In this episode, Charissa Fonbah (@charissafonbah) is joined by tenor and internet sensation Orlando Montalvo (@orlandoopera) as they have a discussion about the Opera Industry, their lives post-graduate school, and much more!
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In this episode, they discuss some of the following topics:
AI in Opera
What We're Up To
Business - Side Hustles
College Light Opera Company
Musical Theatre
Song-Writing
Baroque Ornamentation
Networking
Our FEARS
Enjoying the Audition Process
Reading
Advice for Singers
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Thanks so much Orlando for coming on today's episode! You can follow Orlando here:
https://www.instagram.com/orlandoopera/
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Where you can find me:
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel!
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Music by @gehskeys
Jarrod Lee came to JSU a few weeks?Months? I can't remember now...He came to JSU awhile ago to hear some of us sing and give us some feedback. Afterwards he stayed and gave us some very sound advice. When I started my podcast, he was one of the first people that came to mind who I wanted to interview because he was someone from JSU that was currently doing the thing I want to do! What an inspiration! #MusicTalk is finally back with more content. This is the SECOND HALF of the episode.
In this episode we discussed Porgy and Bess, life decisions, rejection, supporting himself while being a performing artist, and MUCH MUCH MORE. If you haven't, then please watch Episode 5 to hear the rest of the interview!
Jarrod Lee, bass baritone, hails from Alabama and presently resides in Maryland. He has received rave reviews from Opera News and The Washington Post. This season Jarrod made a Metropolitan Opera debut as one of the featured soloists in Porgy and Bess and a role debut as the Undertaker in the same opera with Atlanta Opera. A few roles include: Undertaker in Porgy and Bess with Washington National Opera, Angelotti in Tosca with Annapolis Opera, Le Bailli in Werther with Opera Delaware. Jarrod has also performed in community outreach works commissioned by Washington National Opera called In the Smoke of the Sting and Just out the Window by Tom Minter. Jarrod has been a finalist in the Annapolis Opera, the Harlem Opera Theater Vocal Competitions and a semifinalist in Austria’s Meistersinger. In new works, Jarrod premiered the role Levi in the Afro-Futuristic opera ballet called Cloud Nebula by Scott Patterson with Afro House Baltimore, and Joe Louis in Shadowboxer by Frank Proto with the Maryland Opera Studio. Jarrod has also participated in American Voices at the Kennedy Center, curated by Renée Fleming and Jarrod had the honor of performing for President Barack Obama as a featured soloist with the historic Metropolitan A.M.E Church. For updates: www.JarrodLee.com / Website and @Jarrodleebassbaritone / Facebook.
Dr. Gordon gave this speech at a cNAFME event hosted by JSU's cNAFME in 2015. This message is for those apart of that incoming class who have graduated or are about to graduate. I hope you enjoy.
"If you can teach sweaty 6th graders in an unairconditioned bandroom and go home and smile about it, you ought to be in this profession."
A special thanks to Nate Burch for recording this episode so many years ago. This episode would not be possible without him.
Jarrod Lee came to JSU a few weeks?Months? I can't remember now...He came to JSU awhile ago to hear some of us sing and give us some feedback. Afterwards he stayed and gave us some very sound advice. When I started my podcast, he was one of the first people that came to mind who I wanted to interview because he was someone from JSU that was currently doing the thing I want to do! What an inspiration! #MusicTalk is finally back with more content. This is the FIRST HALF of the episode.
In this episode we discussed Porgy and Bess, life decisions, rejection, supporting himself while being a performing artist, and MUCH MUCH MORE.
Jarrod Lee, bass baritone, hails from Alabama and presently resides in Maryland. He has received rave reviews from Opera News and The Washington Post. This season Jarrod made a Metropolitan Opera debut as one of the featured soloists in Porgy and Bess and a role debut as the Undertaker in the same opera with Atlanta Opera. A few roles include: Undertaker in Porgy and Bess with Washington National Opera, Angelotti in Tosca with Annapolis Opera, Le Bailli in Werther with Opera Delaware. Jarrod has also performed in community outreach works commissioned by Washington National Opera called In the Smoke of the Sting and Just out the Window by Tom Minter. Jarrod has been a finalist in the Annapolis Opera, the Harlem Opera Theater Vocal Competitions and a semifinalist in Austria’s Meistersinger. In new works, Jarrod premiered the role Levi in the Afro-Futuristic opera ballet called Cloud Nebula by Scott Patterson with Afro House Baltimore, and Joe Louis in Shadowboxer by Frank Proto with the Maryland Opera Studio. Jarrod has also participated in American Voices at the Kennedy Center, curated by Renée Fleming and Jarrod had the honor of performing for President Barack Obama as a featured soloist with the historic Metropolitan A.M.E Church. For updates: www.JarrodLee.com / Website and @Jarrodleebassbaritone / Facebook.
Demi VanderWerff is pursuing her Master of Music in Voice Performance at University of Mobile. She works as an active performer, director, and teacher in the Southeastern region. Demi has a passion for working with singers of all levels to promote a holistic lifestyle and is the founder of NamaSing, a meditative approach to vocal coaching and performance anxiety. Her favorite roles include Hansel (Hansel & Gretel), Kate (Madama Butterfly), Stephano (Romeo et Juliette), Mary (The Nativity According to St. Luke), and Musetta (La Boheme). Demi has been engaged with Mississippi Opera, University of Mobile Opera, Ars Nova School of the Arts, Jacksonville Opera Theater, Opera Upper West, Bloomington Cantata Project, The Huntsville Community Chorus, IU Opera, Druid City Opera, and Natchez Festival of Music. Interested in all aspects of theater, Ms. VanderWerff has also been involved stage-managing and assistant directing through the Natchez Festival of Music, Red River Lyric Opera, and the OK Mozart Festival.
"I believe that when we come out of this there really will be such a renewal and we're gonna have such gratitude for just being able to do this and gather together and to experience music and to experience creating it. So I think it's gonna be for the best in the end in terms of our careers."
We talked about Demi's business NamaSing, her mental struggle with vocal technique, the impact of college on career trajectory, and her experience during COVID-19.
I would like to let everyone know before listening to this that Demi's grandparents have been released from the hospital! What a blessing! I'm so happy for her and her family.
BAND!BAND!BAND! Kayla talks about her experience in the Marching Southerners, going to Italy, freshman year as a music major, piano proficiency, juries, singing, conquering nerves, and perfectionism! Kayla is an Instrumental Music Education major at Jacksonville State University. She is from Grovetown High School in Georgia where she participated in the marching band for four years.
In this episode I will be discussing the Popular Music Industry with a colleague of mine, Nathaniel Burch.
We covered the affect of COVID-19 on the popular music business, vocal technique, and the German Fach system used in the popular music world. Nate is a Vocal Music Education Major at Jacksonville State University and he has been in the church music ministry for quite some time. He also has been teaching private voice since 2017. Mr. Burch gives accounts of his own experience with transitioning from popular singing to classical singing as well as his opinion on modern-day singing techniques.
For more updates on future episodes, feel free to follow me on Instagram : @charissasop And Facebook : Charissa Rebecca Fonbah
This is my pilot episode! I talk with a colleague of mine, Connor Griffith, about his experience with the Coronavirus and how it has impacted his life as a vocal major. We discussed his performance in the The Hunchback fo Notre Dame with CharACTers Entertainment, Choir for homeschoolers, and Vocal Pedagogy. Most importantly, he explained why he decided to become a music major. Near the end of the episode you’ll see why I called it “snot bubbles”.
For more updates on future episodes, feel free to follow me on Instagram : @charissasop And Facebook : Charissa Rebecca Fonbah