Dr. Darrell Babidge, School of Music

The objectives of this important visit to New York City was to expose students to the opportunities that can be found by working with the highest caliber of vocal artists and coaches in the world. In addition they were to audition/interview for national opera companies that were in town the week we were there. Through this visit they would learn to hone their vocal and auditioning skills to a higher level.

The results from this project were phenomenal, and the objectives were accomplished. One of the students auditioned for Tanglewood Music Festival, and was invited to go back to New York a few weeks later to audition and work with James Levine, Music Director of the Metropolitan Opera and Tanglewood. Maestro Levine was so impressed with this studentʼs standard of singing that he cast him in the opera that he was directing the following summer! Two other students auditioned for Wolftrap Opera, another prestigious opera company (only 3% of those who audition get placed), and they were both accepted into their summer program.

They had world class coaching and teaching while in New York, and this enhanced their preparation for these specific auditions. Another students had been nervous about going to New York City, but she learned so much while she was there and liked the city so much, that she is now a student at the Manhattan School of Music.

The students were also able to attend the highest caliber of performances at the Metropolitan Opera and New York City. One of their coaches from a master class was a performer in one of these operas, and they had the opportunity of going backstage to meet artists at both venues. This experience and mentoring was life changing for the students.

Through the mentoring they received they absorbed and applied all the things that were required of them, and they felt safe in a new and yet challenging environment. They also received excellent mentoring through master classes, coachings and lessons. Some of the classes were challenging, but they trusted my mentoring and support, and learned much from it.

Studentsʼ accomplishments through this mentoring project:

• Shea Owens worked with James Levine (Music Director of the Metropolitan Opera and Tanglewood Music Festival), and spent the summer of 2010 working at Tanglewood Music Festival, and singing in their major production of Straussʼs “Ariadne auf Naxos”. He got accepted to Rice University as a vocal student in their graduate program.
• Stephen Pace performed at Wolf Trap Opera (only 3% of those who audition are accepted) during the summer of 2010. He got accepted to Indiana University as a vocal student in their graduate program, and is singing in two of their operas this season.
• Amy Owens –performed at Wolf Trap Opera (only 3% of those who audition are accepted) during summer of 2010. She got accepted to Rice University as a vocal student in their graduate program.
• Melissa Jensen performed at the Utah Festival Opera during the summer of 2010, and is now studying at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City.
• Ted Reedy is now studying voice at the University of Boulder in the Professional Degree program, having graduated from BYU with his Masterʼs degree in vocal performance.
• Michelle Broadbent honed her performing and teaching skills, graduating from BYU with her Masterʼs degree in vocal performance. She is currently teaching voice at Brigham Young University Idaho.
• Alainna Beus graduated from the vocal program at BYU, and is now studying with one of the vocal teachers that she worked with in New York City.
• Krista McClellan was on the reserve list for the Festival dʼAix en Provence in France, having auditioned for their program while she was in New York City. She was also a finalist in the District round of the Metropolitan Opera competition in 2010.

The budget was spent accordingly:

Flights	$2925.82
Accommodation	$3439.65
Tickets for shows	$901.53
Coachings/Master Classes	$1670