2025 Masterclasses
Agenda and Clinicians
Clinicians and Bios
Masterclass Clinician
Arlene Shrut
Masterclass
Friday, February 21, 2024
2:00 - 3:30pm
Harris Theatre
Saturday, February 22, 2024
2:00 - 3:30
Harris Theatre
Arlene Shrut’s Bio
Collaborative pianist and vocal coach Arlene Shrut is heralded as a steward for the artistic traditions of classical music as well as a visionary for its future. Hailed by The New York Times as a “strong and sensitive pianist,” Arlene was named inaugural “Coach of the Year” by Classical Singer Magazine.
Arlene has served as official pianist and judge for international opera competitions in NYC sponsored by The Gerda Lissner Foundation ( International Voice Competition in Opera, Lieder/Song and Zarzuela/Operetta divisions), The Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation, The Giulio Gari Foundation, The Loren Zachary Society, and others. In recent years she has served as an official pianist for the Metropolitan Opera Laffont District Auditions in FLA, NC and SC as well as Regional Auditions in Atlanta.
After 27 years on the Vocal Arts Faculty at The Juilliard School, Arlene joined the faculty at UNCG in 2018 as vocal coach. Arlene was also on the Faculty of the Manhattan School of Music for many years as
coach to singer-pianist duos, and served on the faculty of the Aspen Festival for 14 summers. Since 2014, Arlene is a member of the artist faculty of The Source Song Festival and mentor to the singer-pianist duos. She was Master Teacher for collaborative pianists at the 2018 NATS Intern Program. She also cherishes ongoing performance collaborations with the Defiant Requiem Foundation. Arlene’s large discography is represented at www.arleneshrut.com . In the 2023, Arlene joined the Board of Trustees of The Gerda Lissner Foundation. The Sorel Organization presented Arlene with its first Sorel Legacy Medallion, which recognizes the work of female artists whose careers reflect lifetime achievement in music
Member Presentations
In order of events
Dr. Mira Yang
Vocal science and Singing Diction for non-native speakers & American Singers
Friday, February 21
9:00am
Harris Theater
Workshop Description
Vocal science and Singing Diction for non-native speakers especially Asian singers and American singers. Function of the voice instrument as our body. Do we need different formulations for different languages? Lecture and coaching with full audience participation.
Aimee Barnes
Vocal science and Singing Diction for non-native speakers & American Singers
Friday, February 21
10:00am
Harris Theater
Saturday, February 22
11:00am
Harris Theater
Workshop Description
Through individual coaching with selected students, this workshop will explore the many facets of registration in musical theatre through individual song cuts. Whether working on a ballad, an up-tempo, a standard, or a contemporary pop style, finding your individual voice in the song both as an actor (speaker) and a singer will help to inform your registration choices. Students will be encouraged to further explore the connection of text, music, and voice.
Dr. Jennifer Cabot
Taming the Terrible Tongue
Friday, February 21
11:00am
Harris Theater
Saturday, February 22
1:00pm
Harris Theater
Workshop Description
This is a master class where students perform a song followed by strategies on dealing with the text and in general how to work on text in our warmups.
Richard Leech
The Balanced Voice
Friday, February 21
12:00
Harris Theater
Workshop Description
Working individually with students in a masterclass setting. Discuss the various aspects of balancing the various elements of the voice such as Vowel Adjustment, Upper and lower voice, Head voice, Nasality, and the Breath. Vocal coaching of repertoire, focused on addressing challenging phases or notes, as well as musical interpretation.
Edrie Means Weekly
Training Expressive Singing in Musical Theatre and Commercial Music
Friday, February 21
1:00pm
Harris Theater
Connecting to the Musical Theatre Song- Emotionally, Musically and Vocally
Saturday, February 22
1:00pm
Harris Theater
Masterclass Descriptions
Training Expressive Singing in Musical Theatre and Commercial Music
This will be a masterclass setting workshop working with singers. It will examine specific ways to explore and connect to songs emotionally, musically and vocally bringing the song to life. This workshop seeks to enhance pedagogical skills and teaching performance in guiding the musical theatre and commercial singer as they explore song authenticity.
Connecting to the Musical Theatre Song- Emotionally, Musically and Vocally
Acting and singing are not separate skills in a performance or audition, but a marriage of both areas to give the best performance possible. This is a hands-on workshop and will interact with participants. It will examine specific ways to explore and connect to songs emotionally, musically and vocally bringing the song to life.
Dr. Melissa Jean Chavez
A Road Map to Successful Practicing
Saturday, February 22
10:00am
Harris Theater
Workshop Description
Does practicing seem like a chore sometimes? Is it difficult to know where to begin? This workshop will help you explore the possibilities of practicing using creative strategies that will inspire you to take your music to the practice space (wherever that may be).