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OPERA SUMMER SCHOOL 2000

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland initiated the Opera Summer School in 1999 as part of its new strategy for opera provision in the province. The first School was held in the Music Department of Stranmillis University College, Belfast, in association with OPERAPLUS, the springboard training centre for singers in vocal arts and drama, and featured guest lectures from Rodney Milnes and Iain Burnside, and a day of masterclasses with renowned mezzo-soprano Sarah Walker. 20 young singers from throughout Ireland took part in the School and gave a final informal concert in front of an invited audience representing opera companies, promoters and broadcasters.

The Opera Summer School 2000

Monday 26 June to Thursday 6 July, Stranmillis College Music Department and Theatre.

This year’s School is designed to include pianists as well as singers. All participants are required to be residential and to attend all sessions.

Resident faculty:

OPERAPLUS

• Loh Siew-Tuan (vocal teacher)
• Ronny Lauwers (Professor of Opera and Character Studies at the Brussels Royal Conservatory of Music)
• Jan Van de Weghe (pianist, coach and accompanist at the Brussels Royal Conservatory of Music).
• Ingrid Surgenor (Operatic coach and official accompanist for the Cardiff Singer of the World Competition)

Resident pianists:

• Roy Holmes (Lecturer in Piano, Dublin Institute of Technology)
• Deborah Kelleher (Lecturer, University College, Dublin, Researcher RTE, Repetiteur and Lecturer, Dublin Institute of Technology)

Guest artist: internationally-acclaimed baritone Thomas Allen

Course details

Singers:

• individual and group masterclasses on vocal technique, interpretation and character studies
• instruction in the art of recitative and ensemble singing
• language coaching
• practical advice on the choice of individual repertoire
• coaching lessons from specialists who work with singers
• an opportunity to make an individual CD of selected work achieved during the course
• an opportunity to take part in a masterclass with Thomas Allen, and to perform in a concert at the end of the course.

Pianists:

• coaching in accompanying singers in performance and for auditions
• coaching in playing piano reductions of orchestral accompaniments for vocal scores
• learning to work with singers and an introduction to coaching techniques with singers and choral groups
• language coaching
• work on lieder and song accompaniment.

Some sessions will be open to the public.

Facilities

All School activities take place on campus where lecture rooms, theatre, and individual practice rooms are available.

Accommodation

At Stranmillis College Halls of Residence, on campus. Accommodation and all meals are included in the fee.

Registration

Participants arrive and register on the morning of Monday 26 June, and will be required to stay until the morning of Friday 7 July.

Fee

£350 [including accommodation]

The fee is payable by sterling cheque only, and must be paid in full before the first day of the School.

Bursaries

Special bursaries of £100 will be available for applicants to this year’s piano course.

Age limit

20-32 years as at 30 June 2000.

Further Details and Application Forms
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland
77 Malone Road
Belfast
BT9 6AQ
Tel: 028 90385200
Fax: 028 9066175
Email: administration@artscouncil-ni.org