Vocal Performance
and Choral Studies
Solo Voice | Choral | Opera | Oregon Bach Festival

Faculty: Ruth Dobson (soprano), Nicholas Isherwood (opera), Eric Mentzel (tenor), Sharon J. Paul (choral) (chair), Ann Tedards (soprano), Milagro Vargas (mezzo-soprano), Laura Wayte (soprano)

The School of Music and Dance at the University of Oregon is an outstanding place to study vocal music. A gifted, dynamic, and committed faculty, a superb library, and strong performing ensembles combine in a warm and welcoming atmosphere to provide an ideal location for musical life.

The School of Music and Dance has approximately 500 music majors, both graduate and undergraduate, and serves more than 2,000 music students overall. The international student body is a wonderful community of young artists: large enough to provide the resources for excellent performing opportunities, yet small enough so that everyone receives the individual attention necessary for maximum growth.

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SOLO VOICE
The voice faculty of the University of Oregon is uniquely comprised of artists with international performing careers who bring a strong commitment to teaching.

Voice students at the University of Oregon have a number of opportunities to develop their technical skills and to improve their ability to present music in public performance. Each of our professors provides students with individual lessons and a weekly performance class in which students sing for each other in an informal setting, with opportunities for discussion and experimentation. Other performance opportunities include optional recitals of solo and chamber repertoire and required degree recitals.

The Vocal Studies Department is supported by an accompaniment program which offers many opportunities for collaborative work between singers and accompanists.

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CHORAL
The choral program at the University of Oregon is wide-ranging, offering performance opportunities in a number of different ensembles. Students may audition for the University Singers, Chamber Choir, Concert Choir. Performance opportunities are also available in Collegium Musicum, and Gospel Ensemble, Gospel Choir, and Gospel Singers.

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OPERA
The University Opera Ensemble includes both a workshop component and annual mainstage production. Structured on the quarter system, voice majors spend the fall quarter exploring the many dimensions of the art of performance: audition repertoire and techniques, dialogue and sub-text, introduction to movement through seminars in yoga, modern dance and Alexander Technique, and the preparation of scenes from operas and musical theater. All students in opera workshop receive individualized musical coaching on their repertoire. All students also have the opportunity for further dance study through the School of Dance.

The Winter quarter is devoted to the main stage opera production. Recent fully staged productions have included Britten's The Turn of the Screw (2001), a modern dress performance of Handel's Semele (2002) which the Register Guard called a "brilliant performance" and Mozart's Die Zauberflote (2003). Singers are double cast where appropriate, and both undergraduates and graduate students participate in either opera chorus or roles. Spring quarter is entirely devoted to the presentation of a fully staged scenes program.

School of Music and Dance voice majors and accompanists regularly participate in major summer music festivals and programs, including the Aspen Music Festival, Brevard, and the Houston Grand Opera program. 2002 saw two district winners at the Metropolitan Opera Audtions. Voice majors also have the opportunity to audition for roles with Eugene Opera, Robert Ashens, Artistic Director. Recent Eugene Opera productions have included Floyd's Susannah, Verdi's La Traviata and Puccini's La Boheme.

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OREGON BACH FESTIVAL
The School of Music and Dance is also the home of the world-famous Oregon Bach Festival, one of the most highly acclaimed summer cultural events in the nation. Helmuth Rilling, artistic director and conductor of the Festival, is one of Europe's foremost conductors and a leading authority on 18th century choral music. The Festival offers a rich variety of choral-orchestral, chamber music, and recital programming, plus performance and master class opportunities for advanced students.

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