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OPERA
Faculty
Click on a faculty member's name to learn more about that person.
The Opera and Voice Faculty is uniquely comprised of artists with strong performance experience who are committed to the preparation and instruction of both young and advanced singers. The Voice program is designed to prepare the student for a professional career in singing or the teaching of singing. Each student is given a wealth of opportunity for performance ranging from chamber and large vocal ensembles, weekly recitals, opera scenes, and fully staged operas. The Voice/Opera faculty and staff are comprised of the following members:
Read about our 2007 trip to Europe
Diane Bolden-Taylor
Lyric Soprano
Head, Vocal Area
American and German music specialist
Vienna Philharmonic
European operatic and concert career
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Brian Clay Luedloff
Director of Opera Theatre
MFA in Directing
Member of AGMA and Equity
National Acting and Opera Directing Credits
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Melissa Malde
Mezzo Soprano
Pedagogy Specialist
European operatic and concert career
Certified Andover Educator
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Lesley Manring
Coloratura Soprano
Early music specialist
European operatic and concert career
Diction and languages
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Russell Guyver, Conductor
Vergie Amendola, Coach/Accompanist
Caleb Harris, Coach/Accompanist
William Wilson, Voice |
William Wilson
Baritone
European Career in Opera,
Concert and Musicals
German and Italian Opera Specialist |
The Opera Theatre program at UNC is one of the finest programs of its type in the country. The program, which celebrated its Golden Jubilee 50th Anniversary in 2004, has expanded through the years to include performance opportunities for students at all levels of study and at four levels of production: Main Stage Opera, Chamber Opera, Educational Opera, and Opera Scenes. The voice program has grown as well—from approximately 55 majors in 1983 to more than 100 majors including Masters and Doctoral students. Opera repertoire is selected to provide the most meaningful opportunities to students in the Voice programs. Casting isxxs carefully planned to afford the most positive performance experience for the greatest number of students.
Main Stage Opera
Each year, students are cast in a fully-produced opera, which is performed in the 600-seat Helen Langworthy Theatre. The award-winning UNC Symphony Orchestra plays under the direction of Russell Guyver. Repertoire is selected to ensure an all-student cast. Recent productions have included Susannah, The Magic Flute, Albert Herring, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Don Pasquale, and Pirates of Penzance.
Chamber Opera
A second fully-produced opera production is designed to give students experience in more intimate spaces, such as the black-box Norton Theatre on campus and the Hensel-Phelps Hall in the city's Union Colony Civic Center. These operas are usually accompanied by a chamber ensemble. Operas in this series have included The Medium, The Secret Marriage, The Impressario and Bastien and Bastienne.
Opera in Education
In 1986, an educational program was instituted to bring opera to younger students in our region. Since the inception of this program, our productions have been performed for over 7,000 students in a geographic area from Casper, WY, to Albequerque, NM. Additionally, this program has received considerable recognition on a national level. Selection of repertoire is based on the educational value of the music and drama in relating to young people. Recent productions have included Down in the Valley, The Old Maid and the Thief, Face on the Barroom Floor, Gallantry, Doctor Miracle, and reduced versions of The Barber of Seville and Cosí fan Tutte.
Opera Scenes
Opera scenes are scheduled twice each year. The scenes are performed in the Helen Langworthy Theatre with costumes, sets and lighting provided by students in the Theatre Design program under the supervision of the Opera Theatre Technical Director. These scenes are directed and produced primarily by the graduate students under the supervision of the Director of the Opera Program.
Opera Directing Curriculum
Particularly popular among graduate students is the opera directing curriculum which has been developed as a secondary emphasis for Doctoral students. This program provides instruction in the specialized area of opera stage directing, technical theatre, and includes considerable "hands on" experience in directing opera scenes. Additionally, each student in this program must direct a one-act opera or extended scene for their final project.
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