Respiro Reflections XI

Edmund Brown, 2019 Respiro Opera participant

How did you first hear about Respiro?

My teacher recommended going, Christopher Pfund at the University of Idaho. He thought it would help me since I tend to be a little introverted. 

What did you expect from the program?

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the program but I was expecting scary intimidating New York people but everybody was very kind. I expected top notch teaching where everybody knew everything. I was right on that account! Everybody was super nice and wanted me to succeed.

What did you get from the program?

One of the benefits of the program was feeling so supported so I could feel more confident. I especially liked coaching with Roger Malouf. He helped me a lot with the language, diction, phrasing and musicality. It was good to dig in more to the characters and subtext with LeAnn. The body work and breath as a whole is the part I keep coming back to no matter what I’m doing. When I make some technical advance with the vocal cords, I check in with the breath and my posture. I think it’s the root of everything.  So much of singing is about confidence. 

What have you done since Respiro?

This spring I will be completing my master’s at Indiana Bloomington Jacobs School of Music. I have sung two roles on the mainstage. I’m looking into summer programs that can help me keep moving forward. I find that I really like the music of Bach and Handel both opera and oratorio. I am seriously considering a DMA because I want to keep learning. I love being around people who enjoy what they do. I want to be able to give back to the art form.

Respiro Reflections X

Martha Allen, 2021 Respiro Opera participant

Why did you sign up for Respiro?

I worked one on one with LeAnn Overton at Manhattan School of Music coaching the outreach the spring semester of 2021. LeAnn shared some very helpful things about resonance and breath. Plus she was very positive and supportive in our work together. When she mentioned her summer program addressed the issues of breath and physical freedom, I wanted to learn more. 

Did Respiro meet your expectations? What did you take away from the program?

Respiro totally met my expectations and beyond. I had always been curious about Alexander Technique but had never experienced a session. So much of what Lori Schiff and Eleanor Taylor said made complete sense and cleared up a lot of misconceptions I had about what I was doing physically as a singer. I also liked that Jan Prokop showed us some diagrams of what’s going on inside when we breathe and move. What I had heard in my voice lessons suddenly became very clear to me as I saw the working parts. I loved starting the day with yoga. It really prepared me for the rest of the day. Barbara Fusco shared a lot of information that the other instructors built on. Yoga informed the Body Mapping, BM informed the Alexander Technique sessions. There was no conflicting information. It’s like the program kept building on itself as the week went on. 

I appreciated that everybody was so positive! It is possible to give constructive feedback in a kind and supportive way! It made me feel so much more confident as an artist. I didn’t mind concentrating on just two arias for the week. It’s like I became hyper-focused on what I needed to do when I learn new music. I can tell you, I know those two arias very well now!

Taking what I learned in Respiro and incorporating it has made a huge difference in how I approach my singing now. I have so much more information to work with. It’s really given me specific ways to look at music, the character and how I’m bringing those two factions together in my body. Being able to work with this faculty in a concentrated manner for the week with such a reasonable tuition made me feel like it was my own personal summer camp! 

Respiro Reflections IX

Respiro Reflections bass baritone Jason Zacher 2018

Meet 2018 Respiro alum Jason Zacher. Jason completed his Master’s degree in Vocal Performance at the University of Houston this past spring. 

This year Jason is a Resident Artist with Opera in the Heights in Houston, Texas. Upcoming season at Opera in the Heights, include Angelotti in Tosca, King Balthazar in Amahl & The Night Visitors, Prince Gremin in Eugene Onegin, a debuting the roles of Male Admirer in Karim Al-Zand’s The Leader and Low Male Voice Roles in Anthony Brandt’s Kassandra. 

Jason’s latest operatic highlights include Prince Gremin in Eugene Onegin, Alidoro in La Cenerentola with NEO San Diego; Oliver Jordan in Dinner at Eight, the title role of Don Pasquale, and William Jennings Bryan in The Ballad of Baby Doe Moores Opera Center. Jason was also awarded Third Place in the Tier II division of the James Toland Vocal Arts Inc. Competition in 2019.

What brought Jason to Respiro? His voice teacher at UH, Timothy Jones suggested that the comprehensive body work would serve him well especially now as he is poised to embark on his career path. Jason gathered a lot of good information in the small group sessions of AT and Body Mapping. Looking back, Jason feels he did some of his most free singing while at Respiro. In fact, his “ah-ha” moment was with AT instructor Eleanor Taylor when she helped find “that voice” that he had produced at a voice lesson but couldn’t seem to find again. Now he has the tools and awareness to sing with that voice all the time!

Even though Jason stands tall at 6’7”, his voice type is typically cast as old men and villains. Jason is happy to have worked with body mapping to find the “old” man in his 25-year-old body without compromising his vocal technique. 

In addition to the small groups and master classes, Jason also benefited from the daily yoga classes with Barbara Fusco-Spera. As an avid gym goer, Jason noticed building muscle tone and lifting was causing tightness which restricted his breath while singing. Yoga helped him find a way to release the tension and move through the poses leading with the breath. After this exposure, Jason has made these yoga poses an integral part of his warm ups. 

Jason also had nothing but compliments for Respiro’s coaching staff. Master coach Roger Malouf helped with German diction and legato phrasing on his aria of choice, “O du, mein holder Abendstern.” In addition to the exploration of character and translation, Jason feels totally confident now when he offers this piece at auditions.

All in all, Jason feels his time at Respiro clarified a lot of concepts about how the whole body affects the voice. The tools he received at Respiro helped him take the next step forward. We wish Jason Zacher much success in his musical journey! Let us know what’s coming up in 2020!!

Respiro Reflections VIII

Stephanie Brink, contralto 2016 Respiro alum

Last week I was able to catch up with Respiro alum, contralto Stephanie Brink. Stephanie is living the musician’s life, juggling several musical gigs as she continues to pursue professional singing career. Stephanie is teaching at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. Coming up this spring, Stephanie will be teaching as well as directing several of the school’s opera scenes. She will be soloist in the CC choir concert’s presentation of Mendelssohn’s Waldpurgis Nacht. This December Stephanie sings with the Denver Opera League as well as Opera Theatre of the Rockies’s holiday concerts. In March Stephanie will travel to Santa Fe to sing Principessa with Opera West. The following month, Stephanie has a unique engagement with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic and The Voices of Light singing the solos for Joan of Arc, a silent film with music written by Richard Einhorn.  Stephanie has a varied musical life!

In the spring of 2016, I asked Stephanie if she could join us for Respiro as we needed a mezzo. I had worked with Stephanie at the Vocal Arts Festival for several summers. Stephanie was happy to help out besides that she was eager to explore New York City. I always ask the alums if they think the description of course is accurate. Stephanie said absolutely, yes,  plus she commented on how the program was so well run and organized. 

Stephanie liked that Respiro’s main focus is the entire body, not just “the voice” or thinking of singing “from the neck up”. I was happy to hear that Stephanie is sharing the information she garnered at Respiro with her voice students. Stephanie commented that AT sessions were particularly eye opening for her. It not only brought more awareness while she was singing, but also illuminated how she was moving about in daily life. The new awareness helped her let go of a lot of tension she didn’t even realize was restricting simple movements. 

Stephanie enjoyed the yoga but in hindsight, wanted a chance to discuss the poses and breath exercises in more depth with yoga instructor Barbara Fusco. I was happy to tell her we are now offering small group sessions so that those who have never done yoga before or have only done a little will feel more comfortable from the beginning. 

Stephanie loved coaching with Roger Malouf. In fact, she said she has kept the music that they worked on together because she wanted to keep profound insights in front of her when she went back to sing the music. Stephanie also found coach/pianist David Holkeboer a wonderful source of information and positive energy.

I was happy to hear that Stephanie appreciated the comradery and support she felt from the other participants. She said it doesn’t always happen where you can form such a tight community of like minds in such a short time. She is still in touch with the singers from 2016. 

Thank you, Stephanie for your insights! We wish you all the best! Come back to NYC!

Respiro Reflections VII

Soprano, Angela Candela Respiro Reflections 2016

Angela Candela participated in Respiro Opera, NYC in 2016. After our conversation last week, that adage “no grass grows under her feet” came to mind. In 2017 Angela traveled with a scholarship to France and Italy to participate in Glenn Morton’s Classical Lyric Arts program.  She completed her Masters of Music Vocal Arts Performance at Manhattan School of Music in 2018. This summer Angela participated with International Vocal Arts Institute in both New York City and Montreal. Wanting to create a formal performance space for herself and her peers, Angela founded Underground Salon, a small group of singers who get together once a month to try out new repertoire. And Angela holds down two part time jobs and a church job on Sundays! She is indefatigable!

Angela came to Respiro on the recommendation of her MSM voice teacher, Ruth Golden.  She wasn’t sure what she was getting into so she had no expectations for the program. She walked away with knowledge of the basics of breath and body and how they work in tandem. 

Angela’s “ah ha” moment came when working with Alexander Technique instructor Bill Connington. For the first time she felt how her body lined up. She remembered thinking, singing felt so easy! Her take away from that experience was: it’s about following feeling rather than form, or in other words, making something happen. You have to allow the body to release tension and come into its natural alignment. Now, three years later, when something isn’t working, Angela goes back to the basics she learned at Respiro. Stop, check the breath, check in with the body. Start again. 

Angela thought the ice breakers on opening night were a great way to break down self-conscious barriers from the beginning. From then on, the group was very cohesive. Between classes, the singers would discuss their body work sessions or what they covered at coachings. Not only were they learning about themselves, but also hearing about what worked for their peers. The vibe was definitely positive. Angela said these chats were like “a thread in the tapestry” and were an integral part of the program. I was thrilled to hear that this particular group of singers is still in close touch with each other! 

Coming up this May, 2020 Angela will be singing arias and scenes with the Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Brent Chancellor. We wish Angela continued success in all her endeavors! Keep us posted! 

Respiro Reflections VI

Respiro alum Jordan Krack and I had a chance to catch up this past week. Jordan is now in his second year of a Masters in Vocal Performance at Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. This past summer Jordan got some great stage experience in the chorus of Cincinnati Opera. Upcoming performances include  CCM’s production of “The Bartered Bride,” baritone soloist in the school’s production of Dark Star Requiem, and soloist in his church’s presentation of Fauré’s Requiem.  Jordan will present his master’s degree recital in the spring.

Looking back at his time in Respiro, Jordan said it was sort of the “Oh, that’s what they meant!” moment. He had heard the information about body/breath connection from former voice teachers and coaches but during Respiro, he really had a chance to  develop a kinesthetic understanding. With this awareness, he experienced a much freer way to sing, not completely relaxed, but certainly with less tension than he was previously used to. 

Jordan liked the various body work modalities of Respiro: Alexander Technique, Body Mapping and yoga for the singer. He found it helpful to just work on two selections, one aria and a duet, because then he was not overwhelmed with a lot of music. The focus always remained on the body work. Re-examining an old aria and teaming up with a new duet partner fit perfectly into a 10 day program. 

I had to ask about the organization of the schedule over the 10 days. Jordan thought the pacing was great, especially alternating between individual coachings and group work. 

As a native Californian, Jordan was particularly interested in coming to NYC to get a feel for “The Big Apple.” Opera America’s location within blocks of one of NYC’s biggest hubs, Penn Station, provided him with easy transportation to explore various icons of the city.

Jordan made an excellent point, that young singers are looking for a summer program which is worth the time and money and will advance their knowledge and skill set. Respiro met his expectations. He thought the tuition was more than reasonable for what he got out of the program, not to mention being able to work with a supportive and knowledgeable faculty.

Thank you, Jordan! We wish you continued success!  Keep us appraised of your next chapter! 

Respiro Reflections V

Meet 2017 alum tenor Ian Castro. Immediately following Respiro, Ian traveled to Italy to participate in Lingua e Canto where he sang in several opera scenes and artsong concerts. Returning to Montclair State University (MSU) for his junior year, Ian was cast as Male Chorus in the mainstage production of “The Rape of Lucretia.” In the summer of 2018 Ian sang the role of Oronte with Music Academy International. In fall of 2018 Ian sang several opera scenes with New York City’s MESS (Mise-en-scene). This spring we’ll see Ian with Light Opera of New Jersey in the role of Ferrando as well as MSU’s opera workshop. This young man is on a roll!

As a freshman music theater major at MSU, Ian was assigned to Jan Prokop’s practicum. It became clear that his voice was going to take him in a different direction than music theater. Dr. Jan’s practicum introduced some important but basic information about breath and body alignment which he was able to explore in even more depth at Respiro.

Ian feels it was the combination of all the body work classes that worked really well during the 10 day program. All of these classes: Feldenkrais, Body Mapping, Alexander Technique and yoga functioned cohesively with each other. Ian said he valued the small group sessions as much as the bigger master classes.

The public performance at the end of the 10 days gave everybody a goal and a chance to synthesize all the parts from their class work and coachings. Ian’s “ah-ha” moment came during the dress rehearsal when he realized he had incorporated the “homework” --all the coachings and body work --into the immediate emotions of the character. It wasn’t about showing the audience the process, rather it was about the results of the process.

Ian loved working with master coach Roger Malouf. Roger was not only a wealth of information about the music, text and character but also a positive supportive instructor.

The summer of 2018 when Ian was at Music Academy International he was able to work with the celebrated coach Jane Robinson of the English National Opera. She was quite impressed with his singing and his knowledge of how the breath works, especially at his young age. Respiro will take partial credit for this compliment because almost all of our participants have noted on their exit evaluations, that as a result of all the body work, they are better able to physically implement what their voice teachers have been saying to them.

Ian is currently waiting to hear back from his graduate school auditions. We wish him well as he embarks on the next chapter of his musical career!

Respiro Reflections IV

Respiro Reflections with Soprano Amanda Blue

Meet one of Respiro’s most enthusiastic alumna, soprano Amanda Blue. Amanda and I had a chance to catch up and talk about her experience during and after Respiro. Following her time at Respiro, in the fall of 2017 Amanda was cast as the New Prioress in Westminster’s production of “Dialogue of the Carmelites” by Poulenc. She went on to place in Fort Worth Opera’s McCammon Vocal Competition. Currently Amanda is implementing a recital series in NYC area hospitals which will launch this spring. She continues to work with Respiro faculty David Holkeboer and Deb Birnbaum. 

Amanda mentioned several times during the course of our conversation how amazed she was with the growth that took place in just 10 days. From the beginning nervousness of the “meet and greet” to the confidence radiating from the singers and the whole hearted way they engaged with their roles during the final performance she found was just remarkable. She also noted that although the singers came in at different levels, the faculty met everyone where they were in a non-judgmental way, thus giving each participant permission to risk and explore something new. 

Amanda came to Respiro by recommendation of her vocal coach. The description of the program also attracted her because she wanted to know more about her body have a better awareness of her instrument. Amanda admitted until the intense body work of Respiro, she had an ambiguous idea as how her singing body functioned. Her expanded sense of self not only helped free her body, but her entire approach to singing became more fluid. Amanda felt what she learned in Respiro literally unstuck her and moved her to a new level of communicating. 

Starting each day with yoga was also a part of the program that Amanda really appreciated. It was great to come together in a group activity that opened the body, activated the breath and united body/mind/spirit. It also was a quiet moment to set the intention for the rest of the evening.

She vividly remembers her “ah-ha” moment. It took place the first evening. She got up to sing her aria with rather slouched shoulders and in an almost apologetic way. Body Mapping instructor Jan Prokop came up to her in the break and said “Don’t ever apologize for what you have to say. You are worth listening to. Walk into your space with confidence.” That comment set the tone of all that Amanda would explore during the program.

Amanda called her time at Respiro, “life changing.” The information she received continues to play a huge part not only in her musical preparation, but her outlook on life. We wish Amanda continued success!!! 

Respiro Reflections III

I sat down with Respiro alum tenor Morgan Manifacier to hear what he thought about his time at Respiro now that 4 years have passed. Currently Morgan is working towards his D.M.A. in vocal performance at Stony Brook University. Since his participation in Respiro, Morgan has sung several tenor roles including Don Ottavio, Ferrando, Sultan Soliman, Tamino, Pygmalion, Dr. Blind, Borsa. His love of art song earned him a professional fellowship at SongFest where he worked with several of today’s leading art-song composers. He also teaches and frequently presents lectures on notable French composers. 

How did Morgan first come to Respiro? His voice teacher at LIU Post recommended he apply. She thought it would be good to experience Alexander Technique so that he could receive the physical feedback, or “hands on” support for what she was teaching. Morgan said it was the master classes and group sessions with AT instructor Bill Connington and the Body Mapping with Jan Prokop that solidified a lot of those concepts.

Morgan’s “ah-ha” moment occurred during a group class with Jan Prokop. The exercise she introduced got him thinking about different aspects of the breath. He realized how a slightly different way of looking at things could make a tremendous shift for the better. 

One part of the program Morgan enjoyed a lot was the focus on text and communication. Respiro’s schedule is arranged so that after the initial session which focuses on text, word by word translation and historical setting of the opera and libretto, the coachings and stagings wrap around and build on this initial exploration. In addition, each revisit adds the character’s connection to breath and body. 

Morgan appreciated Respiro’s supportive atmosphere not only from the faculty, but also between the participants. There was no competition, rather a camaraderie and a group spirit encouraging everyone to succeed. As for his teaching career, Morgan says Respiro has given him tools not only for his own growth, but also given him creative ways to share the basic building blocks of a good vocal technique with his students. 

We look forward to hearing more from Morgan and the day when we call him, Dr. Manifacier!

Respiro Reflections II

Meet soprano Taylor Deane Haines, Respiro participant in 2016. Directly following her time with Respiro, Taylor was accepted into the studio of Deborah Voigt, American diva, at the San Francisco Conservatory. This past spring she finished her graduate degree “Older Alyce” in the school’s production of “Glory Denied.” In January 2019 Taylor placed second in the Metropolitan National Council regionals in Los Angeles. She placed third in the Palm Springs Competition 2019. 

Taylor signed up for Respiro after participating in a “mini Respiro” movement class in the Itlian summer program Lingua e Canto founded by her undergraduate voice teacher Dr. Robin Fisher on the Sacramento State faculty. Stretching my role as vocal coach/pianist, I introduced the singers to the various tenets of each of Respiro’s body work: breath, body alignment, basic anatomy. She was eager to find out more about the mind/body connection as well as the physical anatomy. Respiro Opera, NYC definitely met and exceeded her expectations! 

One aspect of Respiro Taylor really got a lot out of was the body mapping work with Jan Prokop. Learning how the feet could directly affect the neck muscles or how the intercostal muscles helped move the diaphragm or how the head could balance on top of the spine were just abstract concepts up to then. Taylor’s “ah ha” moment was when she was working with Deb Birnbaum. Deb asked her to slightly change something in her body alignment, and out came this easy amazing sound. She also gave credit to Deb for helping the tenor sing with a richer fuller sound so much so, that the group started calling him “Pavarotti!” 

I was very happy to hear that Taylor still uses yoga instructor Barbara Fusco-Spera’s “SAT NAM” breath exercise! 

Compared to other programs she has been a part of, Taylor liked that fact that everybody was able to participate in every master class. The small group size was a wonderful way to get to know everybody and make life long friends. She enjoyed all the musical coachings and the in- depth work on the different characters she was presenting. 

Taylor considers Respiro an investment in one’s career. She said, “Respiro is about learning to fish, rather than hoping you catch a fish.” What a wonderful analogy! The tuition fee was “money well spent.” 

We wish Taylor continued success as she moves ahead in her career!

Respiro Reflections I

Our first Respiro alum to sit down and discuss his thoughts about Respiro is baritone Liang Zhao, summer of 2017. Liang is currently an artist diploma student at The New School Mannes. Immediately after Respiro, Liang went to sing with Cedar Rapids Opera. 2018 he participated in “I SING The International Young Artist Festival” and will be returning with the program in London to sing at the Chinese Embassy. This spring Liang will be singing the role of Mr Olsen and covering the role of Frank Maurrant in Kurt Weill’s Street Scene at Mannes School. 

Looking back over the 10 day program, I asked Liang what he liked best. His first comment was that Respiro was “a full circle.” “You go in as a singer, explore the breath, learn more about the breath and body movement through the various master classes and one on one sessions, and then incorporate the new ideas as the program progresses until for the final performance, you are back to being a singer, but a singer with much more awareness.” He said now when he was performing, he knew how to sing eliminate unnecessary tension. He continues to practice Tai Chi as his body work of choice. 

Liang also mentioned the opening night welcome and improv games as being a great ice breaker for the group. It immediately created a cohesiveness among the singers. He especially appreciated the name game which insured that everybody knew each other’s name from the first night. 

What was his “ah ha” moment? Working in master class with our Vocal Consultant/agent Dillon McCartney. After singing an aria from the standard repertoire, Dillon asked Liang to sing a song in his native language of Chinese. Dillon wanted him to connect with the emotion of the song instead of presenting a “voice.” I remember that moment clearly because all of us had tears in our eyes from the sheer beauty and expressiveness of his voice. Liang said from then on, he resolved to find the kernel of truth in each of the arias he was offering. “It needs to be my personal story. How can I connect to people to make them laugh or cry? But, you can’t totally forget your vocal technique.” Our Alexander Technique instructors would applaud the concept of balance in all things! Liang enjoyed the coaching sessions and felt totally supported by our faculty. Thank you, Liang Zhao! We wish you well in your future endeavors!!

- LeAnn Overton, artistic director Respiro Opera, NYC