SINGERS STUDIO CLASS

Next class: Wednesday, January 11, 7pm

Time to decide which arias you want to work on.

Classes are at 853 7th Rehearsal Studios, 853 7th Ave, Rear Lobby, between 54th and 55th Streets

$40 to sing, $20 to observe. You can register to sing using PayPal (Click under Alissa’s picture to the right) or pay at class.  To observe, pay at class.

Schedule to sing by calling Alissa at 212-679-3461, or email AlissaGrimaldi@mac.com.

Joan Krueger

Last class was: Monday November 14, 7pm

Our guest coach was Joan Krueger.

Pianist Joan Krueger maintains a busy private coaching studio in New York City, and is active as a recitalist and accompanist.In 2004, she was named Classical Singer magazine’s “Coach of the Year.”She has accompanied such artists as Cecilia Bartoli, Sumi Jo, Paul Plishhka, and Vinson Cole through her association with New York’s Mostly Mozart Festival, appeared with soprano Carol Vaness on A&E’s Breakfast with the Arts, and has performed collaborative recitals at Avery Fisher Hall, Weill Recital Hall, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the United Nations, and many other venues across the United States.Ms. Krueger is on the faculty of SUNY Purchase, where, in addition to coaching students, she teaches French and Italian Diction and a course on Operatic Styles, and is additionally on the faculties of Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance summer festival and the Westchester Summer Vocal Institute.She previously served as assistant conductor for the Sarasota Opera, Music Director for NYU’s Opera Workshop, and was a coach for the Intermezzo Opera Festival.Ms. Krueger has been pianist for many prestigious vocal competitions, including the Jensen Foundation, the Gerda Lissner, the Chester Ludgin Verdi Baritone Competition, and the Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation.She has been a judge for the Classical Singer Vocal Competition, and has accompanied master classes for artists including Elly Ameling, Gerard Souzay, and Martin Katz.Ms. Krueger received her Bachelor of Music degree from Michigan State University, and a Master’s Degree from the University of Michigan.

Nicholas Tamagna wins Nico Castel Competition

Alissa and Nicholas

I want to announce that my student Nicholas Tamagna, a Singers Studio for Opera attendee from the very first class, won the Nico Castel Competition on February 19^th. It was held at Carnegie Hall in Weill hall. He will be featured next season at Carniegie Hall in a production with Orchestra. Nicholas worked very hard for this much deserved win.

ABOUT THE STUDIO

“It’s not just the voice, it’s the whole package.”

The Singers Studio for Opera prepares you for successful auditions. Directed by Ms. Alissa Grimaldi, this class offers young opera singers a rewarding experience that helps them identify and achieve their fullest potential.

There are two ways you can participate:

As a PRESENTER, you participate in a “mock audition” for approximately thirty minutes and then receive feedback and suggestions from Ms. Grimaldi. Presenters pay $40.

As an OBSERVER, you listen and watch, and then join in the discussion of each performance. Commentary is encouraged from all Presenters and Observers. Observers pay $20.

As well as singing, we also address acting, movement, musical intent, and phrase transitions in our classes in order to more convincingly present your arias.

This will enable you to seamlessly combine singing and acting to assure greater command during your auditions.

Besides my decades of experience as singing many of the major soprano roles, I have also appeared in musical theater and acted in many roles.  I am an Actor’s Equity member, and have directed in both opera and musical theater.  I believe my background, combined with the motivation of our singers will result in a strong collaboration.

A successful audition should always convey that you want the job enough to do the preparation. You are expected to:

* Know the opera – read the entire score.
* Know the musical style of the period
* Understand the text (know what the words mean)
* Understand the character you are portraying
* Present the music with full integrity – note values, tempo, dynamics
* Know about the composer and what they are trying to convey
* Wear appropriate audition attire

Ms. Grimaldi provides the support and encouragement to bring out your best performance.

THE ALISSA GRIMALDI PERFORMANCE SERIES

Many of the singers at the Singers Studio for Opera sing at the Alissa Grimaldi Performance Series.

THE CONCEPT
The purpose of the series is to provide an opportunity for singers to perform in front of an audience to build their experience, and for audiences to discover new artists.

We usually have six or more performers each evening, with each one singing two pieces. will have mostly opera arias, but also sometimes instrumentals and musical theater. There is a piano accompanist.

AUDITIONS
Auditions take place at the Singers Studio for Opera master class. Be prepared to sing one or more arias of your choice, and please bring two copies of your music. For more information and if you wish to audition, contact Alissa Grimaldi at 212-679-3461 or AlissaGrimaldi@mac.com.

Click on the images to the right to see videos of the singers at our last four performances.