Directors of the Franco-American Vocal Academy

William Lewis, tenor

A heralded leading tenor of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City from 1957 to 1992. Renowned internationally at Teatro alla Scala, Milano; Royal Opera Covent Garden, London; Vienna Staatsoper; Hamburg Staatsoper; Opera de Paris; San Francisco Opera; and the festivals at: Salzburg, Edinburgh, Spoleto Italy, Spoleto USA, Wexford, Ireland and Amsterdam. He is a distinguished professor of the Butler School of Music of the University of Texas and the president of FAVA.

Frederique Added, soprano

The Parisian soprano Frédérique Added is recognized as one of the world's foremost interpreters of French Mélodies. She has graced concert stages in Paris, Dijon, Perigueux, Limoges, Nancy, Strasbourg, Salzburg, Minsk, Lodz, Warsaw and throughout the USA. Her vast knowledge of the Song Repertoire includes works by: Debussy, Poulenc, Rosenthal, Fauré, Duparc, Satie, Hahn, Chausson, Berlioz, Chopin, De Falla, Nin-Culmell, Rodrigo, Villa-Lobos. She is the vice-president of FAVA

Master Classes are free and open to the Public
Location: St-Yrieix, Salle Attane, 2-6pm

Teresa Zylis-Gara, Master Classes: July 10 to 16

One of the most outstanding Polish singers of the 20th century. Her magnificent lyrical soprano of an unusual quality and dramatic possibilities draws audiences both to concert halls and operas. The stunning career, however, is the outcome of the artist's long and intensive effort. Born in Wilno, she studied in Lódz. The winning of an All-Polish Competition of Young Vocalists in Warsaw results in her first engagement. In 1956 she makes her début at the Cracow Opera as the eponymous heroine of Stanislaw Moniuszko's Halka. The next success at a radio competition in Munich in 1960 allows her to perform on German opera stages such as Oberhausen, Dortmund and Düsseldorf. In 1965 she makes a début at the renowned English festival at Glyndebourne, playing the part of Octavian in Strauss' Rosenkavalier. A real breakthrough in her career, however, comes the following year in Paris, where she performs the part of Donna Elvira in Mozart's Don Juan. That part was to bring the Polish artist great fame. Teresa Zylis-Gara's career now takes on a staggering momentum. In 1968 she performs at the Mozart festival in Salzburg under the leadership of the famous Herbert von Karajan. That year she also makes a début at London's Covent Garden as Violetta in Verdi's La Traviata, as well as being invited to the San Francisco opera to perform as Donna Elvira. Still in the same year she makes a début at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the stage with which she was connected the longest. She also cooperated closely with the opera theatres in Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, as well as with Milan's La Scala and Vienna's Staatsoper.

Isabelle Aboulker, Master Classes: July 26 to 31

Isabelle Aboulker was born in 1938 into a family of artists and musicians. Her grandfather Henry Fevrier was a renowned composer and student of Massenet, Faure and Messager. Her father Marcel Aboulker was a cinematographer and writer. She studied piano, accompaniment and composition at the  Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, while composing for the cinema, theater and television. Early in her career she decided to dedicate her time to collaboration with singers, as the heiress of French Art Song tradition.

 

 

Carlos Montane, Master Classes: July 22 to 24

Tenor Carlos Montané received his B.A. in vocal studies and studied in Cuba, the United States, and Italy.
He has performed as leading tenor with the Metropolitan Opera and New York City Opera and in Philadelphia, Houston, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Hamburg, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Budapest, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Barcelona, Zagreb, Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong, and Singapore. He has made appearances with orchestras in London, Paris, Cincinnati, Bologna, and Milan.
Professor Montané performed in the U.S. premiere of Verdi's first opera, Oberto Conte di San Bonifacio, with the San Diego Opera, and is founder of the "Goodwill Concert Tour" with appearances in Pakistan, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, and Hong Kong.

 

 

 

FAVA Teachers

Angela Bianca Beaton, soprano

Miss Beaton received her Master’s Degree from Mason Gross School of the Arts. She has studied with several opera workshop programs in California, Italy and France. Her most recent performances include the role of Suor Genovieffa in Suor Angelica, Puccini, various solo parts in The Fairy Queen, Purcell, a premier production of The Outlaw and the King by contemporary composer Mark Zuckerman, and the soprano soloist in The Messiah, Handel, and Lord Nelson Mass, Haydn. Angela is ardent exponent of the French Art Song and French language. She enjoys performing and teaching, both privately and in community music schools, and has future intentions to pursue a Doctorate in Music. 

 

Stephen Lancaster, baritone

Baritone Stephen Lancaster, a native of Canada, made his professional debut as Schaunard in La Bohème with Arbor Opera Theater. He has performed roles with the Motor City Lyric Opera, Great Lakes Lyric Opera, University of Michigan Opera Theater, Opera Notre Dame, and the American Musical Institute for Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. Concert appearances have included the Fauré Requiem with the South Bend Symphony and Haydn's Harmoniemesse with the Notre Dame Symphony. As a recitalist, he has performed in collaboration with Martin Katz and has appeared as a Fellow at “SongFest” in Malibu, CA. He holds a D.MA. in vocal performance from the University of Michigan and currently serves on the voice faculty at the University of Notre Dame.

 

Duo Pianissimo, Justine Verdier and Daniel Diaz

In 2002 Justine Verdier received a Diplôme Supérieur d'Exécution from Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris and a Bakkalaureat from the Mozarteum in Salzburg with honors. She studies accompanying in Spain at the Barenboim-Said Foundation School, while seeking her Master of Piano at the Mozarteum. She has received many awards for her exceptional pianistic skills.
Spanish pianist Daniel Diaz graduated with honors from the Real Conservatorio Superior de Madrid, Spain, and received his Master’s degree from the Mozarteum in Salzburg. After winning winning several important awards in Spain, he performed numerous concerts in Spain, Austria and France. He has appeared as soloist with Manuel de Falla Orchestra and Orchestra of the City of Madrid and teaches piano in Sevilla.

 

Tzu-Yun Chen, piano

Dr. Tzu-Yun Chen, a native Taiwanese pianist.  She received her doctoral degree from University of Texas. She won several titles of piano competitions, held by organizations such as the Music Teachers National Association and the Alabama Music Teachers Association.
Dr. Chen now is the assistant professor of Ling-Tong University, Taichung, Taiwan.  She is also a member of the faculty of Graduate School of Collaborative Arts at the Tainan National University of the Arts.  She is an active concert pianist and enthusiastic collaborative pianist worldwide.  From 2000 until 2008 she served as pianist and voice coach of the Austrian American Mozart Academy in Salzburg and the Franco-American Vocal Academy in France.  Dr. Chen is a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society.

 

Lara Liu, piano

Born in Taiwan, pianist Lara Liu studied in Taipeh, Geneva and Paris. She received a First Prize in Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. Lara performs regularly in France and Switzerland and taught for several years in Paris conservatories

 

 

 

Soonmin Jeon, piano

Soonmin Jeon was born in Inchon, Korea. She was awarded the Grand Prix from the Korean National Music Competition, the Third Prize from the Society of Korea Piano Competition, and the Third Prize from the Brahms Society Piano Competition of Korea and Germany. She received her Bachelor of Music with honors from Hanyang University. She is presently pursuing the DMA in piano performance at the University of Texas at Austin. Since 2007, she has been working as pianist and coach for the Franco-American Vocal Academy in France.

 

 

Daniel Kurland, piano

Pianist Dan K. Kurland is currently pursuing a degree in piano performance in the Butler School of Music at the University of Texas at Austin (UT). Recipient of the Music in the Parks Outstanding Accompanist Award, he has performed as part of the Faculty Chamber Concert Series at the Blanton Museum of Art and at The Headliners Club.  Mr. Kurland also serves as the Artistic Director and Conductor for the High Holy Day Choir at Texas Hillel. At University of Texas, he is the student/programming coordinator for the Butler School of Music’s presentation of undergraduate research week concerts.

 

Hanna Hurwitz, violin

Violinist, Hanna Hurwitz, received her Bachelors Degree and Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Chamber Music Performance at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She has attended festivals including The Quartet Program, Music Academy of the West and the Yale Summer Music Festival in Norfolk.
A strong believer in the performance of contemporary music, Hanna’s most recent activities have included performances at the SpazioMusica Festival in Cagliari, Italy and at the Festival Internacional Chihuahua in Mexico. Hanna will also be featured in the upcoming Bridge Records CD release of Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon’s cantata Comala

 

Clara Lee, Violin

 

Mario Anton Andreu, Aleph Quartet, viola

Spanish born violist Mario Anton Andreu is currently pursuing his Master's Degree at the USC Thornton School of Music. He has played under the baton of eminent conductors including Christopher Hogwood, Jeffrey Tate, Carl St. Clair, Fabio Biondi, Eiji Oue, John Williams, and Michael Tilson Thomas and has accompanied international soloists including Gil Shaham, Mischa Maisky, Steven Isserlis and Andre Watts.
Mr. Anton Andreu is also an avid Chamber Music perfomer and has received instruction from the Emerson, Takács, Guarnieri, Ysaÿe, Casals and Brentano Quartets.  He has performed in concert with the Tokyo String Quartet and currently plays in a String Trio with world renowned violinist Midori. For four years, he toured Spain extensively as a member of the Prisma String Quartet, first-prize winners of the prestigious Caja-Madrid Foundation Competition.

 

Jillian Bloom, Cello

Jillian Bloom, cellist of the Aleph String Quartet, was born in Hollywood, Florida. She was a student of Alan Stepansky at Manhattan School of Music. Ms. Bloom has performed solo with many of South Florida's finest orchestras and is an avid chamber musician in New York City. In March 2008 she premiered Thomas Sleeper's Concerto for Cello and Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. She also worked closely with and performed for composer John Corigliano that same month. Other performance highlights include appearances on MTV and McArthur milk commercials, and a double concerto feature with her older brother in front of the New World Symphony at age 8. Ms. Bloom is an ambitious rock climber and enjoys art. She has studied with David Cole and David Geber and plays on a 2000 John Terry Cello

 

Clinton Smith,Conductor

Clinton Smith currently holds the position Assistant conductor/Chorus master/Coach with the Minnesota Opera. Past positions include resident conductor and coach of the Austrian-American Mozart Opera Academy in Salzburg, Austria; music director of the University of Michigan Life Sciences Orchestra; assistant conductor and coach at the International Institute of Vocal Arts in Chiari, Italy, University of Michigan Opera Theatre; music director of the University of Michigan Gilbert and Sullivan Society; assistant conductor of the University of Michigan Symphony, Philharmonia and Campus Orchestras; music director of the Starlight Symphony Orchestra, conductor of the University of Texas Undergraduate Opera; and assistant conductor of the Butler Opera Theatre.

FAVA Festival Chamber Orchestra

The Orchestra Musicians have been selected among the best universities in the U.S.

	Clara Lee, Violin