Voice

We look forward to your participation in the vocal section of SummerFestival!

Vocal students will receive instruction in the fundamental skills required for healthy singing and effective performance. This instruction will take place in technique and expression classes in the morning and semi-private instruction in the afternoon.

Leading this instruction will be Dr. J. Arden Hopkin, Head of Vocal Studies and Dr. Ruth Christensen, Assistant Professor of Voice. They  will be assisted by Darrell and Jennifer Welch-Babidge, professional singers and Adjunct Faculty in the BYU School of Music.

Each vocal participant will be expected to learn two songs on his/her own prior to coming to campus.  These pieces should:

1)  generally be classical in vocal style, rather than pop style
2)  vary in mood/tempo     
3)  be appropriate for your voice and ability
4)  be memorized in advance of coming to campus

You will audition for the vocal faculty on Monday morning singing one or both of these pieces to be placed into small groups for group voice lessons. You will also be considered for solo opportunities at the student recital and choral concert later in the week.

 Once registered you will receive the following in the mail:

Folk Songs for Solo Singers, volume I   (published by Alfred)   
Folk Songs for Two   (published by Alfred)
     
You should become familiar with all songs in both anthologies (collections) prior to coming to campus.   You need to bring these two anthologies with you when you come to the camp as the instruction will be drawn from these two books.  We will not have replacement books for you if you forget them.

Folk Songs for Solo Singers is published in high and medium-low keys. Please choose the best key for you (if you sing soprano or tenor easily in choir, the high key may be best for you; if you are more comfortable down low, choose a medium-low key). 

If you prefer to use the CD, you may order it online at: http://www.tismusic.com/details.cfm?item=16635. The retail price is $10.40.

Folk Songs for Two is a duet book, with both parts sung basically in a medium, interchangeable vocal range.  Again, if you prefer the CD, you may order it online at: http://www.tismusic.com/details.cfm?item=17798. The retail price is $9.45

Note: For those who have difficulty learning their music (either due to no help from an accompanist or inability to play their own) it is highly recommended that you purchase the CD’s.

The two anthologies contain the following songs:

Folk Songs for Solo Singers, volume I  
“Amazing Grace”
“Greensleeves” by English Folk Song
“Liza Jane”
“Farewell, Lad (Adeu Donzellet)”
“Danny Boy” by Irish Folksong
“To The Sky”
“Scarborough Fair”
“She's Like The Swallow”
“Angels Through The Night (All Through The Night/all Night, All Day)”
“Homeward Bound” by Keen, Marta
“Cross The Wide Missouri” by American Folksong

Folk Songs for Two
“Amazing Grace”
“Poor Wayfaring Stranger”
“Siyahamba”
“Skye Boat Song” by Traditional Scottish
“Camptown Races” by Foster, Stephen Collins
“All Through The Night” by Welsh Folksong
“He's Gone Away” by Folksong
“Scarborough Fair”
“Homeward Bound” by Keen, Marta
“Cindy” by American Folksong
“Shenandoah”

Biography of Jennifer Welch–Babidge

Jennifer Welch-Babidge, a native of North Carolina, holds a master’s degree from the North Carolina School of the Arts. Her 2005-06 season includes appearances with Opera Carolina as Leila in The Pearl Fishers, with Houston Grand Opera as Norina in Don Pasquale, and with the Metropolitan Opera as Marzelline in Fidelio.

She has also performed this season with the Metropolitan Chamber Ensemble at Carnegie Hall and sung in Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 in Nashville, and she finishes the season performing as Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro in Utah. Ms. Welch-Babidge made her San Francisco Opera debut as Blondchen in The Abduction from the Seraglio, and she returns there this fall as Adele in Die Fledermaus. Her other future engagements include performances with the Boston Symphony in Moses und Aron and Fidelio. She has been featured in the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor with the New York City Opera, and, in addition to Marzelline, her roles with the Metropolitan Opera have included Chloe in Pique Dame and Freia in Das Rheingold.

She is the recipient of the 2001 ARIA Award and Richard Tucker Career Grant. She also won the 1997 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and is a graduate of the Met’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. She made her San Francisco Symphony debut in 2002 as Cunegonde in Leonard Bernstein’s Candide.

<- Back to Performance Standards page