Voice: Opera and Song
Preparing for College and a Career
The vocation of singing is a challenging one. Foremost is study of the technical challenges of the instrument (the singer’s own self), accompanied by a growing mastery of the theory and history of the art form. This initial training is often done in surroundings less structured than the singer encounters when going to college; this dichotomy often creates difficulties that need not exist if seen and dealt with in advance.
As a singer begins their career, a worry is often whether one is “good enough” or will be “lucky enough” to actually have a career in the art. Talent and luck can be augmented by training the chief organ of singing: the mind. Along with the mechanics of music and singing, and artist must know the history, psychology, and societal values of the works they perform.
The Summer Scholars Voice track covers the technical, physical, spiritual, and business aspects of singing. Daily instruction in vocal technique, musical skills, acting, diction, and style will help prepare singers for careers in college and beyond. In addition, discussion and research on the nature of musical performance and its place in society will enrich the practical aspects of the singer’s craft. Finally, specific advice and direction on career development will help young singers begin to plan for their future.
The Voice: Opera and Song track is open to serious high school singers who are contemplating college study in voice. In addition to the basic application, singers must submit an audition CD (video preferred), 2 letters of recommendation from musical authorities (one must be from your current voice teacher), a performing and educational resume, and a representative aria and song repertoire list.
The repertoire to be worked on (both art song and opera as appropriate) will be chosen on the basis of audition tapes and discussions with the students’ teachers. Final performances for the entire Summer Scholars community will enable singers to put their new found knowledge to practical use. A field trip to the exciting Chicago summer classical music life is planned.
Academic Director
Mark Beudert is Visiting Assistant Professor of Voice and Opera at Notre Dame. As an undergraduate student at Columbia University he appeared as Frederic in the New York Shakespeare Festival’s famed production of THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE opposite Kevin Kline. After intensive study with Franco Corelli, (including study with Placido Domingo and Giuseppe di Stefano), Mr. Beudert won the Luciano Pavarotti Concorso Internazionale in 1986. Since then he has sung leading roles nationally (New York City Opera, Washington Opera, etc), and internationally, appearing on major stages in the United Kingdom, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, and Australia. He has worked with such artists as Leonard Bernstein, Jonathan Miller, John Mauceri, Helmut Rilling, Jane Eaglun, Josephine Barlow, Patricia Routledge, and David Daniels.
In 1996, he received his A. Mus Doc. degree from the University of Michigan, under the direction of the distinguished African-American tenor George Shirley. Since that time, he has devoted his time equally to performance and education. He is currently writing “The Philosophy of Performance” with Dr. Scott Pratt, chair of the Philosophy Department at the University of Oregon. In addition to performing and his work at Notre Dame, he is Director of the Eugene Opera Company and Director Emeritus of Bel Canto Northwest Vocal Institute at Portland (Oregon) State University.
University of Notre Dame