This year’s Academy students were from schools all over San Diego, including Canyon Crest, La Jolla High, Corriea Middle, Francis Parker, Dana Middle, Bell Middle, Valhalla High, High Tech Middle Media Arts, The Bishop's School, and Golden Valley High. “They were big on talent,” says Academy director Shirley Giltner. “Everyone was very impressed with the talent level of the students and how much we were able to teach them in such a short amount of time.”
An exciting innovation this year was to make use of technology to add to the students’ learning experience. Teachers conducted a master class with baritone Christopher Johnstone via the free online video chat service Skype. Board member Alex Tiscareno volunteered his time and expertise to set up a computer link in the classroom so the students could have a live video chat with Johnstone, who was in Denver rehearsing for the national tour of “South Pacific” (he will soon take over the role of Lt. Cable). “It was a wonderful way to expose the students to someone who is currently out there in the thick of it,” said Giltner. Artistic Director J. Sherwood Montgomery led the students in a question-and-answer session and then the students had questions of their own. The Skype master class went so well that Giltner plans to repeat it next year with soprano Andrea Huber.
At the end of the Academy’s month of lessons and training, the students performed “Schoolhouse Rock Live Jr.” on stage at the Birch North Park Theatre for a packed audience of family, friends, and the public.
For more information about Lyric’s Summer Academy please visit the website.
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