment, overcoming stage fright
- Conversational German classes
- Daily movement warmups
- Career advice on managing your career in Europe
- Concert performance experience
Faculty credits: Metropolitan Opera, LA Opera, San Francisco Opera, Washington Opera, Berliner Staatsoper, Deutsche Oper, Komische Oper, Paris Opera, Zurich Opera, Bavarian State Theater. UDK Berlin and Hanns Eisler Conservatory Berlin.
Faculty:
Thomas Michael Allen, Abbie Furmansky, Ann Rodiger, Janet Scott, John Norris, Gary Jankowski, Tomoko Okada, Byron Knutson, Walewein Witten, Markus Zugehör, Daniel Sutton, Suzanna Guzman, Zenaida des Aubris
Fees: 1,600 Euros
Application closes: April 30, 2017
To apply, please email info@balanceartscenter.com
FACULTY
THOMAS MICHAEL ALLEN – Voice
www.thomasmichaelallen.com
OPERA: Berlin (Staatsoper, Komische Oper), Zurich, Geneva, Paris (Champs-Elysees), Baden-Baden, Amsterdam, Brussels, Stuttgart, Cincinnati, Handel Festival Halle, Lucerne Festival, Schleswig Holstein Festival, Spoleto Festival, Cincinnati, Glimmerglass Festival
CONCERT: New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Berlin Philharmonic, National Symphony (Washington D.C), Gewandhaus Orchester Leipzig, Les Arts Florissants, Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Academy for Ancient Music, Opera Lafayette, Les musiciens du Louvre
RECORDING: EMI, Sony/Harmonia Mundi, Virgin Classics, Chandos, Capriccio
TEACHING: 20+years private studio Berlin, Body-Mind-Voice-Berlin, Israel Vocal Arts Institute, Singing Course Beveren (Antwerp), guest faculty Amsterdam Conservatory, faculty USC-Thornton School of Music (beginning August 2017)
EDUCATION: Davidson College, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Manhattan School of Music, Britten-Pears School
ABBIE FURMANSKY – Voice
www.abbiefurmansky.net
OPERA: Berlin (Deutsche Oper), Munich (Bayerische Staatsoper), Los Angeles, Washington , Amsterdam, Baden-Baden, Lucerne Festival, New York City Opera, Opera Canada
CONCERT: Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Deutsches Symphonieorchester Berlin, Netherlands Radio-Philharmonic
RECORDING: Sony/Red Seal, Nimbus
TEACHING: 20+ years private studio Berlin, Young Artists Program Berliner Staatsoper, Israel Vocal Arts Institute, Greek Opera Studio, Singing Course Beveren (Belgium), Ars Vocalis Mexico, Body-Mind-Voice-Berlin
EDUCATION: University of Wisconsin, Juilliard School
ANN RODIGER – Alexander Technique
www.balanceartscenter.com
FOUNDER / DIRECTOR: Balance Arts Center, New York City
DIRECTOR: Balance Arts Center Alexander Technique Teacher Training Course
TEACHING: 30+ years private studio Alexander Technique with focus on voice in New York City, Berlin and Antwerp. Israel Vocal Arts Institute, Body-Mind-Voice-Berlin, Singing Course Beveren (Belgium), guest faculty: University of Hawaii, University of Illinois
SPECIALIST: Laban Movement Analysis
EDUCATION: University of Oregon, University of Ohio
PRODUCER: Conferences and Workshops: Freedom to Move, Act, and Sing, and the
Act of Writing
JANET SCOTT – Acting
PERFORMANCE: Professional actress (AEA, SAG) for stage, television and film for 40 years. She is currently writing her second one-woman performance funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities
TEACHING: Private Studio for 30+ years, Director Graduate Opera Workshop at University of Kentucky, former Associate Artistic Director of Actors Theatre Workshop in New York City
EDUCATION: Columbia University, student of Stella Adler at the Stella Adler Acting Conservatory
JOHN NORRIS – Movement/Acting/Voice
www.johnnorris.eu
John Norris uses his creative imagination and vast acting experience to help singers create a special atmosphere or mood in the room before they even begin to sing. By developing body awareness and a special relationship to the imagination, the singer begins to feel more in command and discovers an inner strength coming from the content or the character. An authentic expression emerges and John guides the singer and the audience in an adventure of freedom of expression and vocal connectivity.
TEACHING: 30+ years private studio, Young Artists Programs of MET, Bayerische Staatsoper. Berliner Staatsoper, Dresdner Semperoper, Neue Stimmen, Body-Mind-Voice-Berlin, American Conservatory Theater San Francisco, National Conservatory Theater Denver, Wolf Trap, Curtis Institute, former Director Mannes School of Music Opera Department, former Director Israel Vocal Arts Institute.
GARY JANKOWSKI – Voice
OPERA: Opéra Bastille Paris, Teatro Colon Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Polish National Opera, Bergen, Leipzig, Lübeck, Nürnberg, Halle, Freiburg, Kiel.
CONCERT: Auckland Philharmonia, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Philharmonisches Orchester Freiburg, Neubrandenburger Philharmonie, Mecklenburgische Staatskapelle, Chautauqua Symphony, Orchestra Seattle, the Bellingham Festival of Music and the Crue Consort
TEACHING: Private studio Berlin, Israel Vocal Arts Institute, Singing Course Beveren (Belgium), faculty Royal Conservatory Antwerp
EDUCATION: Indiana University
BRYON KNUTSON – Pianist/Coach
www.byronknutson.com
OPERA: Komische Oper (Director of Young Artists Program), Deutsche Oper Berlin, Kiel, Halle, Augsburg
TEACHING: Private studio for 20+ years, former faculty Albion College, current faculty Hanns-Eisler Conservatory, Berlin
EDUCATION: Cincinnati Conservatory
TOMOKO OKADA – Pianist/Coach
OPERA: Bayerische Staatsoper Munich, Frankfurt Opera, La Monnaie Brussels, Opera di Genova.
COACHING: Private coach for over 20 years, guest faculty at Dennis O’Neill’s Cardiff International Academy of Voice and Welsh International Academy of Voice
EDUCATION: State Conservatory of Vienna (Diploma in Vocal Accompaniment), State Conservatory of Tokyo
DANIEL SUTTON – Pianist/Composer/Coach
www.designertunes.com
COACHING: Private studio in Berlin, Body-Mind-Voice-Berlin, Singing Course Beveren, Chautauqua, Juilliard Opera Center, Manhattan School of Music, Israel Vocal Arts Institute
EDUCATION: Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Cincinnati Conservatory
WALEWEIN WITTEN – Pianist/Harpsichordist/Coach
www.waleweinwitten.com
OPERA: Barcelona, Duesseldorf, Kassel and Bremerhaven
COACHING: 15+ years private studio in Berlin, Singing Course Beveren (Belgium)
EDUCATION: Academy of Arts & Music Utrecht, Royal Conservatory the Hague
MARKUS ZUGEHÖR – Pianist/Coach
PERFORMANCE: Concert tours of Europe and Asia as Soloist and Accompanist. Musical Assistant to Herbert Blomstedt, Riccardo Chailly and Morten Schuldt-Jensen
COACHING: UDK Berlin, Leipzig Conservatory, Halle Conservatory, University of Halle, UDK Berlin
EDUCATION: Leipzig Conservatory, Paris Conservatory
SUZANNA GUZMAN – Mezzo Soprano/Masterclass
www.suzannaguzman.com
As an Advocate for Arts Education she serves on the USC Thornton Board of Councilors, on UCLA’s Design for Sharing Board, on the Los Angeles Opera Education Committee and served as the Director of Community Engagement for the L.A. County High School for the Arts.
OPERA: Metropolitan Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Washington National Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Seattle Opera, Dallas Opera, Opera de Geneve, Dresden Opera, Opera Montpelier, Edinburgh Festival, Opera de Nice, Spoleto Festival
EDUCATION: California State University, Los Angeles, Occidental College (Honorary Doctorate)
ZENAIDA DES AUBRIS – Workshop
Zenaida des Aubris, based in Berlin, has over 30 years experience in artist management and production of classical music and opera in the United States, Europe and Asia. After a Masters in Sociology, she joined the San Francisco Opera. Here, she met stage director Jean-Pierre Ponnelle, whom she managed 1980-1988, followed by personal management of Lorin Maazel. Zenaida was General Project Manager of Puccini's "Turandot in the Forbidden City”, Beijing, 1997/98 with Zubin Mehta and Zhang Yimou. Thereafter, she has consulted with various institutions in artistic administration such as the Hangzhou Grand Theater and Wu Promotions in China and the Palau de les Arts in Valencia, Spain.
Testimonials
"The Audition Success Workshop is an invaluable program for any singer at any professional level. It's a unique program as it takes a very holistic approach to auditioning- Voice, Body and Mind. The focus is not only on singing but also acting and movement. It is a comprehensive program that will make you a stronger performer. You will be challenged, inspired and supported all along the way. I had such an incredible time and grew more than I knew was possible in such a short period of time."
Shirin Eskandani - Metropolitan Opera, Rossini Festival Pesaro, Sarasota Opera www.shirineskandani.com
"I would like to express my appreciation of and praise for the 10 day workshop in Berlin and especially the vocal instruction that I had with Thomas Michael Allen, as he was assigned to be my voice teacher.
First off, a little about myself for some context. I am a professional opera singer who has been engaged at the Semperoper Dresden since 2005 as a character tenor. I am therefore not a beginner, but I felt that I needed someone with whom I could work to bring my voice further along and keep me singing healthily and to my fullest potential. Tom was just the right person. He zeroed in very quickly to how my voice was functioning and when something he suggested didn’t work, he was quick to adapt and go after the problem in another way. He understands that not every voice speaks the same language. He really keeps me conscience of how I use my air when producing tones and specifically in relationship with the different vowels. It is concrete information – nothing hocus pocus. Some people prefer fluffy images and I’m sure Tom could have thrown some of those out there for me, but his specificity and clarity of information helped me progress and form a better consciousness of my vocal mechanism.
The general atmosphere of the workshop was very supportive – the faculty seemed to all be on the same wavelength. I loved being able to put the technical information immediately into practice in the mock auditions. Subsequently I noticed a big difference in my work on stage.
Needless to say, the last couple of years have been extremely exciting for me professionally. I’ve jumped in to productions at the last minute singing very difficult and vocally challenging music that I felt I could handle due to my technique. In addition, I’ve just entered the serious Wagner repertoire having sung many smaller roles and I feel confident moving forward as a result of the work I’ve done with Tom that my artistry will continue to develop and deepen through the solid vocal foundation he helped instill."
Timothy Oliver - Semperoper Dresden, Bayreuth Festival, Santa Fe Opera, Leipzig Opera www.timothyolivertenor.com
“Being able to work with the amazing vocal faculty for an entire 10 day period was such a luxury. I got to work on technique in a way that was which was really tailored to my needs and then put it into practice while in a masterclass/audition training setting. I loved working with Alexander Teacher Ann Rodiger, who addressed my specific and nuanced questions about my body's alignment. The sessions with Ann really helped to open things up for me vocally. I also met one of my favorite coaches ever, Walewein Witten, and felt completely supported by all of the participants and teachers in this workshop. I have kept in touch with many of the other participants and it is great to have a broader European network of singers and colleagues.”
Emma McNairy - Theater Lübeck, Theater Kiel, West Edge Opera www.emmamcnairy.com
