2021 – Page 8

The school curriculum has always been a subject of debate, and at the center of many government discussions. For a period of time, music and the arts were seen as non-essential; and it is still not mandatory post-elementary school. However, music has been shown to stimulate brain activity, drives productivity, and has a positive impact on overall wellbeing, especially mental health. See below, 5 reasons why music is absolutely crucial to both the education system and in children’s lives as they grow and mature into young adults. 

elebrated for her “richly hued voice and nicely timed comedic ability,” mezzo-soprano Brooke Larimer epitomizes the life of a multifaceted operatic life in the twenty-first century. Her ease in multiple

When the world went into lockdown last spring, no one was sure if vocal music would survive let alone how. It turned out that the same creativity that caused us to become a part of this profession, led us to finding other, non-traditional ways to continue making music.

This search for artistic independence and inspiration is what will fuel your self-motivation. At the end of the day, you’re the one getting up to sing and nobody can do it for you!

s I finish off my last few auditions for college Vocal Performance and Music Education programs, I am equipped with a perspective on what qualities I possess as a singer

rederica von Stade is one of the world’s most beloved mezzo sopranos. Since her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1970, she has sung leading roles on every major concert and operatic

Find practical ideas for reaching out and creating opportunities in COVID-19 and beyond.

ello CS Music community! We did it, we survived 2020! That’s nothing to balk at. Your perseverance and dedication to your craft is to be celebrated, wear it like a

This is a story of my friendship with Dunbar. This story is one of love, heartbreak, understanding, respect, and an enduring friendship separated by approximately a century. This friendship has refined me as a performer and helped to shape me as an artist. Within the ivory tower of music academia, it was in amplifying Dunbar’s voice that I found my own.

The artist's life is low on control even in normal times. During a pandemic, we can control even less (when theaters open, when concerts get the green light). But we can still control our thoughts. What's more: we have to. Mental discipline is a crucial part of success as an artist. And it's something we can choose to strengthen, like a muscle. 

Most audition judges will eagerly hear any singer whose repertoire shows some musical curiosity and a sense of adventure. Why choose only the “standard” five arias in your Fach for

Was there ever a time in our world when we faced a greater need to work together? For composers and singers, creating and recording new music can be a deeply meaningful and personal collaboration. The Travelled Road is a new recording by acclaimed composer Evan Mack, Metropolitan Opera mezzo soprano Megan Marino, pianist John Arida, and cellist Jameson Platte. A spirit of unity resonates throughout the melodies, as well as in the themes presented in the timely texts by historical figures including Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, world-class poets such as Mark Jarman, Carl Sandburg, and iconic woman such as Sr. Dorothy Stang, Tina Fey, Lucille Ball, Simone de Beauvoir, and many more.