Marilyn Horne Master Class | Oberlin Conservatory

The human voice is one of the most miraculous occurrences, an exquisite art form of human expression that bridges all corners of the world. As a photographer I cannot capture the audible timbres and energized sound frequencies of a singing voice, but my goal is to capture in a photo the emotional essence that carries a musician through a piece of music, measure by measure and thought to thought. Every once in a while I have the opportunity to photograph out-of-the-ordinary events, and the Marylin Horne Master Class at Oberlin Conservatory was one to remember for all time! Ms. Horne is a world-renowned mezzo-soprano, arguably the most influential American singer, who has shared a wealth of wisdom and experience in the vocal studio and in the concert hall. Last weekend, Ms. Marilyn Horne visited Oberlin and worked with many talented singers, four of which we heard at Sunday’s master class. The afternoon began with Ms. Emily Hopkins singing the emotional aria “Steal Me Sweet Thief”, providing Ms. Horne with a colorful expressive pallet and wide array of emotions with which to work, ultimately resulting in a thunderous applause. The afternoon of teaching continued with an astounding performance of the much-loved aria “Una furtiva lagrima” from Mr. Joshua Blue, a young tenor who left the audience speechless with his impeccable technique and seemingly effortless vocal power. We then heard “Une spectre de la rose” by Berlioz from Ms. Kayleigh Decker, a young woman who’s musical interpretations and rich lush timbre bring magic to any piece of music! The Master Class concluded with an equally thrilling and jovial performance of Hamlet’s drinking song by Mr. Aaron Keeney. His incredible vocal talent and compelling acting were a real treat for the audience and a strong note on which to end the weekend of learning from Ms. Horne! The world is filled with beauty, some that cannot be experienced through sight alone, or with the lens of my camera in my case!

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