Lamont Voices Making Impact
Members of the Lamont voice department at CHOCO
The Voice Department at the Lamont School of Music has begun an exciting new initiative called “Lamont Voices Making Impact." The goal of this project is to show the many ways that one can use a vocal performance major to make an impact in the world. Each voice major is required to complete a “give-back” project by the end of the year and submit to their studio teacher a short summary of what they did and what they learned.
"We want the students to think outside the box," said Catherine Kasch, chair of the voice department. "We hope that they come to learn of the good they can achieve other than just getting a good grade on their music theory test or singing an audition well. This will build their confidence in themselves and their own self efficacy through music."
On October 27, five singers and pianist Beth Nielsen visited Children’s Hospital of Colorado to give the first performance in a new concert series there, an exclusive partnership between Lamont and CHOCO. The performance was streamed to the young patients' rooms and there was a fifteen-minute interview prior to the concert where the children got to know the singers. Other departments in Lamont will also be participating in this concert series.
Other upcoming projects include singing for a memory care unit during dinnertime, teaching a voice lesson to an underprivileged teen, and taking a senior citizen to the opera.
Another part of this initiative will be inviting an alumnus, who is making an impact through their music, each quarter to voice performance class to speak to Lamont voice majors.
Most recently, the department welcomed Alexandra Brickley (BM '05), who is the Music Therapist at Children’s Hospital in the neonatal intensive care unit. The students were engaged as she spoke about her journey from professional music theater to music therapy for babies who are suffering.
Next quarter, alumna Daniela Acosta (BM '04) will be visiting to talk about starting Boulder Opera a decade ago and its place in our greater Denver community now.
"This is only the beginning," said Kasch. "We are looking for more opportunities and projects for this new initiative. We are all very excited about what’s to come!"
