Renée Fleming to Lead SongStudio Workshop Celebrating the Art of the Vocal Recital

From January 17-22, 2022, renowned soprano Renée Fleming will mentor 10 aspiring young singers and 10 collaborative pianists from around the world in the fourth year of SongStudio, an innovative program exploring the future of the vocal recital. The annual intensive workshop-hosted by Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute (WMI)-brings emerging vocalists and pianists together with leading artists and coaches for a week of instruction and performance at Carnegie Hall.

"I'm delighted with the amazing roster of rising singers and pianists we have coming this year," said Renée Fleming. "They will have the opportunity to work with truly world-class artists. Christian Gerhaher is one of the most masterful interpreters of German lieder I have ever heard, and Anthony Roth Costanzo is blazing new territory in creative presentations of vocal music. And returning from previous years, we have Graham Johnson, the unparalleled authority on the art of the song, With our regular SongStudio faculty of renowned experts Gerald Martin Moore and Javier Arrebola, I know it's going to be an exciting week. I'm also gratified to see our artists receiving major recognition. SongStudio alumnus Johnathan McCullough has just been nominated for a Grammy Award for his recording of Soldier Songs. His first public performance of material for this project was at SongStudio two years ago. This is exactly the kind of innovative work we strive to foster."

The week will feature leading vocalists, collaborative pianists, and other artists lending their insights and expertise. On Monday, January 17 at 7:30 p.m., Ms. Fleming will kick off the week with a public master class for participants. The following day, Tuesday, January 18 at 7:30 p.m., lauded countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo will lead a public master class as well as lead a private discussion with the SongStudio participants about creative programming and collaborating with artists across genres. Pianist Graham Johnson will share his expertise and lead a master class on Wednesday, January 19 at 7:30 p.m. Sought after baritone Christian Gerhaher will cap off the public events, working with the SongStudio vocalists and collaborative pianists on Friday, January 21 at 7:30 p.m.

All participating singers and pianists will receive one-on-one private lessons and coaching throughout the week with Ms. Fleming and Graham Johnson and learn from teachers, coaches, and collaborative pianists including Gerald Martin Moore, Director of Yale Opera at the university's School of Music and Javier Arrebola, faculty of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.

The week will culminate in a dynamic "Young Artist Recital" on Saturday, January 22 at 8:00 p.m. in Zankel Hall featuring a range of music by Ned Rorem, Debussy, Sibelius, Chausson, Webern, Hemsi, and more.

Following a rigorous audition process open to talented young singers and collaborative pianists from around the world, twenty artists have been selected to participate and paired by faculty, coming from Canada, China, Denmark, New Zealand, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Uruguay, the United Kingdom, and the United States:

Kathryn Henry, Soprano
Artyom Pak, Piano

Tamra Grace Jones, Soprano
Francesco Barfoed, Piano

Mer Wohlgemuth, Soprano
Pierre-Nicolas Colombat, Piano

Maire Therese Carmack, Mezzo-Soprano
Chun Hsin (Cynthia) Liu, Piano

Deepa Johnny, Mezzo-Soprano
Matías Ferreyra, Piano

Daniel Moody, Countertenor
Gracie Francis, Piano

Laurence Kilsby, Tenor
Ella O'Neill, Piano

Joseph Parrish, Baritone
Elias Dagher, Piano

Samuel Kidd, Bass-Baritone
Liza Armistead, Piano

Yue Wu, Bass-Baritone
Tongyao Li, Piano

Following Ms. Fleming's return for SongStudio, she will perform the New York premiere of André Previn and playwright Tom Stoppard's Penelope on Sunday, January 23 at 2:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage alongside Oscar-award nominated actress Uma Thurman, the Emerson String Quartet, and pianist Simone Dinnerstein.

Program Information

Monday, January 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Resnick Education Wing
SONGSTUDIO: RENÉE FLEMING MASTER CLASS

Enjoy an inside look at a SongStudio master class and hear the next generation of great singers hone their craft under the leadership of one of the world's best: Renée Fleming. Designed to renew and refresh the vocal recital experience, SongStudio invites leading musicians to mentor emerging vocalists and collaborative pianists. Together, they explore innovative approaches to both classic and current song repertoire, inviting new audiences to engage with the art form.

Tuesday, January 18 at 7:30 p.m.

Resnick Education Wing
SONGSTUDIO: Anthony Roth Costanzo MASTER CLASS

Under the masterful guidance of world-renowned countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo, emerging vocalists and collaborative pianists come together to explore innovative approaches to both classic and current song repertoire. Designed to renew and refresh the vocal recital experience, SongStudio invites new and familiar audiences to engage with this time-honored, evolving art form.

Wednesday, January 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Resnick Education Wing
SONGSTUDIO: Graham Johnson MASTER CLASS

Under the masterful guidance of renowned pianist Graham Johnson, emerging vocalists and collaborative pianists come together to explore innovative approaches to both classic and current song repertoire. Designed to renew and refresh the vocal recital experience, SongStudio invites new and familiar audiences to engage with this time-honored, evolving art form.

Friday, January 21 at 7:30 p.m.

Resnick Education Wing
SONGSTUDIO: CHRISTIAN GERHAHER MASTER CLASS

Emerging vocalists and collaborative pianists come together under the guidance of baritone Christian Gerhaher to explore innovative approaches to vocal repertoire with an emphasis on German lieder. Designed to renew and refresh the vocal recital experience, SongStudio invites new and familiar audiences to engage with this time-honored, evolving art form.

Saturday, January 22 at 8:00 p.m.

Zankel Hall
SONGSTUDIO: YOUNG ARTIST RECITAL

Marking the culmination of SongStudio, world-renowned sopranoa??Renée Fleming hosts a recital that showcases emerging vocalists and collaborative pianists who have trained with her throughout a weeklong intensive workshop. Marvel at these musical talents, and get a glimpse of the bright future of this time-honored, evolving art form.

About the Artist

Renée Fleming one of the most highly acclaimed singers of our time, performing on the stages of the world's greatest opera houses and concert halls. Honored with four Grammy® awards and the US National Medal of Arts, Renée has sung for momentous occasions from the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony to the Diamond Jubilee Concert for Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. In 2014, she brought her voice to vast new audience as the first classical artist ever to sing The Star-Spangled Banner at the Super Bowl.

Renée's latest album is Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene, with Yannick Nézet-Séguin as pianist. A collection of classical songs and specially commissioned world premieres, the album focuses on nature as both inspiration and casualty of humans. Renée's voice is featured on the soundtracks of Best Picture Oscar winners The Shape of Water and The Lord of the Rings. During the pandemic, Renée's performances on digital platforms have included online concerts for the Metropolitan Opera, the Kennedy Center, Lyric Opera of Chicago, LA Opera, and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

In recent years, Renée has become known as a leading advocate for research at the intersection of arts, health, and neuroscience, giving presentations with scientists and practitioners around the world, and winning Research!America's Rosenfeld Award for Impact on Public Opinion. In 2020, Renée launched Music and Mind LIVE, a weekly web show exploring the connections between arts, human health, and the brain, amassing nearly 700,000 views, from 70 countries.

In addition to directing SongStudio at Carnegie Hall, Renée is Artistic Advisor to the John F. Kennedy Center and Advisor for Special Projects at LA Opera. She is Co-Director of the Aspen Opera Center and VocalArts at the Aspen Music Festival. Renée's other awards include the Fulbright Lifetime Achievement Medal, Germany's Cross of the Order of Merit, and France's Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur. www.reneefleming.com

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