Ravinia Steans Music Institute 2019

RAVINIA’S STEANS MUSIC INSTITUTE 29 and Michael Barrett; and his latest release, Canción amorosa , a CD of Spanish songs with soprano Corinne Winters on the GPR label. Amy Burton , Soprano With a voice the New York Times has called, “luminous” and “lustrous”, versatile soprano Amy Burton enjoys an eclectic career of opera, concert, and cabaret. She has sung with the Met, NYCO, Opernhaus Zürich, Scottish Opera, at the White House, and with major opera houses and orchestras throughout the US and internationally. Appearing frequently with composer- pianist John Musto in cabaret and recital throughout the US and Europe, she has sung in the modern-day premiere of Cole Porter’s rediscovered 1928 musical, La Revue des Ambassadeurs/The Ambassador Revue in New York and Paris. She has recorded for Angel/ EMI, Bridge, Harbinger, CRI, Opera America, Albany, Soundmirror, and Naxos. In demand as a voice teacher, Ms. Burton’s will be joining the Juilliard school in September, 2019. Her students have received awards from the Schmidt Competition, the Metropolitan Opera National Council, the Gerda Lissner, George London, and Kosciuszko Foundations, the Viñas International Singing Contest, and the Conlon-Ziering Prize, among others. She also teaches at Mannes, the CUNY Graduate Center, and maintains a private studio in New York. For more information: www.amyburton.com Anne Champert , French Anne Champert is a french pianist and vocal coach who has served in major european opera houses over the last 30 years. She first worked as a collaborative pianist for the Scottish Opera in Glasgow and for the Opera National de Paris. In 1999 she moved to Germany and became head of music staff at the State Opera of Saarbrücken. Between 2005 and 20015 she was head of music at the Deutsche Oper Berlin where she worked with some of the most inspiring conductors and singers of our time. She is currently professor for vocal repertoire and collaborative piano at the University of Music in Hannover and a regular guest coach at the opera houses of Berlin, Tel Aviv, Bregenz Festival, Aachen, among others. Anne Champert is a graduate of the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique de Paris, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and the University of Paris-Sorbonne. Cori Ellison, Dramaturg Cori Ellison, a leading creative figure in the opera world, was recently appointed staff Dramaturg at Santa Fe Opera and has previously served in that role at New York City Opera and Glyndebourne Festival Opera. A member of the Vocal Arts faculty at the Juilliard School, she has coached and taught master classes for singers at institutions including Glyndebourne, New York City Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Indiana University, Cincinnati College-Conservatory, Mannes College, University of Texas at Austin, Boston University, Boston Conservatory, Michigan State University, DePaul University, University of Illinois, Montclair State University, and Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance program. She regularly serves as a judge for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and many other competitions. Active in developing contemporary opera, she teaches dramaturgy for American Lyric Theater’s Composer Librettist Development Program and is a sought- after dramaturgical consultant to companies including Glyndebourne, Canadian Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Cincinnati Opera, Arizona Opera, and Beth Morrison Projects. She creates supertitles for opera companies across the English-speaking world, and has written English singing translations for City Opera, English National Opera, and the Bard Festival. She has often written for the New York Times and has contributed to books including The New Grove Dictionary of Opera and The Compleat Mozart. John Henes , Alexander Technique John Henes has been teaching the Alexander Technique for more than 35 years. Certified by the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique in London and the American Society for the Alexander Technique, he is on the faculty of Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music. He also maintains a private Alexander teaching practice in Evanston. His private students include members of major orchestras worldwide, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the New York Philharmonic, John is a former member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra trumpet section. Prior to that he was a member of the North Carolina Symphony and United States Army Field band. Myra Huang , Piano and Vocal Coach Acclaimed by Opera News as being “among the top accompanists of her generation,” and “...a colouristic tour de force,” by The New York Times, Grammy-nominated pianist Myra Huang performs in recitals and chamber music concerts around the world. She is highly sought after for her interpretation of lieder and art song, and performs regularly in major concert halls throughout the U.S. and the world. Ms. Huang has served on the music staffs of the Washington National Opera, Houston Grand Opera, New York City Opera, and The Palau De Les Arts in Valencia, Spain. She is a staff member of the Operalia Competition, directed by Placido Domingo, and is invited to teach at various young artist programs throughout the U.S. This season, she collaborated with singers Ana María Martinez, Lawrence Brownlee, Eric Owens, Nicholas Phan, Susanna Phillips, and Marjorie Owens on stages such as The Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Terrace Theater at The Kennedy Center, and The University Musical Society in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ms. Huang’s album “Gods and Monsters” with tenor Nicholas Phan was nominated for “Best Classical Vocal Solo Album” at the 2018 Grammy Awards. Other titles received with acclaim are “Illuminations,” “Winter words,” “Paysages,” and “Still Falls The Rain.” Walter Huff , Vocal Coach Walter Huff is a renowned vocal coach, conductor, and pianist, having worked with singers, choral ensembles, and opera companies across the United States and abroad. Maestro Huff served as longtime chorus master and coach with Atlanta Opera until 2017, and has also worked with San Diego Opera, Washington National Opera, Opéra-Comique, Spoleto Festival, Indiana University Opera, Peabody Opera Theater, Tanglewood Music Center, Brevard Music Center, and many others. He is currently Professor of Choral Conducting and Faculty Director of Opera Choruses at Indiana University, while also maintaining a private coaching studio in Atlanta. As one of the nation’s most celebrated opera chorus masters, Mr. Huff has prepared ensembles for more than one hundred fifty productions, ranging from the majority of mainstream opera titles to musical theater and prominent contemporary works. Mr. Huff has performed in recital with singers in such venues as Alice Tully Hall, Town Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, Spivey Hall, Phillips Collection, and has premiered vocal works by the likes of Ned Rorem and Stephen Paulus. Earning degrees from Oberlin and Peabody Conservatories, Mr. Huff studied piano, conducting, and voice, while also focusing on collaborative piano and vocal literature. He is a frequent clinician for vocal master classes and choral workshops, focusing on areas of interpretation, audition preparation, diction, and choral rehearsal techniques. This is Mr. Huff’s second summer at the Steans Music Institute. Graham Johnson , Piano and Vocal Coach The Rhoades Foundation Fellowship Graham Johnson is recognized as one of the world’s leading vocal accompanists. Born in Rhodesia, he came to London to study in 1967. After leaving the Royal Academy of Music his teachers included Gerald Moore and Geoffrey Parsons. In 1972 he was the official pianist at Peter Pears’ first masterclasses at The Maltings, Snape which brought him into contact with Benjamin Britten—a link which strengthened his determination to accompany. In 1976 he formed The Songmakers’ Almanac to explore neglected areas of piano-accompanied vocal music; the founder singers were Dame Felicity Lott, Ann Murray DBE, Anthony Rolfe Johnson and Richard Jackson—artists with whom he has established long and fruitful collaborations both on the concert platform and the recording studio. Some two hundred and fifty Songmakers’ programmes were presented over the years. His relationship with the Wigmore Hall is a special one. He devised and accompanied concerts in the hall’s re-opening series in 1992, and in its centenary celebrations in 2001. He has been Chairman of the jury for the Wigmore Hall Song Competition since its inception. He is Senior Professor of Accompaniment RSMI SINGERS FACULTY