Maria Zouves leads Master Class at BPC

Maria Zouves gives senior Dallas Wilke tips for conveying personality through an audition. (Photos by Kayla Oliver)

By Kayla Oliver

BPC Marketing Staff

MOUNT VERNON—Many Brewton-Parker College music students may face an inevitable and sometimes nerve-racking situation before receiving jobs as professional musicians – the audition.

Senior Doug Pittman and Senior Jared Register listen as Greek-American Soprano Maria Zouves offers advice for employing the best vocal technique.

For this reason – and to ease the intimidation of the audition – students and professionals from the surrounding area were invited to attend a master class entitled: “Mission: Audition” Jan. 17 in Gilder Recital Hall on the Mount Vernon. The class was led by guest clinician Maria Zouves, a  master class entitled: “Mission: Audition” Jan. 17 in Gilder Recital Hall on the Mount Vernon. The class was led by guest clinician Maria Zouves, a Greek-American soprano who is the Executive Director and founder of V.O.I.C. Experience, a world-wide outreach to voice students.

Zouves, showed students that the audition process, though sometimes uncomfortable, can be easier if you are prepared and confident. Zouves career has also boasted performances at numerous operas as well as her debut at Carnegie Hall in 1997.

Performers for the master class included Ashton Davis and Kristian J’na Edwards, both from Appling County High School. Brandon Herrington accompanied both performances. Brewton-Parker College participants were freshman Carmen Turner, senior Dallas Wilke, senior Doug Pittman, assistant professor of music Dr. Ben Caston, and accompanists Brandon Herrington and Jared Register.

Also contributing to the class were Georgia Southern University students and faculty. They included senior Mark Diamond, graduate student Liz Zettler, graduate student Rebecca Flaherty, professor Dr. Arikka Gregory, and accompanist Natalie Beall.

At the conclusion of each singer’s piece, Zouves offered suggestions varying from appropriate audition attire, the use of proper vocal technique, and allowing personality to show in the performance.

Be sure to look for upcoming events hosted by the BPC Division of Music. Brewton-Parker’s ensemble, Lyric Theater, will be performing “Phantom!” March 20 and 21 at 8:00 p.m. in the Tattnall Auditorium of Southeastern Technical College.          

Senior Recitals featuring both Jamie Sexton and Jared Register are also approaching. Jamie Sexton, clarinet, will perform her Senior Recital on Thursday, March 26. Pianist Jared Register’s recital will be held on Thursday, April 2. Both recitals will begin at 7 p.m. in Gilder Recital Hall.

Brewton-Parker College is the only accredited four-year Christian college in south Georgia. To learn more about the Division of Music, contact the division secretary at 912-583-3136.

-BPC-

Maria Zouves coaches freshman Carmen Turner on making a character noticeable during an audition as part of the “Mission: Audition” master class held at Brewton-Parker College.