Music department at UCLA's Herb Alpert School joins forces with Seraphic Fire to establish a fresh vocal training program.
The Ensemble Artist Program at UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music is set to revolutionize the realm of choral arts, as it partners with Seraphic Fire, a renowned vocal ensemble, to usher in the next generation of choral artists.
This groundbreaking initiative, unique in the nation, commences in November on the UCLA campus and continues through February and April 2018. During this period, eight selected students will collaborate with Seraphic Fire in South Florida for performances of Johann Sebastian Bach's "St. Matthew Passion" and Arvo Pärt's "Passio."
Patrick Dupré Quigley, founder and artistic director of Seraphic Fire, has expressed that this partnership is unlike any other in the nation. The program aims to provide students with direct mentorship, professional-level ensemble experience, and exposure to high-caliber repertoire and performance practices, significantly enriching their vocal and ensemble skills.
Judith Smith, dean of the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, echoes this sentiment, expressing the school's commitment to the students' future through the Ensemble Artist Program. The program's training includes masterclasses, lectures, and town halls, led by four coaches from Seraphic Fire's roster: Misty Bermudez, Charles Evans, Sara Guttenberg, and Patrick Muehleise.
James Bass, director of choral studies at UCLA, serves as the director of education for Seraphic Fire, further strengthening the partnership between the two institutions. The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music's choral and voice performance area, known for its commitment to interdisciplinary education and providing students with performance opportunities in over 40 ensembles, is partnering with Seraphic Fire to create this program.
The partnership between UCLA and Seraphic Fire is aimed at opening up career opportunities for UCLA's vocal students, helping them discover outlets for professional employment. The UCLA Newsroom provides more information about the collaboration between UCLA and Seraphic Fire. Auditions for the first cohort were adjudicated by James Bass and Patrick Dupré Quigley.
The Ensemble Artist Program offers advanced training for students with esteemed professionals, bridging university training and professional artistry, especially for vocalists involved in ensembles like the UCLA Gluck Vocal Ensemble, which focuses on outreach and high-quality musical entertainment.
[1] Source: UCLA Newsroom - https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/ucla-herb-alpert-school-of-music-announces-partnership-with-seraphic-fire-to-create-ensemble-artist-program-for-vocal-students-814411 [4] Source: UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music - https://herb.ucla.edu/programs/voice/gluck-vocal-ensemble/
- This partnership between UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music and Seraphic Fire, as part of the Ensemble Artist Program, aims not only to advance the students' education and self-development in choral arts but also to expose them to entertainment and music industry opportunities.
- The Ensemble Artist Program, which offers advanced training to selected vocal students, includes collaboration with esteemed professionals, providing them with opportunities to perform high-caliber repertoire, thereby enhancing their ensemble skills and potentially leading to careers in the entertainment and music industry.
