Deborah Voigt Joins San Francisco Conservatory of Music Faculty

Internationally revered operatic soprano Deborah Voigt has been appointed to the full-time voice faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM). Beginning in the fall of 2016, Voigt, known the world over for her "majestic voice"(WSJ), will bring to SFCM the benefit of singing experience that spans an extraordinary spectrum, from her renowned performances in the operas of Wagner, Strauss, and more, to her celebrated recital appearances and acclaimed presentations of Broadway standards and popular songs. Through private lessons and master classes with Voigt, select SFCM voice students will receive the unique opportunity to gain insight and training from one of the world's most versatile singers and music's most endearing personalities.

SFCM President David H. Stull says:

"I am tremendously excited for Deborah Voigt to join our faculty. Ms. Voigt brings a unique combination of magnificent artistry, business savvy, resilience, and grounded realism that will provide an unparalleled resource for our voice students. She is one of the rare superstars who is a highly gifted teacher and genuinely enjoys working with young artists. We are thrilled to have her with us. I am deeply grateful to Diane Wilsey and the Voigt Consortium for their tremendous support in making this happen."

It was SFCM's commitment to recruiting world-class musicians and teachers to its faculty that drew the Conservatory's leadership to Voigt, who always felt that the arc of her career would one day see her holding a teaching position. She was compelled to take the leap, in part, by the Conservatory's inspiring mission of providing an innovative and transformative education for its students. Though she has taught extensively throughout the country in master class settings, the SFCM appointment marks Voigt's first full-time faculty position.

"While performing on stage will continue to be central to my life, I'm really thrilled to be heading out West to begin this next phase of my career," says Voigt. "I'm intrigued by the growth potential I see happening at the Conservatory, and by David Stull's ideas about shaping young singers into well-rounded artists. That's extremely important for young people who are pursuing careers in the arts at a time when it's more competitive than it was even when I was starting out." César Ulloa, SFCM voice department chair, says that Voigt has been and still is a transcendent figure in the opera world, and that she will bring an incomparable wealth of experience to her students. He adds: "I am excited to have dramatic soprano Deborah Voigt join our voice faculty. She will make an essential contribution to the voice department at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, as well as to the entire arts community in the Bay Area. She brings with her an immense knowledge of repertoire and understanding of the voice, having performed important roles in major opera houses and concert halls around the world with the greatest conductors of this generation, as well as mentoring many young singers."

Ulloa explains that Voigt's extraordinary technique has allowed her to take on the major Wagnerian roles, and will attract the in-demand, larger voices to SFCM.

"Ms. Voigt understands and knows what it takes to develop technically and cultivate that very special and rare dramatic voice type. Dramatic voices are important for the future of opera, and Ms. Voigt has that ability to identify the next generation of dramatic sopranos."

Voigt and San Francisco
Voigt was raised in California, and her long association with San Francisco Opera dates back to 1985, when she received professional training as a member of the prestigious Merola Opera Program, which led to her participation in the San Francisco Opera Adler Fellowship Program for the next two years. Before she rose to international fame, Bay Area audiences first heard the soprano as an emerging artist in the company's productions of Don Carlos, Jenufa, Macbeth, Nabucco, and Die Zauberflöte. She later returned to undertake leading roles in Un ballo in maschera, Tannhäuser, Die Walküre, Ariadne auf Naxos, and, most recently, the title role of La fanciulla del West in 2010. In 2013 Voigt hosted the San Francisco benefit concert for Sing With Haiti, to aid the rebuilding of Haiti's Holy Trinity Music School, destroyed in the earthquake of 2010. In December 2015, she appeared with the 350 voices of the San Francisco Girls Chorus in "An American Christmas" at Davies Symphony Hall. She returns to the area this week for the West Coast premiere of Voigt Lessons, with two performances on May 6 and 8 presented by SF Opera Lab.

Voigt will maintain her performing career in tandem with her new teaching position, and her commitment to her future SFCM students is already apparent.

"I'll still be singing, and right now I'm trying to figure out how to balance it all. A couple of things just had to go because they were going to keep me away from the school too long, and that wouldn't be fair to the students."

Deborah Voigt's faculty appointment is being supported by the Voigt Consortium, initiated with a lead gift and challenge grant from Diane B. Wilsey.

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