JMU Music Program in Germany

Summer 2012: (tentative dates)
Session One: May 21 - July 8
Session Two: June 18 - July 8
*Both Sessions are for Singers, Pianists, and Conductors
Due to the nature of both programs, applications will be considered through mid-March. For specific deadline information and application procedures, please refer to the information below and contact the program director, Dr. Dorothy Maddison.

Program Location

Welcome to our website!  James Madison University’s Summer Music in Germany was created to give pianists and singers the opportunity to perform and study Opera and Lieder in Saxony, Germany, where they will work with both American and German instructors and colleagues. If you are just starting your collegiate academic career, or are an advanced student who feels the need to expand your musical horizons, this course will help you to understand the cultural norms and differences in musical practices between American and German societies and give you an opportunity to experience living and working in Germany.   You’ll have opportunities to observe the German musical theater, operatic and concert systems and to gain insight into professional-level performance attitudes and practices. You’ll have chances to perform, and the journal you’ll keep will be a record of concerts and performances you participate in, as well as excursions to concert and opera performances you will attend.

Freiberg, Germany.  Freiberg has a late-medieval city center, with narrow alleyways and cobble-stone streets.  The Freiberg Technical University, as well as the intimate 300-seat Mid-Saxony Opera theater provide the educational and artistic base for the former silver mining capital which created the original wealth of near-by Dresden.  Points of historical interest include the oldest and most important silver mine of Saxony "Reiche Zeche'' (rich mine), as well as the cathedral St. Marien, where an original Silbermann organ (famous as the organ builder for Bach) is still used regularly for concerts and worship.

Academic Program

Session 1: Opera, Lieder, Language and Culture of Germany

Session One: 10-20 Students will be selected by audition with Jan Horstmann, General Musical Director of the Freiberg Opera House, to come to Germany and perform as soloists, repetiteurs, understudies and chorus in Massenet’s Werther and the Vivaldi’s Opera L’Olimpiade. (These works are TENTATIVE selections at this time—please contact Director for further details).  Rehearsals will begin during the week of May 21th.  The course includes 60 hours of Conversational German and a two week seminar on Wolf and Brahms Lieder with with Eckart Sellheim.  Students will start their course on May 21st in the first session and continue through until July 8th.  Extra concerts and student opera performances cast by enrollment will be arranged as time permits. 

Students will be assessed on their performance in concerts and opera performances, as well as attendance in German Class for those enrolled in GER 101 or GER 490.   All Students enrolled in Session One will be required to submit a journal.

Students will attend German Language Classes, take private voice lessons and coachings and attend rehearsals scheduled by the opera house and the JMU program.  Students will also have an opportunity to work with the International Business Program Instructors at the Technical University of Freiberg.

During Session One, Participants will have voice lessons, coachings and German Conversation Courses in conjunction with a student production of Vivaldi”s L’Olimpiade and a mainstage production of Massenet’s “Werther” in partnership with the Freiberg Middle-Saxony Opera House and the Technical University of Freiberg.  Dates of performances TBA.

• MUS 490- Special Topics:  Opera, Lieder, Language and Culture of Germany (2)
• MUS 690-Special Topics: Opera, Lieder, Language and Culture of Germany (2)
• GER 101- Beginning German (4)
• GER 490- Conversational German for those who have already taken GER 101 (4)
  

Session 2: Johannes Brahms Lieder Course

Session Two: Pianists and Singers will be selected by live or pre-recorded audition with Eckart Sellheim.  Works will be studied and performed.  Repertoire to include solos and ensembles from the repertoire of Johannes Brahms.  Instruction will include classes and one-on-one coachings with 1-2 final concerts at the end of the course.

Students will be assessed on their performance in concerts and opera performances, as well as attendance in German Class for those enrolled in GER 101 or GER 490. 

Students will attend German Language Classes, take private voice lessons and coachings and attend rehearsals scheduled by the opera house and the JMU program.  Students will also have an opportunity to work with the International Business Program Instructors at the Technical University of Freiberg.

Tentative Courses:

• MUS 490- Special Topics:  The Songs of Johannes Brahms (2)
• MUS 690 - Special Topics:  The Songs of Johannes Brahms (1)

Accommodations

Housing will be arranged through the International Programs Office of the Technical University of Freiberg. Student Hotel accommodation includes internet connections.  Hotel rooms include cooking facilities (some shared per floor, some in each room) and a bathroom within each room. Rooms can vary from one to three students per room. All Participants will have an opportunity to rent bicycles and will be REQUIRED to buy their own cell phones once they arrive (Cost per cell phone for 2011 was 20 Euros.)  Group meals will not be provided.

Program Costs*

For the current projected costs for this program, please click on the following link to the Fees for JMU Study Abroad Programs page.

Application

For more detailed instructions and to download the application, please click on the following link to the Applications and Forms section for JMU Short-Term Programs.

In order to be eligible to participate, interested students must recieve permission of Director/Instructor in addition to having sufficient experience as a singer, pianist or conductor. Applicants must admit an essay and a faculty recommendation letter. An interview with a live audition is also required. If the student is unable to audition in person, a video recording may be submitted in place of a live audition.

To be eligible to participate, students must have sufficient experience as a singer, pianist or conductor.

In addition, all applicants should apply to the director of the program, Dr. Dorothy Maddison with the following information:

Session One:
Applicants should:

1. Submit a resumé including their educational background, performance experience and repertoire.
2. Audition in person or send a DVD, CD or VHS with a minimum two contrasting pieces.  For singers, if possible, one piece should be in German.  A musical theater song is also recommended.  Advanced singers should include an appropriate operatic aria.  Pianists are invited to submit a recording collaborating with a singer on German Lieder and/or operatic repertoire. 
3. Applicants should also send a recommendation from their current piano/singing teacher, or have their teacher e-mail the recommendation directly to Dr. Maddison at maddisdx@jmu.edu. 
4. If possible, students should attend a live audition. See programs and dates below and contact the program director.

Session Two:

Applicants should:

1. Submit a resumé including their educational background, performance experience and repertoire.
2. If a live audition is not possible, send a DVD, CD or VHS with a minimum two contrasting pieces. 
3. Applicants should also send a recommendation from their current singing/piano teacher, or have their teacher e-mail the recommendation directly to Dr. Maddison at maddisdx@jmu.edu. 
4. Collaborative pianists are invited to include appropriate audition selections that reflect training appropriate to German Art Song. 

Live Auditions

Students may do a live audition and/or submit a recorded audition to the director if they cannot
come to one of the audition sites. Dates and locations for live auditions include:

James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia: XX
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, JXX
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona State University, XX
Florida State University, Tallahassee, XX

For further information about live auditions, contact the director, Dr. Dorothy Maddison

Related internet sites to visit

Mid-Saxony Opera of Freiberg and Döbeln: 
www.mittelsaechsisches-theater.de

City of Freiberg: 
http://www.freiberg.de/acaws/portal.nsf/framesets/freiberg

Freiberg Technical University (who help sponsor our German Courses and accommodation):
http://www.iuz.tu-freiberg.de/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1&lang=en

City of Döbeln (in German): 
http://www.doebeln.de

Döbeln Music School (Friends of our program site in German):
http://www.musikschule-doebeln.de/53272599640d66106.html

FAQ’s

• Do I have to enroll for academic credits?  Yes. You will also be enrolled as a short-term Foreign student at the University of Freiberg.
• How old should I be to do this course? The course has accommodated students from freshman level college students up through mature adults who are ready to look for professional work in Germany.
• What music should I prepare?  Contact Dr. Dorothy Maddison for further details to discuss what is appropriate for audition and repertoire during the summer course.
• Will there be time on the weekends to travel?  No.  The weekends will be for excursions to see shows and tour for additional performances.  The best alternative is to plan to stay in Europe after the course is completed to take time to visit friends and/or relatives or to tour on your own.
• Do I have to speak German?  Not before you go, but it would be a good idea to study a little if you have time.  You will learn basic conversational German while you are there.
• What will the weather be like?  During the first two weeks of the course, it will still be early spring weather in Germany, and you should plan to bring a winter coat, hat, mittens and rain gear, including an umbrella.  An equal amount of winter and summer clothing is advised.
• Should I bring stage make-up and stage shoes?  Yes.
• What should I do about airfare?  You are responsible for your airfare, but we will be working with Lincoln Travel in Bridgewater to find a reasonable rate for a flight that you can purchase individually between Washington and Dresden.  This flight will be met at the airport to transport you to Chemnitz.
• What is the accommodation like? The student housing in Freiberg is NOT luxury hotel living; it is a dormitory associated with the local “Berufsschule” where German and Foreign Students associated with the University of Freiberg are housed for short-term stays.  Each apartment has a kitchenette with an eating area and a shared bathroom with 2-3 bedrooms.  Some rooms also have a living room with a TV, but not all.  Linens and a few small towels are provided, as well as a limited selection of cooking and eating utensils.  Some bedrooms are single rooms and some are shared with one other student.
• What do we need to do about health and travel insurance?  JMU will purchase health insurance for you as part of your course fee, and you will pay for any trips to doctors and hospitals yourself, keep receipts and apply to the insurance company for a refund.  The JMU health insurance is not optional.  It is strongly suggested that you take travel insurance to cover the cost of emergency or last-minute changes to your airfare which may occur. 
• How will transportation during the work? On a day-to-day basis the program provides second-hand bicycles for you to ride within the city of Freiberg.  For excursions outside of Freiberg, mini-vans and cars are rented.  It is advised that you bring appropriate gear for riding bicycles on rainy days as well as good walking shoes!
• Can my relatives and friends come and stay in the apartment with me?  No.  If you relatives or friends come you must make separate arrangements for housing with them.  JMU will not accept responsibility for housing anyone else in the dormitory during your stay there.
• What Music should I bring?  During the first session, we arrange solo concerts for you as well as the work with the opera company.  You should also bring a selection of “party pieces”  in American English by American composers, and this can include Musical Theater selections.  Contact Dr. Maddison for further ideas.
• What textbooks will I need?  You should plan to purchase
• A German Dictionary with International Phonetic Alphabet symbols.
• A small, portable German Grammar textbook for reference, since the German Language classes will all be taught in German!
  

Comments from Participants for Germany Courses in 2010

I also learnt so much from taking staging ideas in German rather than in English. I think that is the biggest plus to this program. We get the opportunity to work with these professionals IN German and learn the key words for the stage and opera. I am surprised by just how much I have learned. ~~ Stephanie Domingues, Soprano

I’ve learned a lot on this trip: practical things, like how to check a rehearsal schedule, how to save my voice, how to make do in a foreign language, and how to ride a bike up a gazillion hills. I’ve also learned spiritual and emotional things…, but suffice it to say that I’ve grown up a lot over this summer….I feel myself turning that corner between childhood and adulthood. ~~ Rebecca Woodbury, Soprano  

I learned a lot about how much my voice can handle, how much I as a person can handle and honestly gain a massive about of confidence about my vocal ability, but more importantly self-confidence.  I had such an incredible time.  The trip did not just change me as a musician, but it changed me as a human being.  I was so insanely busy the whole time, but so happy to be so busy. ~~ Clarissa Parrish, Mezzo-Soprano

I can honestly say that I feel I’ve learned this role in the best environment. Never have I enjoyed myself so much while singing and it’s been because of this theater.  I truly had the time of my life on this trip. The bar for my future experiences in my studies and in this profession has certainly been raised :) ~~ Shannon Jennings, Soprano

My Germany experience this summer is one I will remember forever.  It wasn’t just an experience, it was a lesson.  It was a lesson about German culture, lifestyle, and most importantly, performance. ~~ Khaki Pixley, Mezzo-Soprano

We had our Schumann performance at the Schumann house.  It was amazing being able to sing his music there.  Our last night there, I got to sing with the Fest singers in the open air concert which was an experience I will never forget.  It was so amazing and fun.  A perfect way to end an incredible program. I got to work with so many talented people, and I felt like I grew so much as a performer and as a person while I was there. ~~ Rebecca Shorstein, Soprano

This trip has helped me develop as a singer so much.  The opportunity to perform a full operatic role in all performances with a legit opera company at such a young age has been a really valuable experience.  I feel that collaborating with Eckhart Sellheim was also a brilliant choice; (it) augmented the operatic experience with an equally superb song literature course.  I can’t say enough about the advantages of having Bill Reber on this trip as a vocal coach and performance accompanist; he is indeed a man of exceptional talent and always creates a positive working environment.  ~~ John Holman, Tenor

It is not often that one gets to perform with a professional opera company, learn a whole new language, study with great professors and performers, travel to different places, and make friends for a lifetime. I did all this, and so much more…and it was pretty phenomenal and life changing!!!  ~~ Brittany Young, Soprano

Faculty/Staff

Instructors and Directors from the USA and Germany:

Dorothy Maddison, Director, received a BM degree St. Olaf College, her MM and DMA in vocal performance at Arizona State University, and studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. During her professional career in Europe as a lyric-coloratura soprano, she was a full-time soloist with the Stadttheater of Döbeln, Germany, where she performed the roles of Olympia, Antonia, Giulietta and Stella in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor, Euridice in Offenbach's Orphée aux Enfers, and Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro. She toured Germany singing Christine in the Yeston-Kopit version of Phantom.  Dr. Maddison is co-author of Kein’ Angst Baby!, a book to help singers audition in Germany. Her discography includes the CD Christmas Art Songs and Songs for Brenda and Bertha featuring the song cycles ME(Brenda Ueland) by Libby Larsen and Brautlieder by Peter Cornelius. She is an associate professor of voice and opera at JMU, and recently appeared with the wind symphony under the direction of Patrick Rooney at the Kennedy Center. Off campus, she has performed in concert and oratorio in the USA, England, Germany and in October of 2007 she performed with the Camerati Amici Ensemble in Brazil, singing for Vice-President José Alencar at the Portuguese Embassy Palace in Rio de Janeiro. 

William Reber, Conductor, and Accompanist-Coach (Session One), earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Opera and Conducting at The University of Texas at Austin.  He is the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Lyric Opera Theatre and Professor of Music at Arizona State University.  From 1993 through 2004, he was head of the vocal coaching program for AIMS (American Institute of Musical Studies), in Graz, Austria. In addition to conducting symphony and chamber orchestra concerts in the United States and Europe, he has served as Music Director/Conductor for more than 125 productions of operas, musicals and ballets. Former Music Director of the Minnesota Opera Studio and conductor for the Minnesota Opera, he also served as conductor and vocal coach for the Altenburger Musiktheater Akademie in Altenburg, Germany.  He was Music Advisor to the StaatsOperette Dresden, Assistant Conductor for Arizona Opera's two productions of Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, and a member of the music staff for the Minnesota Dance Theatre. Dr. Reber also served as Music Director for both the Symphony Orchestra and Opera Theatre at California State University, Fullerton, and was a member of the conducting faculty of The University of Texas at Austin where he founded the Chamber Orchestra and conducted productions of the Opera Theatre. As a recital accompanist, he has performed with singers and instrumentalists in Germany, Austria, Macedonia and throughout the United States. A frequent lecturer on opera and symphonic repertory, he has presented lectures to audiences and classes in Macedonia, Austria, Germany and several U. S. cities.  For Arizona Opera, he created and presented introductory lectures for more than twenty different productions and well as a series of special topic lectures for their two productions of Wagner’s Ring.

Eckart Sellheim (Session One Collaborative Artist Coach) . received his musical training in Germany and Switzerland; Adolf Drescher and Jakob Gimpel were among his teachers. He was appointed to the faculty of the two major conservatories in Cologne and continued his academic career as an Assistant Professor of Piano and Chamber Music at the University of Michigan. From 1989 until 2008 he was Professor and Director of Collaborative Piano at Arizona State University. He also served as a Guest Lecturer of Fortepiano and Performance Practice at various music academies in Germany (most notably at the Musikhochschule in Trossingen) and taught numerous master classes in the United States and in several European countries. Sellheim maintains an active performance schedule, having made concert tours in the USA, Latin America and the Carribean, the Middle East, Africa, and throughout Europe. He appears regularly on radio programs in the USA and abroad and has made more than 20 recordings as piano and fortepiano soloist and collaborative pianist, among them a great number with his late brother, celebrated German cellist Friedrich-Juergen Sellheim.

Jan Horstmann, (Session One Conductor) is currently the General Music Director, Freiberg Opera House. He studied at the Music Conservatory in Hamburg, Germany.  His first employment was as a repetiteur and conductor at the Wuppertaler Theater.  He also conducts regularly for the Dance theater company of Pina Bausch.  In 1996 he became the first conductor of the Magdeburg Theater and is now the General Music Director of the Middle-Saxony theater.  He has also been a guest conductor in Hamburg and Bonn and conducted in Amsterdam, Bonn, Brasilia, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro, as well as leading the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra.  He also has a secret passion for Cabaret/Street Music and has a one-person Cabaret act which he performs regularly.

Anne Elgar Kopta, (Guest Lecturer) is a soprano and associate professor of Music in voice, at Arizona State University  Herberger College School of Music. Under the stage name of Anne Elgar, she regularly appeared in leading roles with the New York City Opera and the opera companies of San Francisco, San Diego, Houston, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Wichita.Her credits include Violetta in La Traviata, Gilda in Rigoletto, Mimi in La Boheme, Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier, Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro, Blonde in The Abduction from the Seraglio, Pamina in The Magic Flute, Rosina in Barber of Seville, Baby Doe in The Ballad of Baby Doe, Abigail in The Crucible, and Sister Blanche in Dialogues of the Carmelites, among many others. She created the role of Margaret in the world premier of Lizzie Borden by Jack Beeson, a work commissioned by the New York City Opera. The original cast album released on Desto Records has recently been reissued on CDs by Composers Recordings, Inc./CRI. Miss Anne Elgar has also recorded opera by Rossini and Meyerbeer on the Vanguard (reissued on CDs) and the HRE labels. Under the sponsorship of Columbia Artists' Community Concerts Series, she was a popular recitalist. There were also many guest appearances at Tanglewood, Chautauqua, Caramoor, Newport, Saratoga and other summer music festivals.For more than 20 years, she has taught at major universities during the academic year and devoted the other months to summer music schools in Austria, Italy, Israel, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Formerly, Professor Kopta was a regular faculty member of the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. Her master classes at Mexico's National Conservatory of Music have become an annual event, and have resulted in special appreciation of ASU’s School of Music among students and faculty there.

For More Information

For additional information about the Opera, Lieder, Language and Culture of Germany and the Johannes Brahms Lieder Course, please contact the program director:

Dorothy Maddison
Assistant Professor of Music
Department of Music
Tel: 540-568-8042
E-mail: maddisdx@jmu.edu