September 2005 – Page 2

Conservatories offer students a very focused music education. Here’s a look at one New York City conservatory that has been getting a lot of attention lately.

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in an audition or competition? Or what the judges have to say once you leave the room? Cristina Necula got an inside look at part of the combined audition/competition AudComps at this year’s Classical Singer Convention. From her insights, as well as those of two of our distinguished judges, you can learn what to do—and what not to do—at your next audition.

Whether you’re a teacher, a performer, or both, this well-known pedagogue’s latest book is a valuable resource for every singer. Here’s a quick overview to help you decide if it belongs on your bookshelf.

How would you like to make your debut at a professional European opera house before you even graduate? Sound too good to be true? Four students from James Madison University (JMU) had just such an experience this summer and gave CS a full report.

In this University Edition of Classical Singer, we remember and pay tribute to a fine singer and excellent teacher, who taught at both Mannes and Manhattan schools of music.

Are you unsure of what to expect and how to prepare for your upcoming college entrance audition? Well, fret no longer. Let your worries melt away as you learn how to prepare fully for an event that doesn’t need to be a daunting step in your college application process.

Pursuing a singing career may have seemed the obvious choice for Renée Fleming—after all, both of her parents were voice teachers—but her path to stardom turned out to be neither direct nor ordinary. Diversions along the way included studying music education and singing jazz. Eventually, however, this two-time Grammy award winner made her way to the top, even if not by the most direct route—although, as she shares in this Classical Singer exclusive, being at the top isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be.

The School of Music at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, B.C., is the largest school of its kind in western Canada. Eighty-six of the nearly 300 students in

Q: What do you call a person who hangs out with a group of musicians? A: A singer! We like to make fun of each other, and of ourselves, and

The University of Western Ontario—in London, Ontario, about 200 kilometers (124 miles) southwest of Toronto—takes the commitment to making research part of academic rigor seriously, calling it “an integral part

Rest in Peace, Ghena Dimitrova On June 11, Ghena Dimitrova passed away in Milan after a long and debilitating illness, according to news reports. The remains of the 64-year-old Bulgarian

The voice faculty at the University of Toronto likewise draws heavily from the cultural riches of its host city. Toronto boasts a population of four million people and is known