Experience Summary
I am a bass-baritone operatic singer, pupil of Latvian Bass-Baritone Paul Bekolds at Calarts.
I have had the pleasure of premiering numerous works, among them being a commissioned song set and an operatic role written for my voice. I have performed extensively at Calarts in numerous operas and singing groups, both faculty and student run.
My training at Calarts involves an in depth study of the voice. Whereas UC's require 2 years of general education before music can be studied in depth, Calarts' program involves deep musical study from the first day, effectively giving the Calarts student 4 years of singing training compared to the UC student's 2 years.
Teaching Style
I am a passionate, optimistic, and empowering teacher (okay, maybe a little goofy too). I hope to rid students of self defeating thought processes and unproductive/unfounded personal critique. Students will learn to listen to music and themselves with sharp ears and an open mind, skills that will transfer over into their own professional work environment.
My teaching style is custom made for each individual student. There are many ways for a student to wrap their mind around the more challenging and obscure facets of optimal singing, and it is my job to find the clearest path. The study of singing is full of challenging paradoxes: "lower the larynx, but don't depress it", "keep on the voice, but don't push it", "cover the sound, but don't darken it"; throughout lessons, students will begin to realize that these 'paradoxes' aren't that at all, but rather a harmonious balance of two opposites; a voice that is both dark and light, so soaked in resonance and beauty that even the quietest pianissimo notes washe over a music hall like a warm tide.
It is my intention for the student to develop a truly in depth awareness of how the voice operates, and how music affects us.
| Type |
Level |
Year |
Title |
Issued By |
| Award |
Advanced |
2010 |
Full Ride Scholarship for Vocal ... |
CSU Long Beach |
| Award |
Advanced |
2010 |
$105,000 Scholarship for Vocal P... |
California Institute of the Arts |
| Degree |
Bachelors |
2013 |
BFA - Vocal Performance (Graduat... |
California Institute of the Arts |
| Award |
2nd Place |
2009 |
Talent Bank Vocal Competition |
Talent Bank, Santa Cruz |
| Other |
Soloist |
2009 |
Celebrating Youth Program |
Celebrating Youth, Santa Cruz |
| Other |
Chorus |
2012 |
Eric Whitacre Masterclass |
Eric Whitacre, Calarts |
| Other |
Soloist |
2008 |
USF Masterclass |
University of San Francisco |