March is Women's History Month and 2012's theme is "Women's Education -- Women's Empowerment." In recognition, this month fogelsonblog is featuring brief bios of five women who are outstanding artists as well as respected educators. Our musician this year is Dawn Upshaw.
"...One of the most consequential performers of our time," the Los Angeles Times.
"...One of the most consequential performers of our time," the Los Angeles Times.
"It's her nature to sing, just like it's a bird's nature. That's why she's here on earth," Robert Shaw, conductor.
"As a teacher, Upshaw exposes young singers to the expanded array of possibilities for vocal music and affords them the opportunity to cultivate creative partnerships with the composers of today." MacArthur Fellows description, 2007
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| Dawn Upshaw (2004), photo by Dario Acosta |
Soprano Dawn Upshaw blends rare natural warmth with a fierce commitment to the transforming communicative power of music.
At a point in life when other vocalists might be settling into comfortable routines or limiting their artistic risks, Upshaw has abandoned safer career tracks in favor of a quest for meaningful collaborations. (excerpts from Nonesuch Records)
In 2005, she was named the Charles Franklin Kellogg and Grace E. Ramsey Kellogg Professor of the Arts at Bard College. She is the Artistic Director of the Graduate Vocal Arts Program at the Bard College Conservatory of Music, a program that she conceived and designed.
In 2005, she was named the Charles Franklin Kellogg and Grace E. Ramsey Kellogg Professor of the Arts at Bard College. She is the Artistic Director of the Graduate Vocal Arts Program at the Bard College Conservatory of Music, a program that she conceived and designed.
"The Graduate Vocal Arts Program at the Bard College Conservatory of Music is a unique Master of Music program in vocal performance designed and conceived by Dawn Upshaw. Each year a select group of up to 8 singers is invited to join the program through an intensive audition process. The small number of students in each class insures that each singer receives the individual attention that can uncover and nurture his or her unique qualities in order to create a complete singing artist. Ms. Upshaw takes a personal interest in the growth of each student and acts as both teacher and mentor to help them realize their full artistic and professional potential. She is in residence at least three times each semester for intensive work with students in individual coachings and master classes. Her inspirational presence sets the tone for the exploration and discovery of a wide-range of musical styles and for the development of communicative and emotionally compelling music making."
[from "Graduate Vocal Arts Program Overview," bard.edu/conservatory/vocal arts]
Charles Franklin Kellogg and Grace E. Ramsey Kellogg Professor of the Arts and Humanities; Artistic Director, Graduate Vocal Arts Program, Bard College Conservatory of Music.
Fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences (2008)
Fellow of the MacArthur Foundation, the first vocal artist to be awarded the five-year “genius” prize (2007)
Honorary doctorate degrees from:
Yale, the Manhattan School of Music, Allegheny College, and Illinois Wesleyan University
Fellow of the MacArthur Foundation, the first vocal artist to be awarded the five-year “genius” prize (2007)
Honorary doctorate degrees from:
Yale, the Manhattan School of Music, Allegheny College, and Illinois Wesleyan University
Vocal studies faculty at the Tanglewood Music Center
Music Director, Ojai Music Festival, Ojai, California
Four-time Grammy Award winner
More than 50 recordings
1984 winner of the Young Concert Artists Auditions
1985 winner of the Walter W. Naumburg Competition
Member of the Metropolitan Opera Young Artists Development Program.
Music Director, Ojai Music Festival, Ojai, California
Four-time Grammy Award winner
More than 50 recordings
1984 winner of the Young Concert Artists Auditions
1985 winner of the Walter W. Naumburg Competition
Member of the Metropolitan Opera Young Artists Development Program.
Click below to watch a segment from a Master Class at Bard College Conservatory, 2009: http://www.youtube.com/Upshaw.Bard
Another Master Class excerpt, 2006:
http://www.youtube.com/Upshaw.MasterClassFogelson Library has Dawn Upshaw's CD I Wish It So, music by Bernstein, Sondheim, and others (call number MUSCD M1505.U67I84 1994).
More biographical information about Dawn Upshaw can be found here:
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Upshaw-Dawn.htm
http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2009/05/03/raising_her_voice/
http://www.nonesuch.com/artists/dawn-upshaw
http://www.macfound.org/
