12 singers from 11 nations have come to Gütersloh to participate in the International Masterclass of NEUE STIMMEN. They are in for an intensive week of work. Until October 29, the young talents from around the world will receive individually tailored coaching in areas such as stage presence, performance psychology, and media training. Experts from the NEUE STIMMEN network will provide them with valuable career planning tips. This year’s coaches are: internationally acclaimed soprano Annette Dasch, body and voice trainer John Norris, Dr. Ralph Strehle, director of a program for young singers in Italy, and renowned cultural journalist, moderator, and classical music expert Axel Brüggemann. The masterclass week will culminate in a festive final concert in the foyer of the Bertelsmann Foundation, where the singers can present themselves and their skills to personalities from business, culture, society, and the media.
Liz Mohn, President of the Liz Mohn Center and initiator of the International Singing Competition NEUE STIMMEN, is pleased to welcome the singers to Gütersloh and emphasizes: “With the masterclass, we support young opera talents from all over the world. We discover new talents and accompany them on their way to national and international opera stages. Our support goes beyond vocal training. In the masterclass, we also impart valuable knowledge on stage presence, psychology, and marketing as a foundation for a successful career.”
The singers are:
- Francesco Auriemma, Baritone (Italy)
- Brayan Avila Martinez, Tenor (Netherlands)
- William Desbiens, Baritone (Canada)
- Marta Kristin Fridriksdottir, Soprano (Iceland)
- Hedvig Haugerud, Soprano (Norway)
- Stephanie Hershaw, Soprano (United Kingdom)
- Sanele Mwelase, Countertenor (South Africa)
- Priya Pariyachart, Soprano (Thailand)
- Alexandra Urquiola, Mezzo-soprano (USA)
- Gerben van der Werf, Countertenor (Netherlands)
- Luiza Willert, Soprano (Brazil)
- Shuai Zhang, Bass (China)
For those who want to take a first digital look at the 12 selected singers, you can do so on the NEUE STIMMEN Instagram channel, where the artists introduce themselves in short videos.
Public Open Masterclasses in Gütersloh – Watch the Singers at Work Live, Without Registration, and Free of Charge
On October 25 and 26, interested parties have the opportunity to gain an exclusive insight into the training and education of opera talents. The public coaching sessions will take place on the studio stage of the Theater Gütersloh. Soprano Annette Dasch will provide artistic instruction to the singers. Movement coach John Norris will show the singers how to work with their bodies to achieve optimal sound results. The open masterclasses will take place on Wednesday, October 25 from 2 to 4 PM (Dasch) and on Thursday, October 26 from 11 AM to 1 PM (Norris) on the studio stage of the Theater Gütersloh and are free and open to the public. No registration is required.
