Talented New Zealand soprano Isabella Moore has spent the last year in the United States furthering her vocal training and studies, most recently at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. On her return home for the festive season she sent this update of an exciting 2016.
It is so nice to be back in New Zealand for the holiday season and I am very happy to be home.
Since my last update about 12 months ago, I have enjoyed a lot of exciting experiences in my journey during the course of this year.
During the first half of 2016, I was based in San Francisco and was attending private lessons with Cesar Ulloa who is the current Chair of Voice at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
I had the privilege of attending the prestigious Georg Solti Accademia, which took place at the beautiful seaside town of Castiglione della Pescaia in June and July of 2016.
Attending the Georg Solti Accademia summer programme for 2016 is an experience I will always treasure and will never forget. I am very grateful for the opportunity and my sincere gratitude goes out to the Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Foundation for enabling this through the scholarship fund, which I had acquired through winning the 2015 Bel Canto Award.
This is a prestigious programme that many young opera singers from around the world apply for and only twelve are accepted. The main focus of the Solti Accademia is to reinforce the art of bel canto. The singers get to participate in master classes given by leading international opera singers and vocal coaches. At my stage of vocal development this world-class tutelage is essential and greatly beneficial. Once one masters the art of bel canto and a healthy long-lasting vocal technique, a career is almost guaranteed. I feel extremely grateful that I experienced this opportunity earlier this year. The experience has undoubtedly lifted the level of recognition I enjoy now going forward in my field. I am currently enrolled in a one year Postgraduate Diploma in Vocal Performance at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and I believe that my time at the Georg Solti Accademia has helped me develop my vocal technique, which in turn has made me a more confident performer.
I returned to San Francisco at the conclusion of the Solti Accademia where I began my postgraduate studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. This is progressing very well!! I am half way through it now, having completed the ‘Fall’ semester. I will return to San Francisco at the end of January 2017 to start the ‘Spring’ semester, which concludes in June of 2017. In April, the Conservatory will be putting on Suor Angelica by Puccini. I am very happy and privileged to say that I will be performing the title role in the SFCM production.
In the last two weeks, I have been very fortunate to be selected as one of 20 successful candidates to take part in the 2017 ‘Music Academy of the West’ summer programme, which is held in Santa Barbara, California from June to August each year.
Before I returned home to spend Christmas with the family, I took part in a number of auditions for programmes around the US for 2017/18. I will keep you posted!
I hope this year has been a happy and successful one for you and your loved ones. Thank you for being part of my life and singing journey. I am really blessed to have amazing opportunities to develop my craft, and it wouldn’t be possible without your encouragement and support.
