Paul Berkolds coaching students

Faculty:
Paul Berkolds Coordinator Voice Program; Bass Baritone
Jacqueline Bobak Associate Dean for Academic and Special Projects; Mezzo-Soprano
Maria Fortuna Dean Soprano
Mark Robson Vocal Coach/Accompanist

The Multi–Focus Programs in Performance prepare students for the emerging career pathways of the 21st century–characterized by the remarkably eclectic spectrum of professional practices. These programs enable each performer to develop the high–level skills, knowledge and versatility that are required in today's evolving artistic world. Students are presented with myriad performance opportunities, extensive studies of traditional and experimental music, and an excellent student–faculty ratio. They also have unique opportunities to look beyond the boundaries of music by working in interdisciplinary settings, new genres and previously uncharted areas.

Guided by a faculty of internationally acclaimed artists, students hone their skills through concentrated training and a demanding schedule of formal and informal concerts. These include solo recitals and performances by chamber groups and conducted ensembles (covering orchestral, choral and contemporary music repertoire), plus work in early music, opera, jazz, world music and experimental ensembles. As part of this training, students frequently rehearse and perform with faculty, both on and off campus.

The Voice Program offers comprehensive training and performing opportunities in classical vocal repertoire and contemporary art music, with a focus on developing a healthy and versatile voice. The flexible curriculum features intensive work on Western classical technique and also allows work with experimental vocal techniques, improvisation and non–Western vocal styles. The program incorporates courses in performance and acting techniques, foreign languages and diction, and vocal literature and pedagogy. The curriculum is further enhanced by coursework in composition and music technology and by frequent workshops with prominent guest artists.

Students routinely perform in recitals, Voice Box concerts, operas and opera scenes, music theater works, chamber music concerts and interdisciplinary projects, as well as with vocal ensembles, contemporary groups and world music ensembles.

Voice students participate each semester in a wide array of performance situations, both on and off the CalArts campus. These performance opportunities include Voice Noon Concerts, Voice Events, Mid– Residence and Graduation Recitals, Opera and Opera Scene performances and Choral concerts. Students also perform with Chamber Music, Baroque Music (often with original instruments) and Contemporary Music ensembles as well as in Interdisciplinary performances, etc. Advanced students also have significant professional performance opportunities at REDCAT and also through connections provided by the faculty. Events that take place at REDCAT are often reviewed professionally. As the faculty are working professional artists, they frequently involve advanced students and recent alumni in professional productions/performances both in the United States and Europe. Students have been able to travel, work with and observe the faculty in professional situations.

Recent major performances involving students include:
– North American premiere of George Aperghis' opera, Sextour (in the CalArts Modular Theater)
– World premiere of Anne LeBaron' s opera, Wet (at REDCAT, Los Angeles)
– Performance of Terry Riley's In C (in the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles)
– World premiere of C' Opera––a dance opera created for the Collage Dance Theatre by Heidi Duckler/Amy Knoles (at the historic Los Angeles Police Academy)
– Concert of world premieres and traditional Tibetan music, in conjunction with monks from the Drepung Gomang monastery (at REDCAT)
– Baroque Music Concert (at REDCAT)
– Concert of music by George Crumb (at REDCAT)

and upcoming, Fall ' 06:
– World premiere of new opera, What to Wear, by Michael Gordon/Richard Foreman (at REDCAT)

Guest Artists and Master Classes

CalArts students recently have sung in master classes both on and off campus (for which CalArts students were specifically invited/selected) with such world– class singers, conductors and impresarios as:

Thomas Quasthoff (at Disney Hall)
Dawn Upshaw (at the Ojai Festival)
Lucy Shelton
Nicholas Isherwood
Phyllis Bryn– Julsen
Jennifer Lane
Susan Graham (at the Ojai Festival)
Anne Baltz
John Duykers
Michael Milenski
Andreas Mitisek

Students also have participated in workshops with or observed performances by non– Western groups and individuals pursuing alternative techniques such as:

David Hykes
Joan LaBarbera
Huun– Huur Tu
Sidi Goma
Tibetan monks from Drepung Loseling monastery

Student Profile –– where do CalArts Voice Students come from?

Recent CalArts voice students have come from all over the United States and from several foreign countries, including Canada, Mexico, Korea, Kazakhstan, Norway, the U.K., Taiwan, etc.

Graduate students also come from abroad and from such fine Institutions as Oberlin, Eastman, Peabody, Manhattan and the New England Conservatory, as well as from several major state universities and smaller private schools.

Where do Voice Students go after CalArts? What do they do?

Having undertaken serious voice study in the western classical tradition, augmented by studies in non– western vocal music, extended vocal techniques, improvisation, etc., voice students leaving CalArts pursue a wide– variety of professional careers. Recent graduates have a wide variety of careers, encompassing experimental music and improvisation; traditional and non– traditional operatic performance; singing with the Cirque du Soleil; singing with/writing for pop/world/rock bands who are signed with major labels; professional choral work; voice teaching and studio work; and also are involved in forming new career pathways that combine several different areas. Additionally, some students go on to apprentice programs with major opera companies and/or further graduate and/or Fulbright study. Faculty keep in close contact with most graduates, helping mentor students as they make the transition into the professional world.