Free Master Classes open to public at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts | Arts & Culture

Tampa, Florida--The public is invited, at no charge, to observe master classes being taught throughout July by some of the country’s most noted voice teachers to students from around the nation in the Patel Conservatory’s Classical Voice Intensive (CVI).

Following each master class, audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions and meet the instructors.

“The Classical Voice Intensive brings master teachers from around the United States. together with the rising stars of classical music to share their expertise and experience. It is a rare treat to have so many amazing teachers in one place, with all of them offering public master classes. Anyone interested in classical singing will thoroughly enjoy an evening listening to the young singers and watching them learn at the feet of the masters,” said Gregory Ruffer, Patel Conservatory music department chair.

CVI is for singers ages 16 to 25 with intensions of becoming professional singers. In addition to master classes, this two-week intensive, includes lessons, performances and workshops. CVI participants will perform in concert on July 20, at 7 p.m., in the TECO Theater at the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts. 

Master classes, each from 7 - 9 p.m., include:

• Tuesday, July 10 – Master Class with Salvatore Champagne. A graduate of Oberlin College and the Juilliard School, Champagne made his debut touring Europe as a soloist with Leonard Bernstein. He sang leading tenor roles with Badisches Staatstheater in Germany and in many of Europe’s opera houses.
• Wednesday, July 11 – Master Class with Mark Lubas. Lubas holds degrees from the New England Conservatory. He has appeared as a tenor soloist with The Nashville Symphony and has sung roles with Boston Lyric Opera, Mobile Opera and Opera Carolina.
• Thursday, July 12 – Master Class with Stella Zambalis. Zambalis, soprano, has sung with the Metropolitan Opera, Houston Grand Opera and La Scala in Milan, among others. Her concert appearances have included Houston Symphony, Radio Symphony Orchestra of Berlin and the Moscow Radio and Television Orchestra.
• Friday, July 13 – Master Class with Beverley Rinaldi. A master teacher of great singers, Rinaldi began as a Broadway performer and later moved into opera, performing at Avery Fisher Hall and Carnegie Hall.
• Monday, July 16 – Master Class with David Friedman. Composer, conductor, author and singer, Friedman is known for conducting Broadway musicals and recently, writing Broadway musicals. His Chasing Nicolette is slated to open on Broadway next season.
• Tuesday, July 17 – Master Class with Gregory Ruffer and Robyn Frey-Monell. Conductor and noted voice teacher, Ruffer is the music department chair at the Patel Conservatory and chorus master for Opera Tampa. He was conductor of the Orlando Chorale and has sung with the Washington Chorus and Paul Hill Chorale. A soprano, Frey-Monell holds degrees from Westminster Choir College and Columbia University. She has appeared as soloist with Carmel Bach Festival and the Orlando Chorale and has sung with Opera Pacific and Los Angeles Master Chorale.
• Wednesday, July 18 – Master Class with Brad Diamond. Diamond holds degrees from Westminster Choir College and the Cincinnati College Conservatory and teaches voice at the University of South Florida. A tenor, he has appeared with Lyric Opera Cleveland, Opera Pacific and Florentine Opera Company of Milwaukee.
• Thursday, July 19 – Master Class with Ruth Golden. Golden was a leading soprano with New York City Opera from 1985-1991 under Beverly Sills. She has performed at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Weill Recital Hall, Symphony Space and with Live from Lincoln Center.

As part of the non-profit Straz Center for the Performing Arts, the Patel Conservatory offers classes for children and adults of all experience levels in all kinds of dance, music and theater. More information about the Patel Conservatory is available by calling 813.222.1002 and by visiting www.patelconservatory.org.