MUSIC THEATRE LAB 2023 - January 21 - January 28

Put your singing, acting and dancing skills under the microscope at Music Theatre Lab

The Open Academy is delighted to be able to expand the program and present Music Theatre Lab in January 2023.

Music Theatre Lab is a 7-day intensive program for aspiring Music Theatre performers aged 15 – 25. Working with a team of professional conductors, directors and choreograhers Music Theatre Lab will cover a range of skills from solos and ensembles stage and acting fundamentals, dance moves and audition technique.

The program will be challenging, exciting and stimulating as you develop stage presentation skills with like-minded performers culminating in a short public performance involving all participants.

By the end of this course you will have;

• developed skills in collaborative performance
• developed a capacity to follow a conductor while singing and acting onstage
• build your dance ensemble skills
• learnt to realistically analyse strengths and weaknesses within your current performing abilities in music theatre style
• build your audience communication skills to deliver a compelling narrative while singing

This course is run together with a parallel stream called Opera Lab. That program is designed for similarly aged aspiring opera singers to also develop their stage performance craft.

Some sessions of Music Theatre Lab will be shared with the Opera Lab students with the majority focussing on developing your music theatre performance skills. The program performance will involve all students from both streams.

DATES

Saturday 21 January to Saturday 28 January 2023
(no activity on January 26)

PARTICIPATION COSTS

Performers: $860 incl. gst

Audition fee: $20 incl gst
 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Entry to Music Theatre Lab is by video audition only. Students are required to submit a 4-5 minute digital audition video showing two contrasting songs, one preferably being from a musical. The registration process involves 3 steps;

• Register online for the Audition process ($20 administration fee)
• Submit digital audition video. Deadline for submissions is *Monday 7 November*. Successful applicants will be notified on Monday 14 November
• Enrol for Music Theatre Lab using the link sent by us

Please email your video file or url links (Vimeo, YouTube, dropbox or google share drive) to con.openacademy@sydney.edu.au. Videos received without an audition enrolment fee will not be accepted.
 

Once students are accepted into the program and pay the enrolment fee they will be sent details of the repertoire and schedule. Rehearsals and preparation will take place at the Conservatorium of Music mainly during the day but there may be the occasional early evening call.

Principal Course Directors

Simon Kenway – Conductor

Simon Kenway is an established and highly respected orchestral and operatic conductor. He has held posts as Principal Chorus Master of Opera Australia, Musical Director for Opera in the Vineyards, Opera by George and Opera Under The Stars in Broome, and Conductor and Chief Vocal Coach for the Sydney Conservatorium Opera School. He now works as a freelance conductor, both internationally and in Australia and in 2015 was appointed Artistic Director of Pacific Opera.

Simon has conducted the Sydney, Tasmanian, West Australian, Canberra and Queensland Symphony Orchestras, Opera Australia, West Australian Opera, Opera Queensland, Australian Ballet, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Aldeburgh Productions in UK, the Australian Youth Orchestra and Beijing Symphony Orchestra. In 2017 for Opera Australia, Simon conducts The Marriage of Figaro on Regional Tour, and also concerts with Willoughby Symphony. Recent engagements include workshops and performances as Conductor and Music Director for Opera Australia’s Community Choirs project from 2012 - 2015.

Narelle Yeo - Direction and Music Coaching

Narelle Yeo achieved considerable performing success in the USA, performing numerous professional roles in opera and musical theatre, ranging from CioCioSan in “Madama Butterfly” to the soprano in Terence McNally’s “Masterclass” for Pacific Repertory Theatre. On the concert stage, she soloed for the San Francisco Symphony and the Berkeley Symphony before returning to Australia. A “singing actor” and champion of new music, Narelle has premiered a number of new works in both the USA and Australia, including her recent portrayal of Catherine in the new Australian opera “The Long Ride Home” by Thomas Rimes. Narelle worked as a Director in the Opera Program at the San Francisco Conservatory.

Since her return to our shores, Narelle has directed opera and musical theatre for the Sydney Conservatorium and numerous other companies and schools in the USA and Australia. She has most recently premiered new works at the Moorambilla Festival and the Brisbane Festival.

Tanith Bryce - Music Coaching and Production

Tanith Bryce (BMus (Perf) (Sydney Conservatorium), DipOp (Sydney Conservatorium), LMusA with Distinction (AMEB), DipModLang (UNE) is a soprano based in Sydney who is currently working as a voice teacher and language coach as well as being a current member of Opera Australia’s ensemble. Her teaching focus is on healthy vocal production, and finding ways to emphasise good vocal technique and poetic nuance through refinement of language.

Tanith has performed in over 20 operas with Opera Australia, most recently in Aida in 2021, as well as having performed in various oratorios and art song recitals. Her interests are divided equally between opera and art song and she enjoys premiering new works by Australian composers, as well as performing other works.