James Vaughan, internationally acclaimed pianist and vocal coach, will conduct four week long opera/vocal workshops, funded by the Arts Council, at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin, starting this week.
Vaughan, a former student of the academy and now on the music staff of the Vienna State Opera, will work with a selected group of six singers and three pianists - who will already have completed some of their studies and done one or two concerts - between now and May. The workshops are an intensive training course - at least 25 hours each - and candidates will be selected by audition.
Participation in the course costs £400, while auditors - who can be either other singers, teachers or people with an interest in music - may attend for £160 for the four weeks.
Vaughan, now one of the most influential people in music, has been with the Vienna State Opera for five years, working with such acclaimed artists as Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras and Samuel Ramey.
Throughout the year, the academy, in association with Opera Ireland, will present a series of 12 talks on The Enjoyment of Opera, to be given by broadcaster and journalist John Allen. Taking place this and next month, and again in February and March, the series will also feature visits to the dress rehearsals of the four Opera Ireland productions of the current season, La Boheme, L'ellsir d'amore, Macbeth and the Marriage of Figaro. The cost is £75.
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