This class is offered periodically throughout the year to help vocal students stand out in recitals, auditions for school musicals, “idol” contests, and college auditions. The focus is on stage presence, acting, movement, and song interpretation.
Many times students are so rushed learning a new piece for recitals, auditions, and festivals that the focus is only on the notes and rhythms and memorization. However, character development and staging is very important, and it is often overlooked in many of our pieces, especially with beginning singers. Even experienced singers often do not know where to begin when asked to work on character development. This workshop is a MUST for performers who want to take their craft to the next level!
Faculty:
Cathy Zucker has been a vocal instructor at the Rochester Conservatory since February, 1997. She has a BA in Music Ed from SUNY Fredonia and a MM in Vocal Performance from SUNY. She was a soloist in Choral works with the Buffalo Philharmonic and has performed in numerous recitals and community Musical Theatre productions. She is comfortable with Classical, Musical Theatre, Jazz and Pop styles. She is also a Church Soloist and has been teaching professionally since 1996. In addition to her duties as a private vocal instructor at the Rochester Conservatory, Ms. Zucker is also the placement director for all incoming students and is an invaluable member of our team! She is passionate about singing and about her students. She loves to help them do what they love and she is very successful at it. Her students often have the lead roles in their high school musicals, many are pursuing careers in music, including recording albums in Nashville. Ms. Zucker’s dedication shows in the achievements of her students. She is excellent at preparing them for auditions and performances and has a high rate of acceptances into college music programs. She has a wonderful, caring demeanor and she is loved by her students.
Clifford Wilkins (Co-Owner of the Rochester Conservatory) has been teaching piano at the Conservatory since 1989. He has been teaching piano professionally since 1977. Mr. Wilkins has a BA in Music, Piano Major, from Oakland University and Post-Baccalaureate studies with Misha Kotler, pianist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Eugene Bossart, head of the accompaniment department at University of Michigan and Professor Emeritus of Chamber Music at University of Michigan. Mr. Wilkins began his music career at the age of 10 as a Church Organist at Sacred Heart Church in Roseville, MI. He has continued as a Church Organist and is currently Director of Music at St. Irenaeus Parish in Rochester Hills, a position he has held since 1982. Mr. Wilkins taught Music Theory at University of Michigan-Flint and served as the staff accompanist there. He has also pursued an active career as a chamber music musician, performing all over the Metropolitan Detroit area, including Orchestra Hall, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Public Library, Brunch with Bach, Evenings with Mozart, plus hundreds of other concerts. Mr. Wilkins has performed with the Detroit Festival Choir at Carnegie Hall in New York. Twice Mr. Wilkins has taken his choir on a performance tour to Italy, conducting the choir and performing on the organ at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, St. John Lateran in Rome, the Sorrento Cathedral, and the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi. Mr. Wilkins has always enjoyed teaching piano and is a Master Teacher. He sees the potential of each of his students and encourages them to reach higher than they thought possible.