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THE SCOOP | Stratford Summer Music Launches New Vocal Academy

By Michael Vincent on April 2, 2015

John Miller, Artistic Producer of Stratford Summer Music
John Miller, Artistic Producer of Stratford Summer Music
Michael Vincent
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Training academies are becoming an increasingly important part of classical summer music festivals. Le Domaine Forget, Toronto Summer Music, Brott Music Festival, Tanglewood, Ravina, Glimmerglass, Santa Fe all offer apprentice programs aimed at providing top-notch training for up-and-coming musicians during the summer festival season. Now we can add Stratford Summer Music to the list.

As part of Stratford Summer Music’s 15th anniversary season, they will be launching a new Vocal Academy with the goal of identifying the best Canadian emerging vocalists, and supporting the progress of their emerging careers.

“It’s really the coming together of three visions,” said John Miller, Artistic Producer of Stratford Summer Music.

The first was when internationally acclaimed tenor Michael Schade, spoke with Miller about the idea of mentoring Canadian singers during his time in Stratford this summer.  After teaching at the Vocal Academy of the Salzburg Festival for many years, he was keen to bring a similar educational initiatives with him back to Canada.

The second was when Canadian baritone Phillip Addis, and vocal coach and accompanist Emily Hamper, (both based in Stratford) spoke asked Miller about the possibility of doing some teaching at the summer festival.

The third was the ongoing discussions between Miller and the festival’s board in hopes of finding a way to incorporate professional development in association with the artists that they work with every summer.

All three elements came together in what will be the new Stratford Summer Music Vocal Academy, which kicks off this summer on Sunday, August 9 through 15, during the regular festival season.

The selection process is well underway with an April 17, 2015 application deadline fast approaching. By May 1st, the jury will have selected up to eight graduate, post-graduate, and emerging status professional-level singers and one vocal accompaniment pianist.

The artists will receive daily individual training, and participate in specially themed masterclasses with visiting artists performing in the festival’s as yet announced line-up. Singers will also be given access to the many arts activities in Stratford, including Michael Shade’s afternoon recital at St. Andrews Church on Sunday, August 9, and a final concert with all participants on August 15th.

“RBC has come through as a major funder for this, through their emerging artists program” says Miller. He adds they will provide an unforgettable experience for the eight participants in what they hope will become an integral part of the summer music festival each year.

The cost of the registration will be $600, but there will be a number of scholarships available to help cover the costs, which includes lodging at $199-300 per week, and includes breakfast.

For those interested in applying, you have until April 17, 2015. See here for more details.

 

Michael Vincent
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