I'd like to introduce the Lotte Lehmann Academy's first monthlong summer session from August 3 to 29 in Perleberg, an intensive summer program for opera singers (advanced students and young professionals) in the heart of a beautiful medieval town in Brandenburg, Germany, halfway between Hamburg and Berlin.

In addition to receiving daily lessons in vocal technique, coachings, body work such as Alexander Technique, and intensive language training (German, Italian, French), the program offers weekly Masterclasses by worldclass professionals, workshops in stagecraft & acting, diction, weekly formal performance opportunities in historical venues, resume/CV workshops, audition workshops, agent showcases, and seminars all specially designed for exceptional singers pursuing a career in Europe. Participants can also choose to take advantage of top-notch professional photoshootings & demo-recording-days arranged by the academy at a reduced rate.

The program has no age limit, and welcomes singers undergoing fach and repertoire changes. The website will be up sometime next week. The cost of the program is 3,500 to 3,900 Euros (half-board inclusive) depending on single/double/triple occupancy.

Deadline for applications is June 1, 2009. Please write angelo.raciti @ lottelehmann.de for an application.

Confirmed faculty for Summer 09 (this is a partial list, updates will be posted):
KS Karan Armstrong (Deutsche Oper Berlin, Metropolitan Opera, Opéra de Paris)
Janet Williams (Berlin State Opera, San Francisco Opera, Opéra de Paris)
Mary Mills (Berlin State Opera, Metropolitan Opera, Stuttgart State Opera)
Merlyn Quaife (Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Opera House, The Kennedy Center)
Ann Rodiger (Balance Arts Center NYC, The Julliard School)
Lawrence K. Bakst (Opéra de Marseille, Teatro dellOpera di Roma, Liceu Barcelona)
Kathryn Wright (Deutsche Oper Berlin, Metropolitan Opera, Dresden State Opera)
Claudio Rizzi (Reykjavik Opera, Stuttgart State Opera)
Maria Husmann (Teatro alla Scala Milan, Dresden State Opera, Hamburg State Opera)
Denis Combe-Chastel (Opéra de Lyon, Theater Bielefeld)
William Girard (Stuttgart State Opera)
Scott Curry (Staatstheater Stuttgart, Komische Oper Berlin, Universität der Künste Berlin)
Martin Struckmeyer (University of Performing Arts Frankfurt, University of Theater and Music Rostock)
Fred Berndt (Dresden State Opera, Frankfurt Opera, Berlin State Opera)

what a list! Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

nt

I'd also like to know...is there scholarship money available?

nt

Thanks for your questions! To answer:

A maximum of 20 singers will be accepted into the summer intensive this year worldwide, in order to provide each singer with the maximum attention possible. We are in the process of trying to nail down some major sponsors for scholarships (which will likely be distributed to all accepted participants) and will keep you posted.

We are extremely pleased to announce that John Norris (Bayerische Staatsoper Munich, Staatsoper Unter den Linden Berlin, IVAI Faculty Montreal, im Metropolitan Opera Young Artist Development Program, Juilliard School, Shanghai Conservatory of Music) will be joining the faculty of the 2009 Lotte Lehmann Summer Academy. Mr. Norris's unique approach to working with singers integrates bodywork and stagecraft to optimise one's technical and expressive qualities.

We are also very happy to confirm the inclusion of William Girard on this year's LLA Summer faculty. Mr. Girard has been with the Stuttgart State Opera for many years, where he is a very much in-demand and highly respected coach.


The application period is still open. Please check YAPtracker.com or write to info@lottelehmannacademy.org to request an application.

John Norris is a genius. Really just a master of what he does.

And a super nice guy.

nt

Bill is awesome as well...I had the opportunity to coach with him a bit! I am looking forward to hearing more about this program and how its first year goes!

SF

After a mix-up over at YAPtracker, the correct application is now there for download. It seems things were accidentally confused with materials from a smaller festival which takes place in the same town.

Our apologies to anyone who clicked and didn't find it, you can head over there now, or email us for a copy.

Thanks everyone.

We are very excited indeed to announce the addition of Louis Menendez (IVAI, Curtis Institute of Music, AVA, Staatsoper Hannover) to the Lotte Lehmann Academy's 2009 summer program!

We are pleased to also introduce the Apprentice Coach program, led by Mr. Menendez, designed to give promising young coaches or collaborative pianists seeking to move into the operatic world an opportunity to learn about the German theater system, explore the repertoire in demand here, work with excellent artists and coaches, and prepare for a career in Europe. There is no tuition cost for this program.

Each apprentice coach will receive daily instruction in a classroom setting and be assigned to play during the day for a combination of lessons, workshops, rehearsals, and certain masterclasses and repetiteur work throughout the month. Apprentices will also receive daily language instruction and are invited to take advantage of the excellent vocal staff at the Academy and receive one voice lesson per week.

For an application, audition requirements and other details, please write to us at:

info (at) lottelehmannacademy (dot) org (or click above).

Just a reminder to those considering application to the Lehmann Academy in Germany this year, please remember to send your applications in before the deadline on Monday, June 1.

Electronic applications are more than welcome. In response to questions about sending demos: if you have clips on your website, it is perfectly acceptable to just send us a working link with your application. No need to burn CDs or email mp3s if it's already online.

Good luck, everyone!

LLA

Merlyn is a long way from home...

Thoroughly recommend Merlyn Quaife - esp for modern music focused singers, she has been THE soprano for that stuff in Oz....

Stu the crazy bass from down under


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Polar bears for Obama!!

nt

Clickhttp://www.lottelehmannacademy.org/ for info, faculty, and applications in German and English. We will slowly be rolling out more pages as time goes by but the basic site is up at long last.

Many people have asked about scholarships to the LLA 09, and we are happy to announce that we were able to secure a generous donation from the regional business owners association ("WIW" Wirtschaftsinitiative Westprignitz) of over 10 thousand euros to be used for scholarships this summer. However, because the commitment was signed after our deadline for applications had passed, we would like to extend our application period to JUNE 19. Applicants who have already submitted their materials to the Academy will automatically be considered for scholarships.

The breakdown of available scholarships is as follows: two full tuition scholarships of 3,000 Euros each, and three partial scholarships covering 50% of tuition at 1,500 Euros each. Scholarships are merit-based and will be awarded based upon recorded materials and recommendations submitted by applicants.

If you need an application, or for more details about the program, please visit our website at:

http://www.lottelehmannacademy.com/

(click English at the bottom right) or head over to YAPtracker.com.


For applicants in the NYC area, a limited number of live auditions for singers and coaches will be possible between June 20 and 28, please ask us for details via email at info@lottelehmann.de (or click the address above).

Applicants to the Lotte Lehmann Academy Perleberg: please send your materials before June 19.

If you wish to set up a live audition in New York, please contact info@lottelehmanacademy.org after sending in your application. There are limited slots remaining.

(Applicants wishing to audition live in Berlin can also request a time at the same address.)

.

In light of the great response from potential candidates to the Lotte Lehmann Academy for whom four full weeks of attendance would be a great hardship due to the current economic climate, the LLA has decided to allow partial modular attendance of one or two weeks for those who cannot afford to attend all four weeks of the Summer Program. The full four-week session is taking place; please note that scholarships for partial attendance are not available as they are being used by participants of the full four weeks. Partial attendance is possible as follows:

*******
Attendance for one week, either:
- August 10 - 16 only (900 euros): Stagecraft and Audition Readiness -or-
- August 17 - 23 only (900 euros): Alexander Technique/Bodywork and Interpretation

Attendance for two weeks:
- August 10 - 23 (1,600 euros): Stagecraft and Audition Readiness PLUS Alexander Technique/Bodywork and Interpretation

********

We feel that these particular weeks are the best-suited for modular attendance and each provide ample opportunity for intensive study and growth. Photos and demos will not be possible for partial attendees, but you will be taking part in formal performance opportunities, masterclasses, seminars and workshops each week of your attendance.

Housing options are single (225 euros per week) or double occupancy (175 euros per week) including half-board (lunch and breakfast daily).

To reserve your place, please reply immediately and let us know when you would like to attend. We will require the following information from you:


1) Your CV/resume (either as word or pdf doc or, if online, then you may provide us the link)

2) The dates you wish to attend and the housing you will require (single or double).

3) To minimize processing time, please send at least one of the following: a demo (either as mp3 or a link to your demo online) -OR- a current recommendation from 2008 or 2009 from a teacher, coach, or conductor who is familiar with your current work (please submit the actual recommendation or ask them to send us an email). You may submit both a demo and a recommendation if you prefer, and we welcome more than one recommendation.

4) You must specify which week/s you wish to attend, and let us know whether you need a single or double room. We will match you with a roommate for double occupancy unless otherwise requested.

Enrollment is limited. To reserve your space for one week of the Academy, we require payment in full by July 17. To reserve your space for two weeks, we require a deposit of 1,000 Euros by July 17, with the balance paid in full by August 6, 2009. Other arrangements might be possible by special application - please email us for more information.