David Daniels To Join University Of Michigan Voice Faculty In Fall 2015

Rising Star: Daniels appeared in the pages of Vanity Fair
 magazine just three years after getting his masters
 degree at the University of Michigan.

"The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance (SMTD) has announced that American countertenor David Daniels will be appointed professor of music in the Department of Voice beginning fall 2015, pending U-M Regental approval. Daniels will maintain his active international performance schedule while launching his academic career in Ann Arbor. He received his master's degree from SMTD in 1992, studying with acclaimed tenor George Shirley. Hailed by The New York Times as 'the most acclaimed countertenor of the day, perhaps the best ever,' Daniels, has appeared with the world's major opera companies and on its main concert and recital stages. The Chicago Tribune described him as 'today's gold standard among countertenors,' and Gramophone magazine acknowledged his contribution to recorded excellence, as well as his expansion of the repertoire for his voice type, by naming him one of the 'Top Ten Trailblazers' in classical music today. Honored by the music world for his unique achievements, Daniels has been the recipient of two of classical music's most significant awards: Musical America's Vocalist of the Year, and the Richard Tucker Award. Highlights of Daniel's recent seasons include multiple appearances at the Metropolitan Opera in the title role of Handel's Giulio Cesare directed by David McVicar; in the inventive The Enchanted Island; and in the title role of Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice in a new production marking Mark Morris' debut at the Met as a stage director, conducted by music director James Levine. Daniels has won admiration for his performances of extensive concert and art song repertoire, including song literature of the 19th and 20th centuries not usually associated with his voice type. An accomplished recording artist with several critically acclaimed and best-selling solo albums to his credit, his latest release was a collection of Bach's Sacred Arias and Cantatas conducted by Harry Bicket with The English Concert. Daniels joins a celebrated voice faculty at SMTD, chaired by Stephen West. Recent graduates of the program include tenor Michael Fabiano, soprano Janai Brugger, and mezzo-soprano Carla Dirlikov. " [Source]

David Daniels Kicks Off 2011 Jessye Norman Masterclass Series

The countertenor presented a master class at the University of Michigan's School of Music as part of the Jessye Norman Masterclass Series. The event took place at Britton Recital Hall on September 23, 2011. David Daniels studied music at the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and attended the University of Michigan to receive his graduate degree. It was during this time that he transitioned from singing tenor to countertenor roles while studying with American tenor George Shirley and British soprano Lorna Haywood. This season Mr. Daniels can be seen at the San Francisco Opera in Händel's Xerxes, the Metropolitan Opera in The Enchanted Island (a pastiche of Baroque composers) and the Lyric Opera of Chicago in Händel's Rinaldo.
The program and singers from the master class with Mr. Daniels in Michigan:
"Svegliatevi nel core" Giulio Cesare (Händel)
Stephanie Schoenhofer, Mezzo soprano
"Un'aura amorosa" Così fan tutte (Mozart)
Justin Berkowitz, tenor
"Lord Jesus Christ" Prayers of Kierkegaard (Barber)
Kimwana Doner, soprano
"Vecchia Zimarra" La Bohème (Puccini)
Benjamin Sieverding, Bass
"Nacqui all'affanno...Non più mesta" La Cenerentola (Rossini)
Sarah David, Mezzo-soprano

JESSYE NORMAN AND MUSIC EDUCATION

Ms. Norman at 1989 Michigan commencement.

The soprano's interest in music education is widely known and greatly praised. The Jessye Norman School of the Arts in her hometown of Augusta, Georgia, was founded as an after-school program for talented middle school students. There has also been a fellowship set up at the University of Michigan School of Music as well as funding of the Jessye Norman Masterclass Series at her alma mater. "At the age of 16, Norman entered the Marian Anderson Vocal Competition in Philadelphia which, although she did not win, led to her being offered a full scholarship to Howard University, in Washington, D.C. While at Howard, Norman sang in the university chorus and as a professional soloist at the Lincoln Temple United Church of Christ, while studying voice with Carolyn Grant. In 1965, along with 32 other female students and 4 female faculty, she became a founding member of the Delta

The soprano with Gustav Meier in 1978 after one
of their many concerts at the University of Michigan.

Nu Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota. In 1966, she won the National Society of Arts and Letters singing competition.[7] After graduating in 1967 with a degree in music, she began graduate-level studies at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore and later at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, from which she earned a Masters Degree in 1968. During this time Norman studied voice with Elizabeth Mannion and Pierre Bernac" [Source, Source, Source, Source, Source]
Watch a recent interview of Jessye Norman on The Tavis Smiley Show on PBS:

Listen to music clips of the Michigan voice teachers and alumni mentioned in this posting after the jump.