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.