Baroque Academy

Cast of Les Indes GalantesJuly 5-12, 2015

Directed by Saskia Coolen

Faculty:

Julianne Baird, voice

Aisslinn Nosky, violin

Saskia Coolen, recorder

Reine-Marie Verhagen, recorder

Wilbert Hazelzet, flute

Debra Nagy, oboe

Wouter Verschuren, bassoon

Sarah Freiberg, cello

Arthur Haas, harpsichord

Peter Sykes, harpsichord

Richard Stone, lute and theorbo

Drew Minter, opera director

Kevin Mallon, conductor

The Amherst Baroque Academy is a program for advanced amateur, pre-professional, and professional singers and instrumentalists who wish to deepen their understanding of Baroque music and style in a dynamic workshop setting. Pitch is A=415.

The Opera Project will be Handel's opera Il Pastor Fido, Directed by Drew Minter, and conducted by Kevin Mallon. Singers cast in the opera have a morning master class with Pamela Dellal followed by a full day of opera rehearsals. The opera cast will be set by April 15, based on auditions due April 1.

Singers can choose to audition for the Opera Project, the Baroque Academy Vocal Soloist Program, or both.

The Vocal Soloist program will include:

9:00-10:30 Masterclass with Baroque specialist Julianne Baird

11:00-12:30 Chamber music with period instruments OR Steffani arias with Pamela Dellal

1:45-3:15 Class on vocal style and ornamentation with Julianne Baird

3:30-5:00 Staged Cavalli opera scenes with lute continuo, directed by Julianne Baird, Richard Stone, and Grant Herreid.

Instrumentalists:

9:00-10:30 Masterclasses

11:00-12:30 Chamber music coaching sessions

1:45-3:15 Aisslinn Nosky coaches a string ensemble, Wouter Verschuren's oboe band plays music from the Sonsfeld ms, flute and recorder topic class with Wilbert Hazelzet, harpsichord topic class with Arthur Haas; lute topic class with Richard Stone.

3:30-5:30 Opera orchestra, harpsichord topic class, recorders consort with Saskia Coolen leading to performance.

Tuition: $620. Click here for information on Room and Board options. Registration opens by Feb 1, 2015.

Audition due dates: April 1, 2015 for Singers, May 1 for Instrumentalists.

Audition Information

To audition, please click below to visit our page on getacceptd.com.

Submit your digital application

You will need to submit:

1. $30 registration fee

2. Your resume or a brief description (one or two paragraphs) summarizing your musical background and experience, including formal and informal training and education.

3. 10-15 minutes of music showing your technique, expression, and understanding of baroque style. The piece need not be accompanied. For 2015, please include a selection from an Italian or Spanish composer if possible. Please include composer and title information with your submission.

4. Singers auditioning for the Baroque Opera Project will also need to submit a head shot and a brief physical description: hair color, eye color, height, and weight. Photographs are accepted in any standard form. This information is required to be considered for a role in the opera.

Many file types for audio and video can be uploaded on the Acceptd website. 

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Scholarships

Limited scholarship funds are available, to apply, provide a cover letter with audition packet that details your experience and goals in the field of early music.  Early Music America also provides scholarships. You may also consider contacting your local arts and cultural societies about possible funding. We would be happy to help in providing documentation to assist you in obtaining a third-party scholarship.

Work-Study tuition assistance available in exchange for help with various tasks around the festival.  Application will be posted and linked here when it is available.