FAVA 2012 in Perigueux

Faculty

Frederique Added, Soprano

The Parisian soprano Frédérique Added is recognized as one of the world's foremost interpreters of French Mélodies. She has graced concert stages in Paris, Dijon, Perigueux, Limoges, Nancy, Strasbourg, Salzburg, Minsk, Lodz, Warsaw and throughout the USA. Her vast knowledge of the Song Repertoire includes works by: Debussy, Poulenc, Rosenthal, Fauré, Duparc, Satie, Hahn, Chausson, Berlioz, Chopin, De Falla, Nin-Culmell, Rodrigo, Villa-Lobos. She is the vice-president of FAVA

 

William Lewis, Tenor

A heralded leading tenor of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City from 1957 to 1992. Renowned internationally at Teatro alla Scala, Milano; Royal Opera Covent Garden, London; Vienna Staatsoper; Hamburg Staatsoper; Opera de Paris; San Francisco Opera; and the festivals at: Salzburg, Edinburgh, Spoleto Italy, Spoleto USA, Wexford, Ireland and Amsterdam. He is a distinguished professor of the Butler School of Music of the University of Texas and the president of FAVA.

 

Constance Rock, Soprano

Constance Rock is a soprano well known for her interpretations of operatic and oratorio roles over a wide range of styles from Mozart and Haendel to Britten and Heggie. She has received praise for range and freedom of her singing of such roles as: Konstanze in Mozart's Entfuhrung aus dem Serail, Leila in Bizet's Les Pecheurs de Perles, Norina in Donizetti's Don Pasquale and Violetta in Verdi's La Traviata. She is a regular with such esteemed music organizations as: Connecticut Grand Opera, Connecticut Concert Opera, Hartford Opera, Cleveland Orchestra, Hartford Symphony and the Eastern Connecticut Symphony. Mrs. Rock is a noted voice and pedagogy professor at the University of Connecticut, Storrs.

 

 

 

Dr. John A. McGuire, Tenor

Dr. John A. McGuire is an active performer, teacher, and director. Dr. McGuire received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Texas at Austin under the tutelage of leading tenor Professor William Lewis.  John has performed with several opera companies and orchestras throughout the United States and Europe.  Some of his leading operatic roles include Tamino, The Magic Flute, Sultan, Zaide, Pedrillo, The Abduction from the Seraglio, Lippo, Street Scene, Martin, The Tender Land, Ferrando, Cosi fan tutte, Don José, Carmen, and Rodolfo, La bohème.  Dr. McGuire has directed countless opera scenes and full productions for universities and opera companies. Most recently he directed scenes from Fidelio, Aida, Cosi fan tutte, and full productions The Impresario, Cosi fan tutte, and The Counsel. Dr. McGuire has taught voice at the University of Texas at Austin, University of Northern Colorado, and maintains private voice studios in both Boston, MA and Phoenix, AZ.

 

 

 

Isabelle Aboulker, Composer

Isabelle Aboulker was born in 1938 into a family of artists and musicians. Her grandfather Henry Fevrier was a renowned composer and student of Massenet, Faure and Messager. Her father Marcel Aboulker was a cinematographer and writer. She studied piano, accompaniment and composition at the  Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, while composing for the cinema, theater and television. Early in her career she decided to dedicate her time to collaboration with singers, as the heiress of French Art Song tradition.

 

 

Elizabeth Askren-Brie

A native New Yorker based in Paris, Elizabeth Askren is establishing a reputation on both sides of the Atlantic as a passionate conductor at home in both symphonic and operatic repertoire.  Since 2005 she works as Assistant Conductor to David Stern and his period instrument opera troupe, Opera Fuoco for productions throughout Europe. She is the former Music Director of the Chorus and Orchestra of Sciences Po Paris. An advocate of modern and contemporary music, Elizabeth Askren is the Music Director of Orchestre 2021, dedicated to promoting 20th and 21st century repertoire.  Appointed Cultural Attachée of the Fondation des Etats-Unis in 2004, she is the Artistic Director of the Fondation’s cultural season, offering between 30 and 40 events per season and featuring a vibrant mix of noted cultural and political figures, PONT Showcase events, and partnerships with leading cultural institutions.  She serves on the jury of the FLAME International Music Competition since 2003. elizabethaskren.com

 

 

Dan K. Kurland

Dan K. Kurland returns to FAVA to serve as music director of the 2012 summer season, conducting Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann.  Currently pursuing collaborative piano studies at The Juilliard School, his recent performances include concert appearances in Lincoln Center series such as Wednesdays at One (Alice Tully Hall) and TARGET Free Thursdays (David H. Rubinstein Atrium).  Mr. Kurland has garnered prizes as winner of the 2001 Music in the Parks Outstanding Accompanist Award and finalist in the 2008 David O. Nilsson Solo Pianist Competition.  Performing with a wide array of musicians including violinists Charles Yang and Francisco Garcia Fullana and vocalists Carla Jablonski and Devon Guthrie, he has also participated in master classes and coachings with artists including Joyce DiDonato, Daniel Ferro, Glenn Dicterow, Jean Barr, and Brian Zeger.  Recently, Mr. Kurland’s continually diversifying career included his Broadway debut in Master Class. He served as pianist/coach for FAVA in France in 2009 and 2010.

 

 

William Lewis, Stage Director

A heralded leading tenor of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City from 1957 to 1992. Renowned internationally at Teatro alla Scala, Milano; Royal Opera Covent Garden, London; Vienna Staatsoper; Hamburg Staatsoper; Opera de Paris; San Francisco Opera; and the festivals at: Salzburg, Edinburgh, Spoleto Italy, Spoleto USA, Wexford, Ireland and Amsterdam. He is a distinguished professor of the Butler School of Music of the University of Texas and the president of FAVA.

 

 

Dr. John A. McGuire, Assistant Stage Director

Dr. John A. McGuire is an active performer, teacher, and director. Dr. McGuire received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Texas at Austin under the tutelage of leading tenor Professor William Lewis.  John has performed with several opera companies and orchestras throughout the United States and Europe.  Some of his leading operatic roles include Tamino, The Magic Flute, Sultan, Zaide, Pedrillo, The Abduction from the Seraglio, Lippo, Street Scene, Martin, The Tender Land, Ferrando, Cosi fan tutte, Don José, Carmen, and Rodolfo, La bohème.  Dr. McGuire has directed countless opera scenes and full productions for universities and opera companies. Most recently he directed scenes from Fidelio, Aida, Cosi fan tutte, and full productions The Impresario, Cosi fan tutte, and The Counsel. Dr. McGuire has taught voice at the University of Texas at Austin, University of Northern Colorado, and maintains private voice studios in both Boston, MA and Phoenix, AZ.

Dr. Tzu-Yun Chen

A native Taiwanese pianist, she received her doctoral degree from University of Texas. She won several titles of piano competitions, held by organizations such as the Music Teachers National Association and the Alabama Music Teachers Association.
Dr. Chen now is the assistant professor of Ling-Tong University, Taichung, Taiwan. She is also a member of the faculty of Graduate School of Collaborative Arts at the Tainan National University of the Arts. She is an active concert pianist and enthusiastic collaborative pianist worldwide. From 2000 until 2008 she served as pianist and voice coach of the Austrian American Mozart Academy in Salzburg and the Franco-American Vocal Academy.

 

 

Allan Conway

Allan Conway is in constant demand as a pianist and accompanist. At the University of Connecticut, Mr. Conway is accompanist for the Choral Ensembles and is music director, rehearsal and performance pianist for UConn Opera Theater. Mr. Conway has performed throughout Italy with Cappella Cantorum and at the Carnegie Hall in New York City.

 

 

Yu-Chun Wang

Yu-Chun Wang is a young concert pianist who is gaining recognition in her native Taiwan as well as her chosen home in Paris. She has appeared in concert with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Taipei and solo concerts thoughout the country: Taipei, Tunghai and Taichung. Her knowledge in the field of French vocal repertoire is impresssive, having accompanied voice recitals in Paris at the Ecole Normale de Musique, the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique and other perestigious music centers.

Pedro Rosa, Dance/Movement
Director/Choreographer of Compagnie Ochossi