William Stone: news
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011 12:01 PM EST
Review: 3 engaging new works for voice and string quartet
Lyric Fest premieres compositions by Allen Krantz, Curt Cacioppo, and Maurice Wright
by David Patrick Stearns | Philadelphia Inquirer, 15 NOV 2011
Most music lovers can count the number of works they know for voice and string quartet on one hand, but are likely to know each one by heart, ... [Read more]
by David Patrick Stearns | Philadelphia Inquirer, 15 NOV 2011
Most music lovers can count the number of works they know for voice and string quartet on one hand, but are likely to know each one by heart, ... [Read more]
Sunday, September 25th, 2011 9:18 AM EDT
To Kiss The Earth ~ Potter, Poet and Guide
On November 12 and 13, 2011, Philadelphia's Lyric Fest series celebrates the creative artist and the flow of inspiration from one generation to the next with three works by living composers.
The program features the world premiere of Maurice Wright’s To Kiss the Earth, settings from the 1925 diaries of Bauhaus potter Marguerite Wildenhain, for baritone and string quartet, utilizing an English translation by William Stone.
Also featured are Allen Krantz’s Little Elegy with Books and Beasts for soprano, violin and cello, and the world premiere of Curt Cacioppo’s Volgi, Beatrice for soprano and string quartet, based on lines from Dante’s Purgatorio.
Guest artists are baritone William Stone, soprano Elizabeth Weigle and the Ravenhill String Quartet, with letters and diaries read by mezzo-soprano and Lyric Fest co-founder Suzanne DuPlantis. The program also includes commentary by the composers.
The first concert takes place on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 3 pm in Philadelphia University's Ravenhill Chapel, and the second performance on Sunday, November, 13, 2011 at 3 pm at The Academy of Vocal Arts. Tickets are available online. Go to the concert page on the Lyric Fest website, click "Buy Tickets" then select the appropriate tickets from the list.
The program features the world premiere of Maurice Wright’s To Kiss the Earth, settings from the 1925 diaries of Bauhaus potter Marguerite Wildenhain, for baritone and string quartet, utilizing an English translation by William Stone.Also featured are Allen Krantz’s Little Elegy with Books and Beasts for soprano, violin and cello, and the world premiere of Curt Cacioppo’s Volgi, Beatrice for soprano and string quartet, based on lines from Dante’s Purgatorio.
Guest artists are baritone William Stone, soprano Elizabeth Weigle and the Ravenhill String Quartet, with letters and diaries read by mezzo-soprano and Lyric Fest co-founder Suzanne DuPlantis. The program also includes commentary by the composers.
The first concert takes place on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 3 pm in Philadelphia University's Ravenhill Chapel, and the second performance on Sunday, November, 13, 2011 at 3 pm at The Academy of Vocal Arts. Tickets are available online. Go to the concert page on the Lyric Fest website, click "Buy Tickets" then select the appropriate tickets from the list.
For more information about potter Marguerite Wildenhain:
· William Stone's Pottery Connection page
· South Bear Press: "Marguerite Wildenhain and the Bauhaus: An Eyewitness Anthology"
· Marguerite Wildenhain on Wikipedia
· William Stone's Pottery Connection page
· South Bear Press: "Marguerite Wildenhain and the Bauhaus: An Eyewitness Anthology"
· Marguerite Wildenhain on Wikipedia
Tuesday, March 29th, 2011 10:28 AM EDT
Students of William Stone: April 2011 News Update
Recent, notable achievements by three of William Stone's vocal students:
Nicholas Masters: A National Grand Finalist for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and a Finalist and Encouragement Award Winner with The George London Foundation. This summer Nicholas appears with the Caramoor Festival singing Bill Bobstay in H.M.S. Pinafore and Walter in Guillaume Tell.
Ryan Kuster: Ryan, an Adler Fellow with the San Francisco Opera, was recently a National Semifinalist for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Upcoming engagements include Sam in Trouble in Tahiti with Opera Santa Barbara, Pantalone in Le donne curiose with Wolf Trap Opera Company; the Mandarin in Turandot, Astolfo in Lucrezia Borgia, Masetto and the cover of Leporello in Don Giovanni, with San Francisco Opera.
Michelle Johnson: A National Grand Finalist Winner for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and a Finalist and Encouragement Award Winner from The George London Foundations. In February, she also won the The Marian Anderson Scholars Competition in Philadelphia. Her next engagement is Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with The Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia.
Nicholas Masters: A National Grand Finalist for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and a Finalist and Encouragement Award Winner with The George London Foundation. This summer Nicholas appears with the Caramoor Festival singing Bill Bobstay in H.M.S. Pinafore and Walter in Guillaume Tell.
Ryan Kuster: Ryan, an Adler Fellow with the San Francisco Opera, was recently a National Semifinalist for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Upcoming engagements include Sam in Trouble in Tahiti with Opera Santa Barbara, Pantalone in Le donne curiose with Wolf Trap Opera Company; the Mandarin in Turandot, Astolfo in Lucrezia Borgia, Masetto and the cover of Leporello in Don Giovanni, with San Francisco Opera.
Michelle Johnson: A National Grand Finalist Winner for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and a Finalist and Encouragement Award Winner from The George London Foundations. In February, she also won the The Marian Anderson Scholars Competition in Philadelphia. Her next engagement is Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with The Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia.
Monday, January 31st, 2011 5:53 AM EST
Students Headed to Met Semifinals
Three of William Stone's students at AVA will be advancing to the Metropolitan Opera National Council Semifinal Auditions in New York City on March 6, 2011. Michelle Johnson, soprano, was a Regional winner in Boston, and Ryan Kuster, bass-baritone, and Nicholas Masters, bass, were Regional winners in Washington, DC.
Three of William Stone's students at AVA will be advancing to the Metropolitan Opera National Council Semifinal Auditions
in New York City on March 6, 2011. Michelle Johnson, soprano, was a Regional winner in Boston, and Ryan Kuster, Bass Baritone,
and Nicholas Masters, Bass, were Regional winners in Washington, DC.
Monday, January 3rd, 2011 8:15 PM EST
Students of William Stone: January 2011 News Update
Bass-baritone Ryan Kuster will be an Adler Fellow with the San Francisco Opera starting this month, and will be performing at Wolftrap next summer.
Soprano Melissa Mino, a recent graduate of Temple's University's masters program, will be an apprentice with Sarasota Opera during the 2011 winter season. She won third place in the recent national Classical Singer Competition.
Baritone Christian Bowers will be an apprentice with the Santa Fe Opera this summer, and will understudy the title role in their revival of Menotti’s The Last Savage. (William Stone performed the title role in the previous revival with Gian Carlo Menotti directing for the 1981 Spoleto Festival USA.)
Soprano Melissa Mino, a recent graduate of Temple's University's masters program, will be an apprentice with Sarasota Opera during the 2011 winter season. She won third place in the recent national Classical Singer Competition.
Baritone Christian Bowers will be an apprentice with the Santa Fe Opera this summer, and will understudy the title role in their revival of Menotti’s The Last Savage. (William Stone performed the title role in the previous revival with Gian Carlo Menotti directing for the 1981 Spoleto Festival USA.)
Sunday, December 5th, 2010 5:00 AM EST
Three Stone Students among Philly Met winners
The Philadelphia District Met Auditions, held on December 4th, had an unprecedented nine winners this year. Four were from the Curtis Institute of Music, and five were from The Academy of Vocal Arts. Among the AVA winners were three students of William Stone: Christian Bowers, baritone; Ryan Kuster, bass-baritone; and Nicholas Masters, bass. They will compete in the Middle Atlantic Regional Met auditions in Washington, D.C. on January 30th.
Friday, April 30th, 2010 5:39 PM EDT
Students of William Stone continue to garner kudos
Temple senior baritone, John McCarthy, won the "Great Promise Award" in the New York Regional Metropolitan Auditions. Temple graduate student, Melissa Mino, goes to finals of the Classical Singer Vocal Competition in New York City in June at the Graduate level. John and Melissa just sang the Forrester and the Vixen, respectively, in Temple Opera's production of Leoš Janáček's The Cunning Little Vixen.
Nicholas Masters, Academy of Vocal Arts bass, won an Encouragement Award in the Eastern Regional Metropolitan Auditions in Washington, DC. Ryan Kuster, AVA bass-baritone won third place in the prestigious Lisner Competition, and sings in the finals of the Albanese Puccini Competition this Sunday, May 2, in New York City. Nicholas and Ryan sing Colline and Schaunard, respectively, in AVA's opening night of La Bohéme on Saturday, May 1.
Nicholas Masters, Academy of Vocal Arts bass, won an Encouragement Award in the Eastern Regional Metropolitan Auditions in Washington, DC. Ryan Kuster, AVA bass-baritone won third place in the prestigious Lisner Competition, and sings in the finals of the Albanese Puccini Competition this Sunday, May 2, in New York City. Nicholas and Ryan sing Colline and Schaunard, respectively, in AVA's opening night of La Bohéme on Saturday, May 1.
Thursday, March 25th, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
Sheryl Woods to be guest at April 2 masterclass
Soprano Sheryl Woods will be special guest artist for the April 2 masterclass with William Stone at Rock Hall Auditorium. (See the Friday Masterclasses calendar for time and location details).
American soprano Sheryl Woods has built a long and impressive resume since first garnering national attention as an Apprentice Artist at the Santa Fe Opera, when she stepped in to replace the leading lady in LE COMTE ORY in 1978. She has since sung in countless American opera houses including New York City Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, San Diego Opera, Dallas Opera, and the Washington Opera, as well as the opera companies of Baltimore, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Central City, Chautauqua, and Lake George. Her roles have ranged from Magnolia in Jerome Kern’s beloved SHOWBOAT (including a national tour and a Broadway run in New York) to Lucia in LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR and Violetta in LA TRAVIATA, from Rose May Bud in Gilbert and Sullivan’s RUDDIGORE to Blanche DuBois in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE by Andre Previn and Blanche de la Force in Poulenc’s DIALOGUES OF THE CARMELITES. Her career has comprised over seventy-five roles in operas by composers varying from Handel and Mozart to the contemporary Argento, Berio, Picker, and Heggie.
On the concert stage, Miss Woods has been heard in Mendelssohn’s LOBGESANG with Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Carnegie Hall and with the Richmond Symphony in Mahler’s SECOND SYMPHONY; in the MESSIAH with numerous orchestras including San Fransisco and Baltimore Symphonies, the HARMONIEMESSE with Baltimore Symphony; and with the Indianapolis Symphony, the San Jose Symphony, and the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, among others. She also performed “An Evening of Gilbert and Sullivan” with the Boston Pops, which was telecast nationally over PBS as part of the GREAT PERFORMANCES series. International credits include the Spoleto Festival in Melbourne, Australia, Teatro de la Zarzeula with the Orquestra de la Comunidad de Madrid, and both the Edinburgh Festival and the Israel Festival.
Miss Woods has won numerous professional awards, among them the Dealey Award in Dallas, the Diva Award at New York City Opera, “Artist of the Year” at the Washington Opera, and “Female Artist of the Year” at Pittsburgh Opera. She has recorded for CBS Records and for Chandos. She holds a BA in Psychology from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, a bachelor’s equivalency in Music Therapy from DePaul University in Chicago, and the Artist Diploma in Opera Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Miss Woods resides in Philadelphia, where she maintains a private studio, teaching voice and coaching singers preparing concert and audition repertoire and dramatic roles for opera and music theater performance. She also presents master classes and adjudicates for music competitions. She served as a presenter for the Voice Foundation Annual Symposium in Philadelphia in 2007 and 2008 and is currently serving as adjunct voice faculty at Temple University.
American soprano Sheryl Woods has built a long and impressive resume since first garnering national attention as an Apprentice Artist at the Santa Fe Opera, when she stepped in to replace the leading lady in LE COMTE ORY in 1978. She has since sung in countless American opera houses including New York City Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, San Diego Opera, Dallas Opera, and the Washington Opera, as well as the opera companies of Baltimore, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Central City, Chautauqua, and Lake George. Her roles have ranged from Magnolia in Jerome Kern’s beloved SHOWBOAT (including a national tour and a Broadway run in New York) to Lucia in LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR and Violetta in LA TRAVIATA, from Rose May Bud in Gilbert and Sullivan’s RUDDIGORE to Blanche DuBois in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE by Andre Previn and Blanche de la Force in Poulenc’s DIALOGUES OF THE CARMELITES. Her career has comprised over seventy-five roles in operas by composers varying from Handel and Mozart to the contemporary Argento, Berio, Picker, and Heggie.
On the concert stage, Miss Woods has been heard in Mendelssohn’s LOBGESANG with Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Carnegie Hall and with the Richmond Symphony in Mahler’s SECOND SYMPHONY; in the MESSIAH with numerous orchestras including San Fransisco and Baltimore Symphonies, the HARMONIEMESSE with Baltimore Symphony; and with the Indianapolis Symphony, the San Jose Symphony, and the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, among others. She also performed “An Evening of Gilbert and Sullivan” with the Boston Pops, which was telecast nationally over PBS as part of the GREAT PERFORMANCES series. International credits include the Spoleto Festival in Melbourne, Australia, Teatro de la Zarzeula with the Orquestra de la Comunidad de Madrid, and both the Edinburgh Festival and the Israel Festival.
Miss Woods has won numerous professional awards, among them the Dealey Award in Dallas, the Diva Award at New York City Opera, “Artist of the Year” at the Washington Opera, and “Female Artist of the Year” at Pittsburgh Opera. She has recorded for CBS Records and for Chandos. She holds a BA in Psychology from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, a bachelor’s equivalency in Music Therapy from DePaul University in Chicago, and the Artist Diploma in Opera Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Miss Woods resides in Philadelphia, where she maintains a private studio, teaching voice and coaching singers preparing concert and audition repertoire and dramatic roles for opera and music theater performance. She also presents master classes and adjudicates for music competitions. She served as a presenter for the Voice Foundation Annual Symposium in Philadelphia in 2007 and 2008 and is currently serving as adjunct voice faculty at Temple University.
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010 10:35 PM EST
William Stone adjudicates at Met District Auditions in Cincinnati
William Stone was one of three adjudicators for Metropolitan Opera National Council District Auditions held on Saturday, January 9 at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. The other judges on the panel were Cincinnati Opera’s chorus master Henri Venanzi and Brian Salesky, executive director and conductor of Knoxville Opera.
Judges also awarded top prize and $1,000 to 21-year-old soprano Amanda Kaye Woodbury, a student at Indiana University. The other two district winners, also awarded $1,000 each and advancing to the next round, were mezzo-soprano Caitlin Mathes (age 27) and baritone Luis Alejandro Orozco (age 25), both students from University of Cincinnati.
These three singers will compete again on Saturday, January 16 in the competition’s regional auditions at Butler University in Indianapolis.
Judges also awarded top prize and $1,000 to 21-year-old soprano Amanda Kaye Woodbury, a student at Indiana University. The other two district winners, also awarded $1,000 each and advancing to the next round, were mezzo-soprano Caitlin Mathes (age 27) and baritone Luis Alejandro Orozco (age 25), both students from University of Cincinnati.
These three singers will compete again on Saturday, January 16 in the competition’s regional auditions at Butler University in Indianapolis.
Saturday, December 12th, 2009 1:12 PM EST
Students of William Stone meet with success
Vocal students of William Stone have achieved some recent and newsworthy successes:
Christian Bowers, baritone, recently sang the Philadelphia premier of Lee Hoiby's I Have a Dream in recital at Temple University. He lives about 10 miles from the composer, and was coached by him for this premier.
John McCarthy, baritone, a senior in vocal performance at Temple University, was a winner in the NYC District Met Auditions and advances to the Regionals at 92nd St. Y in NYC on the 19th of January.
Nicholas Masters, a bass at The Academy of Vocal Arts, was a winner in the Philadelphia District Met Auditions and advances to the Regionals at the Kennedy Center in DC on January 31st. Nicholas will also be singing the role of Bottom in Midsummer Night's Dream this summer at Wolftrap.
Ryan Kuster, a bass-baritone at The Academy of Vocal Arts, will be in the prestigious Merola Program this summer with the San Francisco Opera.
Watch for more upcoming news of William Stone's students on this website.
# # #
Christian Bowers, baritone, recently sang the Philadelphia premier of Lee Hoiby's I Have a Dream in recital at Temple University. He lives about 10 miles from the composer, and was coached by him for this premier.
John McCarthy, baritone, a senior in vocal performance at Temple University, was a winner in the NYC District Met Auditions and advances to the Regionals at 92nd St. Y in NYC on the 19th of January.
Nicholas Masters, a bass at The Academy of Vocal Arts, was a winner in the Philadelphia District Met Auditions and advances to the Regionals at the Kennedy Center in DC on January 31st. Nicholas will also be singing the role of Bottom in Midsummer Night's Dream this summer at Wolftrap.
Ryan Kuster, a bass-baritone at The Academy of Vocal Arts, will be in the prestigious Merola Program this summer with the San Francisco Opera.
Watch for more upcoming news of William Stone's students on this website.
# # #
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009 12:22 PM EDT
Friday Masterclasses at The Rock
Vocal masterclasses with William Stone and his students begin again this Friday, September 4, at Rock Hill Auditorium at Temple University. The weekly masterclasses take place each Friday at Noon through December 4, with the exception of the Friday after Thanksgiving. Classes last an hour and 50 minutes each, and are free and open to the public for observation.
Thursday, July 16th, 2009 1:33 PM EDT
Academy of Vocal Arts welcomes William Stone as visiting artist
PHILADELPHIA - The Academy of Vocal Arts welcomes visiting artist, William Stone this fall. Mr. Stone will work with some of AVA’s talented resident artists on a one-to-one basis during the season. In addition to his career as an opera singer, concert artist, and recitalist, Mr. Stone´s teaching experience includes master classes across the United States and in Europe, as well as positions with the Opera Theater and Music Festival of Lucca, Italy, and the University of Illinois. He currently serves as Professor of Voice and Opera with the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University.
K. James McDowell, Executive Director of the Academy of Vocal Arts, says Mr. Stone was chosen to join the faculty because of his "proven record as a teacher and presenter of master classes, and his broad-based experience with opera, oratorio, art song, and his superior musicianship, which enabled him to portray many of the most interesting baritone roles in 20th century opera, such as Mathis der Mahler and Wozzeck." [...continued]
Read or download the entire press release in PDF format from the Academy of Vocal Arts website here.
K. James McDowell, Executive Director of the Academy of Vocal Arts, says Mr. Stone was chosen to join the faculty because of his "proven record as a teacher and presenter of master classes, and his broad-based experience with opera, oratorio, art song, and his superior musicianship, which enabled him to portray many of the most interesting baritone roles in 20th century opera, such as Mathis der Mahler and Wozzeck." [...continued]
Read or download the entire press release in PDF format from the Academy of Vocal Arts website here.
Monday, July 13th, 2009 12:22 PM EDT
Pentatone releases SA-CD of David Garner songs
Composer David Garner has announced the release of his new SA-CD "Phenomenon" by Pentatone Classics, which includes his "Five Haiku" duets as performed by soprano Stephanie Friede and baritone William Stone.
For more information, visit the "Phenomenon" product page on the Pentatone Classics website.
For more information, visit the "Phenomenon" product page on the Pentatone Classics website.
Tuesday, July 7th, 2009 12:05 PM EDT
Duke Hospital to host William Stone presentation of "instant replay" voice training
Duke Voice Care Center and Duke Raleigh Hospital are will host a presentation by baritone William Stone on use of instant replay video technology for voice training. Dr. Stone uses the Dartfish Instant Video Replay program to enhance voice teaching by providing visual and audio biofeedback.
The Duke Voice Care Center Dartfish Presentation will take place on July 20 from 4-6 PM on the campus of Duke Raleigh Hospital, 3400 Wake Forest Road in Medical Office 7, lower level classroom. Directions to Duke Raleigh are at http://www.dukeraleighhospital.org/about_us/map. A map of the campus is at http://www.dukeraleighhospital.org/about_us/map/index/duke_raleigh_campus_map.pdf. The presentation is free and open to the public, but space is limited and reservation is required. For more information or to make a reservation for the presentation, please call Karen Poston, Duke Voice Care Center Liaison at 919-681-4984.
Dr. Stone describes his use of Dartfish in teaching as follows:
"In the Fall of 2006, I was able to set up my voice studio to use the innovative Dartfish software, which allows instant replay, in the teaching of singing. I and my students are delighted with the results. Having video clips from each student’s first lesson creates a documentation of his/her starting level of singing, and provides a basis for measurement of progress over time. With Dartfish, we can record and analyze all aspects of a singer’s performance such as vocal technique, diction, pronunciation, musical accuracy and expression, facial expression, stage deportment, movement, gestures, etc., and even opera scenes and roles. The real advantage of Dartfish is its ability to provide immediate feedback, and to isolate and repeatedly review a small segment of movement and/or sound until it can be corrected and perfected. The students have the added advantage of being able to see and hear themselves objectively, just like the teacher does, which is impossible while singing."
The Duke Voice Care Center Dartfish Presentation will take place on July 20 from 4-6 PM on the campus of Duke Raleigh Hospital, 3400 Wake Forest Road in Medical Office 7, lower level classroom. Directions to Duke Raleigh are at http://www.dukeraleighhospital.org/about_us/map. A map of the campus is at http://www.dukeraleighhospital.org/about_us/map/index/duke_raleigh_campus_map.pdf. The presentation is free and open to the public, but space is limited and reservation is required. For more information or to make a reservation for the presentation, please call Karen Poston, Duke Voice Care Center Liaison at 919-681-4984.
Dr. Stone describes his use of Dartfish in teaching as follows:
"In the Fall of 2006, I was able to set up my voice studio to use the innovative Dartfish software, which allows instant replay, in the teaching of singing. I and my students are delighted with the results. Having video clips from each student’s first lesson creates a documentation of his/her starting level of singing, and provides a basis for measurement of progress over time. With Dartfish, we can record and analyze all aspects of a singer’s performance such as vocal technique, diction, pronunciation, musical accuracy and expression, facial expression, stage deportment, movement, gestures, etc., and even opera scenes and roles. The real advantage of Dartfish is its ability to provide immediate feedback, and to isolate and repeatedly review a small segment of movement and/or sound until it can be corrected and perfected. The students have the added advantage of being able to see and hear themselves objectively, just like the teacher does, which is impossible while singing."
Saturday, February 21st, 2009 9:00 AM EST
World Voice Day 2009 celebration includes William Stone as guest panelist
Baritone William Stone will be among the featured guest panelists at the World Voice Day Celebration 2009, which will be will be held on Sunday, April 5, Noon–5 p.m. at the Renaissance Raleigh Hotel at North Hills, located at 4100 Main at North Hills Street in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The theme of the annual World Voice Day is vocal health: "Learn how to make your voice last a lifetime." The half-day celebration offers participants information on how to care for your voice, with special tips for singers and other vocal performers, teachers, and clergy; interactive acoustic voice analysis; demonstration of video laryngeal imaging.
Special events include a performance by vocalist Lois Deloatch; a panel discussion with voice experts, including Grant Llewellyn, Lois Deloatch, Metropolitan Opera baritone William Stone, former host of Good Morning America David Hartman, American Public Media’s The Story host Dick Gordon, John Dancy, and others; educational session on how the voice works, preventive vocal care, and effective treatment options for voice disorders by the Duke team of otolaryngologists, speech pathologists, and singing-voice specialist.
Free admission. Refreshments provided. Space is limited. To register, call 1-888-ASK-DUKE (1-888-275-3853).
Get the World Voice Day Celebration 2009 Flyer in PDF by clicking the image below (opens new browser window):
The theme of the annual World Voice Day is vocal health: "Learn how to make your voice last a lifetime." The half-day celebration offers participants information on how to care for your voice, with special tips for singers and other vocal performers, teachers, and clergy; interactive acoustic voice analysis; demonstration of video laryngeal imaging.
Special events include a performance by vocalist Lois Deloatch; a panel discussion with voice experts, including Grant Llewellyn, Lois Deloatch, Metropolitan Opera baritone William Stone, former host of Good Morning America David Hartman, American Public Media’s The Story host Dick Gordon, John Dancy, and others; educational session on how the voice works, preventive vocal care, and effective treatment options for voice disorders by the Duke team of otolaryngologists, speech pathologists, and singing-voice specialist.
Free admission. Refreshments provided. Space is limited. To register, call 1-888-ASK-DUKE (1-888-275-3853).
Get the World Voice Day Celebration 2009 Flyer in PDF by clicking the image below (opens new browser window):
Friday, November 21st, 2008 11:08 AM EST
New audio added: Orff, Puccini, Ward
Four new audio files featuring baritone William Stone have been added to our "Listen" page: "Estuans interius ira vehementi" from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, "I am John Proctor" from Robert Ward's The Crucible, and two selections from Puccini's operas, "Questo amor, vergogna mia" (from Edgar) and "Nulla! silenzio!" (from Il Tabarro).
Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 2:05 PM EST
Benita Valente is guest at Friday Masterclass
For this week's Friday Masterclass (11/14), William Stone welcomes soprano Benita Valente as guest artist.
Valente and Stone first shared the stage as soloists on February 12, 1988, during a performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in Tampa, Florida, under the direction of the late Robert Shaw.
They most famously sang together again in the '90s as a recital duo, touring eight concerts of Hugo Wolf's Italienisches Liederbuch to venues which included the Gardner Museum in Boston, Cincinnati Art Museum, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and Weil Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
For the masterclass, Ms. Valente will listen to selected songs and arias performed by Dr. Stone's students and offer her professional observations and feedback in front of the assembled audience.
All workshops are free and open to public observers. See the Friday Masterclass calendar for a list of scheduled dates and currently available details.
William Stone and Benita Valente in 1999.
[photo: Steve J. Sherman]
Sunday, September 7th, 2008 6:27 PM EDT
Singing in a Choral Setting
This week's Friday Masterclass (Sept. 12), "Singing in a Choral Setting," welcomes guest Dr. Tram Sparks, Associate Director of Choral Activities at Temple University, who will lead a working discussion on proper singing within a chorus.
All workshops are free and open to public observers. See the Friday Masterclass calendar for a list of scheduled dates and currently available details.
Thursday, September 4th, 2008 9:22 AM EDT
Friday vocal masterclasses begin Sept. 5th
A series of weekly vocal masterclasses by William Stone begins Friday, Sept. 5th. The nearly 2-hour masterclasses will be held every Friday at Temple University's Rock Hall Auditorium, from 12:40pm to 2:30pm.
These classes are offered as an opportunity for students,
singers, teachers and members of the community to observe a
professional singer and teacher work with his own students on
the technical aspects of singing and performing in a public
forum. Guest appearances by colleagues and performers will be
announced.
All workshops are free and open to public observers. See the Friday Masterclass calendar for a list of scheduled dates and currently available details.
Monday, September 1st, 2008 7:00 AM EDT
William Stone launches new website
Today, September 1, 2008 marks the launch of williamstonebaritone.com, the official artist's website of baritone William Stone. The website has been established to be the central hub of information about Mr. Stone and his activities. Your greetings and comments are welcomed, and can be sent using the Contact form linked in the menu on the left of each page. Please watch for further developments.
Monday, July 21st, 2008 9:00 AM EDT
Trio of concerts at 2008 Bellingham Festival
Baritone William Stone made his debut appearance with the esteemed Bellingham Festival of Music this month in Bellingham, Washington.
As part of the Festival's 15th season, which ran from July 5th though 20th this year, Stone performed as featured soloist in three concerts with the Bellingham Festival Orchestra, led by artistic director Michael Palmer, in works by J.S. Bach, Maurice Ravel, and Gustav Mahler.
On July 10, Stone performed Bach's cantata "Ich will den Kreutzstab gerne tragen," followed on July 14th by Bach's "Ich habe genug" and Ravel's three songs on texts by Paul Morand, "Don Quichotte à Dulcinée," the composer's last completed work.
To open the Festival's grand finale concert on July 20th, Stone was joined by tenor Jeffrey Springer to perform Mahler's "Das Lied von der Erde" in the chamber orchestra transcription by Arnold Schönberg.