High School Voice Day offers workshops to students

High school students from around Michigan participated in a unique opportunity at Grand Valley State University to improve their vocal abilities. On October 10, more than 60 students joined Grand Valley faculty and guest teachers for the 3rd annual High School Voice Day.

Dale Schriemer, professor of voice at Grand Valley, said the event gives promising high school students of voice an opportunity to participate in various hands-on workshops, including effective warm-ups, audition techniques and “master classes.”

High School Voice Day was free to participating students, which Schriemer said is important in supporting local high school programs so students and choral educators have a vision for their possible futures.

“There are no ‘college prep’ music programs within school systems so the responsibility goes to the individual students to seek music tutors who will prepare them for the rigors of college music curricula,” said Schriemer.

This year’s guest master class teachers were Jane Bunnell and Marc Embree, professors of voice at DePaul University in Chicago, who have both had international careers as opera singers. During master classes, guest instructors and artists teach students individually in front of an audience of peers and other teachers.

This year’s High School Voice Day also featured a presentation on vocal health, a performance by Grand Valley voice students and small ensemble workshops.