Teaching at the Houston Grand Opera

In early 2024, I was contacted by the management of the Houston Grand Opera's Butler Studio to discuss incorporating Dalcroze Eurhythmics into the regular coaching for the HGO Young Artists. 

The Houston Grand Opera holds a top-tier national and international reputation, with a long history of artistic innovation and acclaim. Its status is underscored by prestigious awards, major media attention, and a consistent track record of commissioning new and important operatic works. Part of the strategy for staying on top is to fund the Butler Studio, a training ground for the next generation of internationally renowned A-List singers. The Butler Artists are 22–28-year-old singers, each one amazing, with big futures and even bigger voices. As part of their full-time positions at HGO, they receive private lessons, acting lessons, diction coaches, and regular residencies from a Dalcroze Eurhythmics specialist!

I travel to Houston for three residencies a year, and just finished the first visit of my second season with them. The company, the singers, and collaborative pianists are all such a joy to work with. That said, this is some of the most challenging teaching of my year. The artists are all highly accomplished. They are already singing leading and supporting roles and doing recital work all over the country and internationally. Each time I visit, I am given just a few days to recover the momentum from our last visit, and then push them forward into deeper musicianship. Our time together is full of many common Eurhythmics exercises (clapping, stepping, partnering, swaying, canons, games, and improvisation), all of which is very directly focused on the roles they are currently learning, the lessons they are taking, and the performances they are mounting this season.

I have many opportunities to travel to meet new students. I also get quite a few chances to work with main-stage adult performers. However, it is particularly special to be in a regular routine of three residencies a year, where we can build relationships, work through specific goals for individual performers, and share in the focused training of such exceptional talents. They are working hard. I am stretching as a pedagogue and discovering new ideas each visit. Thanks to the Butler Artists and to the HGO Leadership for maintaining the best young artist program in the country. I am thrilled to be on the team.