Columbia College hosts University Professor to Teach Vocal Master Class

Contact: Office of the College President, Coni Chavez, (209) 588-5115  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 5, 2011

A Vocal Master Class will be presented July 15 and 16, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Columbia College, 11600 Columbia College Drive, Sonora, CA 95370.  Master Teacher, California State University Sacramento Voice Professor, and International Soloist, Dr. Robin Fisher will lead the class.   Singers will perform solo, and in large and small groups for Dr. Fisher.  Registration fee for participants is $60 for the two day workshop with Dr. Fisher. Space is limited to 24 participants. Individuals may also observe the workshop for a registration fee for $15 per day. Registration forms are available online at http://directory.gocolumbia.edu/carterj. For more information contact (209) 728-7774 or email: mcdances@earthlink.net.

Dr. Fisher is a respected voice teacher at California State University, Sacramento where her students consistently earn top prizes in vocal competitions, and are performing throughout the United States.  As a vocal pedagogue, she has taught and presented classes on a variety of subjects including Singing Style and Performance, Vocal Techniques, Poetry and Song, and The Writings of John Duke.  She has extensive performance experience as a soloist in Europe with such groups as the Salzburg Festival, Opera De Paris, the Vienna String Ensemble, and in the United States with the Downer’s Grove Oratorio Society (Chicago), The Sacramento Choral Society, and the Townsend Opera Players (Modesto).  She has a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Texas, Austin, a Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude from Smith College, and a Diploma from the Vienna State Academy for Music and the Performing Arts.

The Vocal Master Class is designed to help singers of all abilities improve their voices and performance capabilities.  Singers will be grouped according to their experience and background. 
Dr.  Fisher will help students identify vocal problems and then work through them- giving them tools to improve their vocal production.  According to John Carter, Professor of Music at Columbia College, “We have so many singers in this community- from the schools, community groups, musical theatres, and churches that I thought this would be a great opportunity for these singers in our Central Sierra Region to work with a skilled, inspiring and positive Master Teacher without having to drive a long distance and paying a lot of money.”   

These classes are appropriate not only for singers but for voice teachers, school and church choir directors, and the general public who wish to watch a Master Teacher at work and improve their skills in voice.  Dr. Fisher will be working with individuals and groups throughout the two days so there will be many opportunities to sing and observe. In addition to the singing, Dr. Fisher will also be giving classes on Basic Vocal Technique, Vocal Pedagogy, and Vocal Warmups. 

The Workshop will also include Columbia College Psychology Professor, Bill Wilson who will present a session on The Psychology of Performance including studies that have proven helpful in enhancing performance skills from athletes to musicians. Mr. Wilson was awarded Teacher of the Year at Columbia College in 2009.

Participant enrollment is limited to 24 and will be accepted on a first-come/first-served basis.  Students of all ages and levels (except very beginners) are welcome to attend.  Carter says “I expect there will be a wide variety of students: from people with some solo singing experience to the very advanced.   In spite of their diversity, they will all share a common interest in growing vocally and serving their communities better.”

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Coni M. Chavez
Executive Assistant to the President
Columbia College
11600 Columbia College Drive
Sonora, CA 95370
(209) 588-5115 • (209) 588-5161 fax
chavezc@yosemite.edu