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Lisa Gasteen National Opera School 2014

Details

My mission is to offer developing professional singers the very best of what they will experience when they travel overseas– Lisa Gasteen AO.

The Lisa Gasteen National Opera School is a four week intensive course that includes repertoire classes, voice lessons, music coaching and practical musicianship, language skills and Alexander technique workshops.

During the course, the school also hosts a series of masterclasses and concerts for the public.

Australian and International specialised coaches facilitate the course for 20 opera singers and four repetiteurs of advanced student or young professional level held annually in Brisbane.

Arts Queensland funding assisted in bringing two international coaches to the school in 2014. 

When

November – December 2014

Where

Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University, Brisbane

Key stats

  • 4 weeks of workshops
  • 2 performances
  • 24 students and over 600 attendees

Arts Queensland contribution:

$42,366 – Projects and Programs Fund

Outcomes

  • 10 voice students have been offered professional work in 2015 with Queensland Arts Companies.
  • Two voice students are being considered for major scholarships in international training programs.
  • Public masterclasses achieved an increase of attendance of 120 per cent from the previous year.
  • Public concerts were well attended, with The Liederabend performance sold out and the Gala achieving a 90 per cent full house.
  • The school has recently partnered with Queensland Symphony Orchestra to provide performance opportunities for students.
  • The success of 2014’s course has led to the creation of a permanent part-time administrator position.

Learnings and reflections

Lisa Gasteen National Opera School’s Coordinator reflects on the development of the program over the years and how learnings are taken on board:

The added week to the program in 2014 worked well and in feedback from students, was appreciated. The program has developed over the last four years and each year takes on board feedback from alumni as to what worked and what didn’t. Adjustments are made because of this feedback.

According to feedback received in 2014, students would prefer more vocal rest time during the program. This will be taken into account in 2015.

We are looking to increase public performance opportunities and performance experiences for students during 2015. Plans are in progress to include working with an orchestra and we hope to extend our public performances to regional centres.

Contact for further information

Email: d.fegan@griffith.edu.au

Phone: (07) 3735 6251

Website: www.griffith.edu.au/music/lisa-gasteennational-opera-school

Links

YouTube videos from Lisa Gasteen National OperaSchool

Lisa Gasteen National Opera School Facebook page

 

 

 

Read the Lisa Gasteen National Opera School case study (PDF) (307.51 KB).