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American Singer Seminars
"High Altitude training for
vocalists"
* On
Hiatus for Summer, 2008 *
Portland, Oregon
Tuesday,
July 1st
Note from the Artistic Director:
Hi! Since you have found this website, it means you either have
heard of it from someone or you 'googled' your way here with a specific
combination of words. Regardless, while you are here, I would
like to tell you a bit about the program.
If you are a past participant checking out the news, PLEASE drop us a
line to let us know what you are up to.
If you are shopping around for a summer training program, the ASS-MTI
program will continue in the future, so please do check back.
This website will likely see a major revision in the coming
months. Please do check back to see what's new.
As a personal update for those who have worked with me, I have recently
concluded my one-year appointment as Director of Opera Theater at the
University of Oregon. Currently, and for the balance of the
2008-2009 season, I am contracted to appear in regional theater
productions of Les Misérables.
Geoffrey Blaisdell (ASS-MTI faculty) will join me for the production in
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho in August. Currently, I am singing with the
Broadway Rose Theater Company in Portland, Oregon. It is
especially enjoyable as my wife, Liz Byrd, is playing cello in the
orchestra. Also, my son Nicola is here with me for two
weeks. To hang out with him in my dressing room is wonderful.
So, thanks for reading this far down the page! If you have a
question, drop me a line.
Doug
Douglas Webster
AmericanSinger@aol.com
General
Information
Musical
Theater
Intensive
The Musical
Theater Intensive
is a course of instruction in
musical
theater styles and
performance for advanced singers. Since 1999 the program has
featured individual voice lessons
and coaching sessions with actively performing teachers. The MTI program is
geared to both the classically
trained singer and the theatrically
trained actor/singer. Beyond the daily work covering the
preparation
and performance of Musical Theater repertoire, participants will also
work with an acting coach on song text analysis, scene study, audition and
resume materials. [Pictured
right: Morning Movement with
Madeline Zeiberg and the 2002 ASS-MTI class]
Participants are selected on the basis of their talent and the
potential of development they could achieve within the frame-work of
the two-week intensive program. Consideration is paid to the
talents and needs of individual participants balanced with the group
dynamic. The MTI program
is cast as 'an ensemble' within an educational environment.
The MTI program is for the
performer in transition: The high-school
student looking forward to choosing a college-career path; the amateur
performer wishing to develop his/her craft to the highest level;
the college student
who wants to focus on theater singing while enjoying a
break from the environs of academia; the
recent college graduate
preparing for the professional world; the experienced
teacher/educator looking to
renew his/her energy
through a
summer intensive program in a beautiful alpine environment. Each MTI participant comes to the
program with talent, intention and motivation to develop beyond their
expectations. In turn, each participant receives individualized
attention and support in the realization of thier goals.
The AOI program is for the
young opera performer who wishes to learn more about opera created in
America. With vocalism based on Italian vocal training, the
course emphasis is on theatricality, preparation and the history
of the
opera genre adapted for American audiences. Differences in style
and training will be addressed as well as the various experiences a
young American opera singer will be presented with at the beginnings of
a professional career.
Vocal Teacher
Spa and Workshop
The Vocal Teacher Spa is a program
specifically designed to support and envigorate the professional vocal
teacher. With an emphasis on vocal health and happiness for the
Middle and High School Vocal Teacher, the VTS program will address
challenges faced by anyone who uses their instrument in a classroom
environment and is also hoping to be able to use the same instrument
either to demonstrate a technique or in
performance. Discussions of pedagogy and programing will be
balanced with individual attention paid to each singer/teacher and
their particular needs and aspirations. A class on Female 'Belt'
technique will be offered.
American
Theater Singers
Beginning
in 2004, a
new
program was created and made available to past
participants of the Musical Theater
Intensive course. The American
Theater
Singers program guides an  individual
or very select
group of singers in the development of their own self-produced concert
project. ATS
participants work with Douglas Webster and the faculty on specific
vocal, technical or production
issues related to their project.
The goal of this process is to give the ATS participant experience to
draw upon in the creation of future projects. [Photo: ATS
2004 Concert at Riverwalk Center with Music Director,
Philip Farugia, Carey Anderson
[currently: Mama Mia!
(Sophie) - Broadway] and
Marissa McGowan [currently: Les
Misérables - National Tour]. Produced by Devon
Goffman [MTI 2002; Titanic (Barrett) - National
Tour] and Josh Young [MTI 2002;
Les
Misérables (Marius) - National Tour; West Side Story (Tony) - International Tour ]
Regardless
of
their origins, participants of the American
Singer programs leave
Breckenridge with mastery over new or refined technical skills and a
renewed enthusiasm for their craft and talents. Participants
widen their network of contacts to include a new group of supportive
colleagues with whom they've
shared an intensely rich experience. American Singer participants from
various years have met - in the context of classes, casts and auditions
- widening the circle of colleagiality on which the program was founded.
Costs
Tuition costs vary from year to year due to
changes in program content, housing availability and faculty
size. The average tuition for the past few sessions is $1600 not
including travel and food costs.
Scholarships
American Singer Seminars is
produced by Broadway Baritones, Inc. a privately-owned entertainment
production company. Scholarship assistance is very limited.
There are two named scholarships which provide full tuition [exclusive of transportation and meals]:
The Jody
Nordlof Scholarship award for an aspiring amateur
singer/actor and the Vinnie Liff Scholarship award
for an aspiring professional singer/actor. Half-scholarships and
other tuition assistance is provided by Private Donation and by Broadway
Baritones, Inc when available.
History
American
Singer
Seminars is the result of a wish for young singers to
have working contact with professionals who are both involved in their
own careers and have a desire to
share their knowledge. Developed and
underwritten by former
Breckenridge resident, Douglas Webster
the program originated in 1999 as the
Breckenridge Music Institute -
Musical Theater Week. Now
independent of the BMI, the Musical
Theater Intensive runs
concurrently with both the Breckenridge
Music Festival and National
Repertory Orchestra. Faculty
and participants have performed with both the BMF and NRO.[Pictured
right: Douglas Webster at the
Riverwalk Center, Breckenridge]
The American
Singer Seminars provides a
nurturing
environment where participants
can
develop a rapport with their more
advanced colleagues and leave with
resources from whom they may ask
advice and guidance as they begin
their
own careers. [Pictured left: Morning Movement with
Shelly Lynn and the 1999 MTI
class]
Alumni
Past participants of the American Singer programs have
appeared onstage in Broadway (The
Little Mermaid, The
Phantom
of the Opera, Mama
Mia!, Good
Vibrations), Regional Theater, Equity (Mama
Mia!, Les Misérables) and Non-Equity (Grease!,
Titanic) National Tours,
International Tour (West
Side Story), cruise
lines,
collegiate (Juilliard,
University of Michigan, Millikin, Interlochen) and amateur (Grand
Rapids Civic) productions and are pursuing successful teaching
careers. [Program
Director, Douglas
Webster, pictured with former participants Josh Young
(MTI 2002, ATS 2004)
left, and
Carey Anderson (ATS 2004) right.]
For more information about MTI and ATS alumni, click here: Alumni
Page
While not all are destined for
careers in professional
theater, each American Singer participant leaves with a
clear understanding of their
talents and
specific techniques they may use to
further
develop those
talents. Participants who pursue professional careers in music and
theater are encouraged to maintain contact with faculty and guest
artists they've met in Breckenridge. These working professionals
become part of the young actor/singers network of contacts and
advisors. [Pictured: Broadway
veteran Geoffrey Blaisdell leading the 2002 MTI Acting Class]
Breckenridge, Colorado
Home to both the Breckenridge Music
Festival Chamber
Orchestra and the
National Repertory Orchestra, the
Breckenridge Music Festival is a
summer-long
celebration of music in the Victorian Village of Breckenridge, Colorado
situated
high in the Colorado Rockies.
Breckenridge
is a
world-class ski
and summer resort nestled beneath the majestic
Ten Mile Range at an altitude of
9600 feet amidst vistas
of breathtaking
beauty. It features a host of recreational activities and
the climate features warm, sunny days and cool evenings with low
humidity.
Excursions outside of Breckenridge are scheduled to allow
participants
to enjoy the historic sights and natural surroundings.
Housing
Participants
and staff are traditionally lodged at the BEAVER
RUN
RESORT.
Amenities include a full kitchen in each condo, swimming pool, tennis
and health facilities and complimentary shuttle service from the resort
to town. Located on the slopes of the Breckenridge Ski Area,
access to the National Forest and hiking trails are literally, right
out the door.
Performances
Musical
Theater
Intensive participants, determined by audition, will be assigned solo
repertoire to
perform in the participant
"Showcase"
which each year draws a sell-out crowds of enthusiastic fans. This
concert
takes
place at the Riverwalk Center along the banks of the
Blue River in the
heart
of Breckenridge. Participants
also
perform outside of
Breckenridge in nearby mountain resort towns. One of the favorite
venues has been the historic Tabor
Opera House in
Leadville, CO. [Pictured left: The Riverwalk
Center, Downtown Breckenridge]
These
appearances all provide
the opportunity for new material and techniques to be "locked-in"
through
performance. While enjoyable and a great experience, these
performances are the true tests of lessons learned in class. Not
so much for the faculty to observe
and comment upon, but for the
participants to observe and take note on for themselves.
Faculty
The
members of the
faculty are each trained in
"classical" vocal
technique and have also mastered the
stylistic requirements of theater
singing. Literally covering the
range from 'belting' to 'bel canto',
the assembled artist-teachers are masters of their craft and more
importantly, are able to translate and teach what they know. The
coaching faculty for this season and from past summers
can
be viewed at the Faculty
page. [Pictured
right: Stephen Randoy and Wysandria Woolsey with the 2002 MTI class]
Auditions
Auditions
for the
program are by live
auditions or video
tape
submissions
For more information, contact:
American
Singer Seminars
E-Mail: AmericanSinger@aol.com
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