“With the support of the faculty and the community among the participants, I rediscovered my confidence and love for this amazing craft called opera.”
"In May of 2024, I graduated from the Manhattan School of Music after three life-changing years studying classical voice. I’m sure those of us who have experienced major periods of transition would understand my feelings of fear, doubt, and insecurity as the summer loomed before me. I struggled to find secure footing, feeling uprooted from my sense of self and disconnected from the music that has become so vital to me. However, I was excited to attend CLA Berkshires and have an opportunity to center myself, spend time in nature away from the hustle and bustle of New York City, and hone my craft as a performer in the vital medium of Mozart’s music.
Coming to CLA Berkshires felt like a much-needed homecoming. The beautiful rural setting in the heart of the Berkshire mountains reminded me of my hometown in Upstate New York, and it was wonderful to reconnect with several world-renowned CLA Faculty members I had worked with at CLA Italy in 2022. As soon as I stepped off the bus in the quaint town of Great Barrington, I was welcomed by several members of the CLA artistic and administrative team, as well as by many other participants who had been with me during the bus ride up. Although I didn’t know many of them yet, the spirit of community so unique to CLA’s summer programs would soon bring us together.
Arriving at Bard College at Simon’s Rock, we took in the beauty of this campus set in the stunning Berkshire mountains. The serenity and tranquility of the rolling hills, trees, sunsets, and even local wildlife infused the work we did every day with vitality and gratitude. One feature of the campus that filled me with daily joy was the frog pond! Whether I was taking study breaks visiting the many species of frogs that lived there, walking around photographing the ever-changing collection of water lilies, or just passing by on my way to another coaching, the frog pond became a special place for me and many of the other participants to find joy and inspiration.
Aside from the amazing locations, another asset to CLA’s summer programs is the amazing artistic staff. Each and every one of them holds a true passion for young singers, and wants nothing but the very best for us in our development. Although the age range in CLA participants is often varied, as it was this summer at CLA Berkshires, the members of the artistic staff possess the crucial ability to meet artists where we are in our musical journey without judgment, and push us to give our very best in that moment.
Several faculty members especially inspired me during my time at CLA Berkshires. Daniel Isengart, CLA's resident stage director & performance coach, is uniquely full of wonder, light, patience, and energy. We connected over a mutual love of character study and fine emotional details. Daniel pushed me to do what I love: to go deeper into a character, to explore the unexpected choices, and to fully commit to those choices with intelligence and abandon. In working with Daniel, I underwent a change: I felt myself stepping into a confident version of myself armed with strength and self-assurance. An artist must fully trust themselves in order to let go and give a performance that is truly in the moment. With Daniel’s guidance, I rediscovered my confidence as an actor and added new tools to my performing arsenal.
Another faculty member who supported and guided me was Glenn Morton. Glenn is detailed, committed, and has the unique ability to make his students feel seen and believed in. His love of teaching, of the work, and of the pursuit of free and beautiful singing through language was palpable. Whether it was in an individual coaching or a group class, Glenn’s genuine passion for the art form and care for our development made us hang on to his every word and teaching. I so appreciated how Glenn took such care with my voice, which is something so unique and personal to each singer. The avenues and passages to free singing and clear vowels felt so easy during our coachings. At that moment in my development, my coachings with Glenn began to usher me into a new era of my voice, and I have carried what I unlocked in those sessions with me well after the Berkshires.
Something special about CLA is the emphasis on building community and fostering support and respect for one’s fellow musicians. In the Berkshires, especially, singers and pianists alike were encouraged to sit in on coachings and learn from one another. It was incredibly gratifying to see singers I admired working in a space of such openness and vulnerability. Since there were so many different development levels all in one program, there was never any shortage of new lessons to learn, or new ways to engage with concepts I’d heard a thousand different ways from a thousand different coaches. Another way in which CLA Berkshires built community was by sharing meals together. Eating together every day fostered camaraderie, familiarity, and the open sharing of ideas and support. It truly created a sense that we were all in this together, and that there was no need for competition or comparison which is so prevalent in this industry.
This feeling of understanding and support extended to our ensemble performances as well. As participants, we valued our performances as a space to try new things, give our all, and take risks. When we are released from judgment by our colleages and feel true support from our mentors, we are given permission to experiment, have fun, and make beautiful music together.
I came to CLA Berkshires as a fresh conservatory graduate, a little unsure, a little unmoored. However, with the support of the faculty and the community among the participants, I rediscovered my confidence and love for this amazing craft called opera. Every day, the faculty reinforced my foundations of technique and artistry, and built my skills even further. I was reminded of who I am, what I had worked so hard to build, and how important this art form is. I hold my time at CLA Berkshires near and dear to my heart as much more than a beautiful two-week retreat to the mountains with some amazing frogs."