Voice Area Webpage

Vocal Studies at UNC Chapel Hill

The voice area at Chapel Hill boasts a long tradition of excellence and vitality.  With numbers varying from 55-65 voice majors and 30-40 non-majors, the area continues to thrive; our students consistently have strong showings at state and regional NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) student auditions; many of our undergraduates move on to graduate study at some of the best programs in the country and/or to teaching or business careers involving music and fine arts.  Alumni from our program are working in the profession all over the world.

All our voice studios are housed in the new Kenan Music Building which opened in November 2008.  Students must audition for the voice faculty in order to take one-on-one instruction  and will be assigned  appropriate credit hour courses: Music  202(2cr), 302(3cr) or  non-major: one-on-one instruction Music 102 (1cr) or beginning voice group lessons Music 111 (1cr)

Scholarship auditions for incoming voice majors take place on the last two Saturdays in January and the first Saturday in February, with recordings accepted on or before February 1.  A pianist is provided at no charge for the live audition.  Applicants may sing either two or three selections from memory, demonstrating variety in style and language.

For example a typical audition might include:

     1. an early Italian aria, French melodie or German Lied
     2. a song in English (which may include musical theater)
     3. an aria from an opera or oratorio, or a mixing of these possibilities.

Most students embarking on the major will do so as entering freshmen however it is possible, under advisement, to do so at a later date.   The typical first semester includes 13 one-on-one voice lessons (TBA) and a weekly one-hour studio class which meets either on Mondays at 4 or on Fridays at noon depending on studio teacher assignment;  Music theory 131 and 131 Lab; one departmental choral ensemble and 3 courses in the General College.   Students will also perform twice each semester in the Wednesday-at-Four voice divisional recital held in Person Recital Hall.

FEES 

In addition to the applied music fees ($375.00 the semester) voice students are responsible for securing the services of and paying a pianist to rehearse assigned repertoire a  minimum of 30 minutes weekly outside of lessons and to play the second half of each weekly lesson.  There are a number of free-lance professional  pianists and student pianists available.   Individual may offer a variety of payment plans.  Voice teachers can be of assistance in recommending a pianist.  The cost can run between $25 and $30 a week.

DICTION CLASSES

Voice majors take three diction courses, during which they learn pronunciation of Italian, French and German for singing.  Most students begin the diction sequence with Italian in the Spring semester of the freshman year and continue through the sophomore year with French and German.  While the classes are primarily made up of voice majors, they are open to non-majors by permission of the instructor.

VOICE JURIES 

Juries are the equivalent of a final exam and are held at the close of each semester.  Students present to the faculty-panel a list of prepared repertoire and sing one selection of their choice.  Teachers then will choose the   second and the third.    During the jury faculty will accomplish written evaluations which the studio  teacher will  later  present to and discuss with the student at the post-jury student/teacher conference which concludes the semester of voice study.

JUNIOR AND SENIOR RECITALS 

Typically juniors and seniors present recitals (which juniors often share)   Students must pass a hearing before members of the voice faculty three weeks prior to the recital date.   At the hearing they will provide  copies of a draft of their  program complete with translations and program notes.  Prior to the hearing date it is required that all repertoire will have been performed in studio class.

ENSEMBLE INFORMATION

Please see the webpage  for the opportunities within our excellent choral program and the separate webpage on UNC Opera.  1)  Choral  2) UNC Opera

FACULTY CONTACT INFORMATION

You may also look on the UNC Music Department webpage for faculty biographical information.  Please feel free to contact any of us should you have further questions.

Dr. Jeanne Fischer, soprano; co-chair of the voice area
Kenan Music Building 3111
Tel: 919-843-2044
Email: fischerj@email.unc.edu

Dr. Valentin Lanzrein, baritone; co-chair of the voice area
Kenan Music Building 3115
Tel: 919-843-7955
Email: vl@unc.edu

Dr. Melissa Martin, soprano; non-music majors
Kenan Music Building 3114
Tel: 919-843-7960
Email: melissa_martin@unc.edu

Dr. Terry Ellen Rhodes, soprano; UNC Opera Director
Kenan Music Building 3121
Tel: 919-962-2270
Email: rhodes@email.unc.edu

Timothy Sparks, tenor
Kenan Music Building 3023
Tel: 919-843-7972
Email: tsparks@email.unc.edu