Vocalists at Lamont study with Catherine Kasch, Matthew Plenk, and Heidi Melton, who have over five decades of combined experience in performance and teaching. Sahar Nouri is music director for Lamont Opera Theatre. Students also get to work on their foreign language diction with Beth Nielsen, who is equally versed in opera, art song, chamber music and musical theater.
Lamont regularly welcomes distinguished guest artists for masterclasses and recitals. Recent guests have included Christine Brewer, Michelle DeYoung, Ailyn Pérez, Greg Carpenter, and Stefano de Peppo.
As part of Lamont Opera Theatre, students gain first-hand experience in all aspects of a professional career by performing in our annual fully staged operas and musicals. Undergraduates hold a majority in the voice program, and are frequently cast in major roles in productions. Voice students will also sing in our choirs, and have the opportunity to explore jazz. They rehearse and perform in the state-of-the-art Newman Center for the Performing Arts.
Audition Repertoire Requirements
Undergraduate (BM and BA)
- Two (2) pieces, with at least one of them classical in nature, preferably of contrasting character, exhibiting your skill, technique and understanding of musical phrasing and expression.
- Technical skills and sight reading tests may be requested at a live audition.
Undergraduate (Minor)
- One piece exhibiting your skill, technique, and understanding of musical phrasing and expression.
- Technical skills and sight reading tests may be requested at a live audition.
Graduate (MM and Certificate in Performance)
Perform all compositions from memory:
- Five (5) classical voice selections, including at least one operatic aria and at least three (3) art songs. In addition to English, at least three (3) languages, such as Italian, French, German or Spanish, must be represented.
- Technical skills and sight reading tests may be requested at a live audition.
Review Requirements for Artist Diploma
Review Requirements for Jazz VoiceFaculty
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Catherine Kasch teaches a voice lesson to MM student Jenny Thompson.
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Opera music director, Sahar Nouri.
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Lamont Opera Theatre.
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Lamont Opera Theatre's production of "Die Fledermaus."
