What is opera camp? Basically, it’s a week dedicated to singing! And more specifically, good, healthy singing! It’s not all about opera. Though the annual summer vocal workshop is conducted by visiting artists from the Soo Opera program, this week of intensive vocal training is focused on one main premise: good, healthy singing!!!
The Vocal and Opera Workshop takes place at The Soo Theatre from July 20-24 and meets from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. each day. A Vocal Gala is performed on the final evening of the session on the Soo Theatre stage. The artists have the opportunity to display their talents and to showcase what they have learned in an entertaining public performance.
This season we welcome Tenor Glenn Seven Allen to join our ranks as he leads the July 20-24 workshop. An active performer on the opera and Broadway scene, Allen holds a Master’s Degree in Acting from the University of Washington and a Bachelor’s degree in Musical Theater from the University of Michigan School of Music Theatre and Dance. He is currently a member of the acting faculty at the Yale School of Drama and is a sought after clinician for his “Acting in Song” master classes.
In addition to participating in daily master classes with Allen, students will be assigned scenes from either opera or Broadway upon registration. Workshop participants will be given the music in advance to prepare their selections.
Leading the scenes portion of the weeklong program will be Bass-Baritone Brace Negron. Also a resident of New York City, Negron maintains an active career in opera taking him all over the globe with performances scheduled this year including a Mozart Requiem and Bach Cantata 80 with the Oratorio Singers, the title role in Figaro with the Bronx Opera and Angelotti in Tosca with Chelsea Opera. He just recited Spanish poetry from Martinez’s song No llores, paloma mia at Carnegie Hall as part of the Khorikos Ensemble’s Concert Series.
Opera singers are like the Olympic athletes of voice; they have received intense training to be able to perform in their field. Our instructors have learned their craft well and now they provide just that for our singers — the most fundamental and basic techniques for good singing. Whether you like a Disney tune, a Broadway ballad or a sultry Jazz piece, the vocal and opera workshop can provide a singer of any level with tools to improve upon what they love to do — sing!!
Founder and Artistic Director of the Soo Opera program, Karen Hughes Beacom, also works hands on with students throughout the week. In addition to their own Vocal Gala on the evening of July 24th, most of the singers from the workshop will perform in the chorus of “Don Giovanni” in August. They will have the opportunity to put into practice some new techniques and to sing on stage with Allen, Negron, and Beacom and the rest of the cast.
If bringing new life to your singing or digging deeper into the meaning of your songs is your desire, this may just be the workshop for you. Call the Soo Theatre Project today at 906-632-1930 for more information and to register for this great opportunity. See more about our instructors at www.glennsevenallen.com and www.bracenegron.com.
