Department of Music kicks off Vocal Arts Week 2016

Ever wonder what it takes to become an accomplished vocal soloist?

This week, the Voice Area of the Department of Music is hosting a series of classes and concerts to shine the light on its instructors and the hard-working students enrolled in its programs. All of the events are free to attend, and open to the general public.

"We highly recommend people come and witness the detailed work that goes into becoming an accomplished vocal soloist," says John Tessier, coordinator of the Voice Area. "It takes a lot of hard work, and our students both past and present are living testaments to that success."

This year, Vocal Arts Week kicked off with a faculty recital by soprano Sherry Steele and collaborative pianist Shannon Hiebert. Entitled The Art of Communication, Ms. Steele and Ms. Hiebert began the recital with the songs of Franz Schubert, followed by powerful works composed by Libby Larsen and Isabelle Aboulker that are based on the writings of two notably women of history: Anne Boleyn (the second wife of Henry VIII of England) and Marie Curie (the first woman to win a Nobel Prize). The recital also included a humorous number by Dominick Argento and the comic one-act opera The Telephone by Gian Carlo Menotti, which featured bass-baritone Christopher Wilson, visiting from Toronto.

"As singers, our main purpose is to communicate the meaning of text effectively, to elicit a positive response from our audience," says Steele. "The human voice has so much power - that's why we celebrate the art of the human voice during Vocal Arts Week."

The remaining events of the week including the following:

• Wednesday, February 10 - Master Class hosted by bass-baritone Christopher Wilson. Mr. Wilson will work with six Voice Area students on vocal technique and interpretation. The class begins at 6 pm at Convocation Hall.
  
  
• Thursday, February 11 - Schubert's Winterreise, performed by acclaimed Canadian bass-baritone Daniel Lichti. Mr. Lichti has been performing for more than 40 years, gaining acclaim as a recitalist and recording artist. Joined by collaborative pianist Susan Mogensen, the performance begins at 8 pm at Convocation Hall.
  
  
• Friday, February 12 - Master classes hosted by Daniel Lichti and Susan Mogensen. From 11-1 pm and again from 2-4 pm, Mr. Lichti and Ms. Mogensen will work with a total of 12 Voice Area students on vocal technique and interpretation. Both classes will take place in the Fine Arts Building, room 2-7.