Musical Theatre Master Class
&
Panel Discussion
Rachelle Fleming
with panelists:
Silvia Ledon, VA-NATS
Catherine Porter-Borden, MD/DC-NATS
Elizabeth LaBelle, NC-NATS
Meredith Cornwell, SC-NATS
Abstract
Music Theater in the Opera House Master Class Friday, March 16, 2017
Can classical singers improve their marketability by developing music theater repertoire? Chicago Lyric Opera, San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and Washington National Opera, among others, are including musicals in their seasons. A stylistic versatility is advantageous, and can be developed through training. This master class will help students prepare successful music theater auditions for an opera company, based on provided audition notices.
Contemporary Singing and the High School Student Panel Discussion Saturday, March 17, 2017
In addition to choral and classical singing, many students will sing contemporary styles of vocal music, including music theater and pop/rock. They might be cast in a school or community theater production known for frequent, high-belt vocal production. This panel/discussion will address the adolescent voice and how to support students in healthful contemporary vocal production.
Rachelle Fleming Biography
Rachelle Fleming is nationally recognized in the training and vocal health of the contemporary vocal artist. Dr. Fleming holds a doctorate in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance from the University of Miami, a research Masters in Music Education from Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelors of Music in Voice Performance. Additional coursework includes a voice science Vocology course with Dr. Ingo Titze, and pedagogical coursework in two of the leading commercial vocal music training programs. Dr. Fleming is a full-time member of the music theater faculty at The Catholic University of America. She has taught for The Actors Studio MFA program at The New School, The Eastman School of Music Community Division, and the University of Miami. Dr. Fleming’s students perform on Broadway, in National Tours, at Madison Square Garden, the Metropolitan Opera, Signature Theater, regional theaters and in film. Rachelle is proud to be working with wounded warriors through MusiCorps at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. She is in demand internationally for master classes and as an artist-in-residence. Guest teaching and master classes include The Aspen Music Festival, the Contemporary Vocal Workshop at NYU- Steinhardt, and Polyphony Conservatory in Nazareth, Israel, and the national tour of Billy Elliot.
Dr. Fleming acted as Production Advisor for American Voices, a three-day festival on American singing hosted by Renée Fleming at The Kennedy Center, and as a panelist for the symposium session “Voice Training Today.” An edited taping of this event later aired on PBS as part of their Great Performances series. Dr. Fleming is co-author of research and articles in the Journal of Singing, an upcoming article in the Journal of Voice, and research presentations on vocal health management at conferences held by the Pan American Vocology Association, National Association of Teachers of Singing, and The Voice Foundation. Her work in teaching and research is also supported by professional experience in personal artist administration, stage direction, performance, television and recording.
A versatile performer, Rachelle has performed in concert, televised performances and recordings with Cuban ensemble Tiempo Libre (Sony release); multiple Grammy- winning opera star Renée Fleming (Decca/Mercury release); and international jazz pianist and composer Fred Hersch. Her voice has been praised by Jazz Weekly for being “as agonizingly penetrating as a Dear John letter.” Theater appearances include the role of Rose in Enchanted April, Joanne in Company, a musical review of Pretty Baby for Festival of the Arts BOCA, the New York premiere of Bill Smith’s jazz opera, Space in the Heart, at Symphony Space in NYC, and the role of Lynn in Training Wisteria in the NY Fringe Festival.