Some thoughts on my recent one day course and what I’m discovering.

What a wonderful day we had, filled with joy, energy, laughter and emotion, paired with serious work on honesty of performance and finding the truth of the moment. As these courses develop, I’m finding that there is so much to say, and so much that is needed...The things that were never talked about when I was a young singer, that I really only discovered when I began my transition into the more dramatic repertoire. Yes, I always had a natural dramatic instinct and the performance was always what I loved the most and what I miss the most.

However, for me I felt I had entered a whole new world when I started to sing Richard Strauss and Wagner. Learning and then performing Wagnerian roles and being immersed in that world, felt like I’d found my home. It was a place I’d been searching for and waiting patiently for. I have learned so much in recent years about what is important for singers with a more dramatic sound, and what tools we need to support us through this repertoire.

Through my one day courses and 1-1 coaching, I’m passing on my experience of being a professional performer for over 30 years where I sang a very broad range of repertoire. I’m also hoping to impart what is important and how to create that connection with your audience. I have found that finding the essence of the character, what they are saying ( and not saying ), and how we as an audience connect to that, brings us to the truth of the moment. This comes from the text. This deep emotional connection and understanding has to come from within us, and that takes bravery and courage. Of course, a solid vocal technique and voice/body connection is vital, but so too is honesty of performance.