Studio Class - Episodes Tagged with “Masterclass”

Episode 113: Masterclass - Samuel Martin

Megan Ihnen | The Sybaritic Singer — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 11:00:00 -0600

Step into the world of classical music and #TeamArtSong with pianist Samuel Martin in this Masterclass episode. From international stages to innovative projects like "Before She Became Fire," Martin's debut album with mezzo Kathryn Leemhuis, his dynamic performances redefine the genre. As the Founding Artistic Director behind the Cincinnati Song Initiative, he's hailed as "Cincinnati's champion for art song."

A New York native and alumnus of top institutions, Martin now teaches at The Hartt School, University of Hartford, shaping future musicians. Join us as Sam shares insights on artistic collaboration, musical innovation, and his relentless pursuit of excellence.

My gratitude goes out to Hannah Boissonneault who edits our Masterclass episodes and to Juanitos and Scott Holmes for the music featured in this episode.

You can help support the creation of these episodes when you join the Sybaritic Camerata on Patreon. Get started at patreon.com/mezzoihnen.

Be on the Studio Class Podcast
Megan Ihnen is a professional mezzo-soprano, teacher, writer, and arts entrepreneur who is passionate about helping other musicians and creative professionals live their best lives. Studio Class is an outgrowth of her popular #29DaystoDiva series from The Sybaritic Singer. Let your emerging professionals be part of the podcast! Invite Megan to your studio class for a taping of an episode. Your students ask questions and informative, fun conversation ensues.

Special Guest: Samuel Martin.

Episode 103: Masterclass - Ann McMahon Quintero

Megan Ihnen | The Sybaritic Singer — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 11:00:00 -0500

Praised for her evocative interpretations of oratorio and opera, Ann McMahon Quintero has filled the 2022/23 season with new works and old favorites. She joins Boston Baroque and Alabama Symphony for Messiah, Charleston Symphony for Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevsky Cantata, and performs in the world premiere of Ghosts with San Diego Opera in the role of Yadira.

Ms. Quintero was thrilled to join Santa Fe Opera in 2022 in one of her signature roles, Mistress Quickly in Falstaff. Also in the 2021/22 season, she portrayed the titular role in Lizbeth with Opera Orlando and Madame Flora in The Medium with Chelsea Opera, with whom she enjoyed a successful run as the inimitable Julia Child in Lee Hoiby’s_ Bon Appétit!_ in June, 2021.

Her previous work has included many enjoyable turns with Boston Baroque singing their annual Messiah as well as performances of Mozart’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9., M. Haydn’s Requiem in c minor, Cornelia in Giulio Cesare, Juditha in Juditha Triumphans, and Storgé in Jephtha.

Ms. Quintero also enjoys a rewarding relationship with the Defiant Requiem Foundation, performing their special presentation of the Verdi Requiem in Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezín. She has performed the piece with Mo. Murry Sidlin over a dozen times throughout the U.S., sharing the story of Rafael Schächter and the brave artists of Terezín. In addition, she has also performed the piece Hours of Freedom: The Story of the Terezín Composer, a program of music composed at Terezín.

What she did over the pandemic:

Like everyone, the pandemic left Ann with a wealth of time, so she followed the crowd and turned to baking sourdough and learning to play the ukulele. She also earned her certification as a yoga instructor and did a deep dive into learning more about social justice. Ann also fostered a wonderful pit bull named Ella and will provide more photos than you need upon request.

My gratitude goes out to Hannah Boissonneault who edits our Masterclass episodes and to Juanitos and Scott Holmes for the music featured in this episode.

You can help support the creation of these episodes when you join the Sybaritic Camerata on Patreon. Get started at patreon.com/mezzoihnen.

Special Guest: Ann McMahon Quintero.

Episode 101: Masterclass - Kerriann Otaño

Megan Ihnen | The Sybaritic Singer — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 09:45:00 -0500

Kerriann Otaño is the Vice President of Engagement at America’s 11th oldest opera company, OperaDelaware. Originally from Long Island, New York, Kerriann studied at the Verdi Conservatorio in Milan, Italy, before receiving her Bachelors degree from Indiana University and her Masters from Mannes the New School for Music. Kerriann sang opera professionally for 10 years, performing at Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Opera San Jose, and Wolf Trap Opera. She is featured on Naxos album Bernstein: Songfest with Wolf Trap Opera. Kerriann began her transition into administration in 2019 after a mental health crisis, and she prides herself on her advocacy for artists and audiences across the country.

My gratitude goes out to Hannah Boissonneault who edits our Masterclass episodes and to Juanitos and Scott Holmes for the music featured in this episode.

You can help support the creation of these episodes when you join the Sybaritic Camerata on Patreon. Get started at patreon.com/mezzoihnen.

Special Guest: Kerriann Otaño.

Episode 100: Masterclass - Chelsea Hollow

Megan Ihnen | The Sybaritic Singer — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 11:00:00 -0500

Chelsea Hollow “has rewritten the book on the potential of musical activism," curating & commissioning solo recitals based on activist texts as well as exploring ways to make traditional opera exciting to new audiences. In recognition of this work, she presented on Art and Activism (2021) for the United Nations’ Office of Human Rights. This past April, Chelsea released her debut album Cycles of Resistance with Aerocade Music, featuring 22 of her commissions chronicling examples of human resilience in Mandarin, Dutch, Turkish, Arabic, Sanskrit, and Czech in addition to English. She is known for her “soaring high range” and “stage panache!” premiering new operatic works and singing traditional roles such as Queen of the Night, Zerbinetta, and Olympia.

My gratitude goes out to Hannah Boissonneault who edits our Masterclass episodes and to Juanitos and Scott Holmes for the music featured in this episode.

You can help support the creation of these episodes when you join the Sybaritic Camerata on Patreon. Get started at patreon.com/mezzoihnen.

Special Guest: Chelsea Hollow.

Episode 81: Masterclass - Michelle Trovato

Megan Ihnen | The Sybaritic Singer — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 11:00:00 -0500

Michelle Trovato has sparked praise in Opera News, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and others for her “lush” voice and dynamic characterizations. She has won prizes in the U.S., Canada, and Europe and she also maintains an active private vocal studio.

Michelle also teaches at FMDG Music School which is the only school in the US devoted completely to supporting the musical and artistic lives of students who are blind, have low vision, or significant vision loss of some kind.

Show Notes:

We Come to Claim the Throne, a recital of music inspired by Mary, Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/we-come-to-claim-the-throne-a-recital-of-music-inspired-by-mary-stuart-tickets-348410855247
CSOT’s summer concert in the park on Thursday, August 4. https://www.cstarsoftomorrow.com/opera-in-the-park
The Filomen M. D’Agostino Greenberg Music School (FMDG Music School). https://fmdgmusicschool.org/

My gratitude goes out to Hannah Boissonneault who edits our Masterclass episodes and to Juanitos and Scott Holmes for the music featured in this episode.

You can help support the creation of these episodes when you join the Sybaritic Camerata on Patreon. Get started at patreon.com/mezzoihnen.

Special Guest: Michelle Trovato.

Episode 64: Masterclass - Laura Strickling

Megan Ihnen | The Sybaritic Singer — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 13:00:00 -0600

Grammy™ nominated soprano Laura Strickling was praised by The New York Times for her, “flexible voice, crystalline diction, and warm presence.” Celebrated for her work on the concert and recital stage, she has performed at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, National Sawdust, Trinity Church on Wall Street, Washington National Cathedral, Tanglewood Music Festival, Ravinia Music Festival, and so, so many more! A specialist in new music, she has collaborated with composers Libby Larsen, Tom Cipullo, James Matheson, Juliana Hall, John Musto, Reinaldo Moya, and Glen Roven. Her upcoming commissioning initiative – The 40@40 Project – will bring to life 40 songs by 40 composers. Find out more about her at https://www.laurastrickling.com/

Do you like these Masterclass episodes? You'll probably like the 29 Days to Diva series on The Sybaritic Singer too. Check it out here: https://sybariticsinger.com/category/29-days-to-diva/

A big thank you to Juanitos and Scott Holmes for the music featured in this episode.

Join the Sybaritic Camerata and support the creation of all things Studio Class at patreon.com/mezzoihnen.

Special Guest: Laura Strickling.

Episode 46: Masterclass - Susan Eichhorn Young

Megan Ihnen | The Sybaritic Singer — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 10:00:00 -0500

Susan Eichhorn Young is a Canadian soprano, actress, voice-over artist, voice teacher, and writer. Her website reads, "all things voice" and that is the truth!! It is a pleasure to welcome her as a guest for this masterclass episode where we cover Susan's feelings about "finding the singer" rather than making them "fit a mold"; how she focuses on the psyche of the artist; and how to recalibrate when your path goes a different direction than you thought it would. Susan drops so many pearls of wisdom. Don't wait to listen!

My sincere gratitude goes to Josh, Sarah, and Chris for supporting the creation of this episode through their membership in the Sybaritic Camerata's Listening Circle!

Ever wish you could ask our Masterclass episode guests a question? Here's your chance. As a Masterclass Scholar, you're invited to the recording of the Masterclass episode and you get to ask your questions during the exclusive Q&A afterwards. Get started at Patreon.com/mezzoihnen.

A big thank you to Juanitos and Scott Holmes for the music featured in this episode.

Special Guest: Susan Eichhorn Young.

Episode 43: Masterclass - Dale Trumbore

Megan Ihnen | The Sybaritic Singer — Mon, 10 May 2021 15:30:00 -0500

Dale Trumbore is a Los Angeles-based composer and writer whose music has been praised by The New York Times for its "soaring melodies and beguiling harmonies." Trumbore's compositions have been performed widely in the U.S. and internationally by ensembles including The Aeolians of Oakwood University, American Contemporary Music Ensemble (ACME), Los Angeles Master Chorale, Los Angeles Children's Chorus, Modesto Symphony, Pasadena Symphony, The Singers – Minnesota Choral Artists, and Tonality.

Trumbore has served as Composer in Residence for Choral Chameleon as well as Artist in Residence at Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts, Copland House, and the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation of New Mexico.

How to Go On, Choral Arts Initiative's album of Trumbore's choral works, debuted at #6 on Billboard's Traditional Classical Chart. Choral Arts Northwest, The Esoterics, Helix Collective, New York Virtuoso Singers, and soprano Gillian Hollis have also commercially recorded works by Trumbore. Her choral works are available through Boosey & Hawkes, G. Schirmer, and Graphite Marketplace.

A big thank you to Juanitos and Scott Holmes for the music featured in this episode.

Special Guest: Dale Trumbore.

Episode 40: Masterclass - Raehann Bryce-Davis

Megan Ihnen | The Sybaritic Singer — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0600

Hailed by the New York Times as a "striking mezzo soprano" and by the San Francisco Chronicle for her "electrifying sense of fearlessness," Raehann Bryce-Davis opens the 2019/20 season singing Verdi’s Requiem with conductor Kent Nagano and the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal at the Olympic Stadium. She then returns to Opera Vlaanderen for her role debut as Eboli in Verdi’s Don Carlos and makes her LA Opera debut in the World Premiere of Aucoin and Ruhl’s Eurydice, a coproduction with The Metropolitan Opera, and sings Sara in Roberto Devereux opposite Angela Meade and Ramon Vargas. Further performances of the season include: Unknown, I Live With You at the Kurt Weill Festival Dessau, A Nation of Others at Carnegie Hall with the Oratorio Society New York, Nathaniel Dett’s The Ordering of Moses with the Harlem Chamber Players, Mendelssohn's Elijah with St. George’s Choral Society, and a recital series for the Art Song Preservation Society in New York with pianist Mark Markham. Last season she made her role debuts as Leonor in Donizetti’s La Favorite at the Teatro Massimo di Palermo, Marguerite in Berlioz’s La Damnation de Faust conducted by Maestro John Nelson with the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Costa Rica, Ms. Alexander in Satyagraha at Opera Vlaanderen, Kristina in The Makropulos Affair at the Janáček Brno Festival, Verdi's Requiem with the Oratorio Society of New York at Carnegie Hall, Martinů’s Julietta with the American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra.

Find out more about Raehann Bryce-Davis at http://www.raehann.com/

Do you like these masterclass episodes? You'll probably like the 29 Days to Diva series on The Sybaritic Singer too. Check it out here: https://sybariticsinger.com/category/29-days-to-diva/

A big thank you to Juanitos for the music featured in this episode.

Special Guest: Raehann Bryce-Davis.

Episode 38: Masterclass - Sharin Apostolou MacPherson & Ryan MacPherson

Megan Ihnen | The Sybaritic Singer — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 11:30:00 -0600

It's true! The #KiltedOlive couple is here for a Studio Class Masterclass. Soprano Sharin Apostolou MacPherson and tenor Ryan MacPherson talk about building musical interpretive power, knowing when it's time to leave professional singing, and what's keeping them hopeful right now.

Watch Front Porch Series presents an Evening with Charlottesville Opera featuring Ryan and Sharin: https://youtu.be/Ediwk0hWtXk

Get tickets for Urban Arias' "The Roost" (part of Decameron Opera Coalition’s "Tales From a Safe Distance") here: http://www.urbanarias.org/performances/the-decameron-coalition/

Do you like these masterclass episodes? You'll probably like the 29 Days to Diva series on The Sybaritic Singer too. Check it out here: https://sybariticsinger.com/category/29-days-to-diva/

A big thank you to Juanitos for the music featured in this episode.

Special Guest: Sharin Apostolou MacPherson & Ryan MacPherson.