Charlene Harb - AIMS Graz

Charlene Harb
Collaborative Piano Teacher

Teaching Philosophy
My approach to piano instruction is two-fold: to equip the student with the necessary tools to enhance his/her musical craft and to foster the development of his/her own artistic personality.

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American pianist Charlene Harb received the DM in piano from Indiana University with post-graduate studies at the Schubert
Institut (Baden bei Wien, Austria) and Cornell University. After retirement from the faculty of the Blair School – Vanderbilt and
as the principal keyboard for the Nashville Symphony, she has continued her coaching activities as an active freelancer,
working as a coach for Indiana Opera Theater, San Diego Lyric Opera, Tennessee Repertory Theater and
Nashville Opera. She currently coaches and actively performs in the Nashville area and is a vocal coach at Belmont University.
She regularly conducts master classes in collaboration and solo piano. Other appointments include the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria,
Professor of Music at Middle Tennessee State University, and two decades of serving at AIMS in Graz as pianist and piano instructor.

As a soloist she has appeared with numerous symphony orchestras, and as featured performer for the Women’s Conference
in Music, the International Brass and Trombone Congresses, and as collaborator for many years in the Metropolitan
Opera auditions. She also received an arts grant for touring from the Tennessee Arts Commission.

The music, the people I met, and the atmosphere were so incredible! My experience with AIMS is something that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Jennifer Metheny

soprano ’97

The knowledge and guidance I received from the faculty has changed my perception of my own singing and artistry for the better. I feel as if I can walk out onto a stage, into an audition, and into the world with this new-found confidence. I’m more passionate about my dreams and have a burning desire to see them through.

Robert Cardwell

baritone '17 - Opera Studio

I learned SO much and had a fabulous time with all my new friends, colleagues, and contacts. I am very thankful for all of the opportunities to sing that I was given.

Aidan Soder

mezzo-soprano ’99, Meistersinger Competition Finalist

I am proud to say that I am passing on some of what I learned at AIMS to my students, who consistently win state and regional vocal competitions, secure leads in the opera at UM, and go on to graduate schools and conservatories in the US. Thanks for your inspiration!

Jo Ella Todd

soprano ’75, ’76

Acting and audition classes at AIMS had a direct and immediate impact on my career. I completed my first professional audition right after AIMS for the Salzburg Festival young artist program, and got offered a contract on the spot! I don’t think I could have achieved that result before my summer at AIMS. I would encourage any young, ambitious classical or opera singer to participate in AIMS. It certainly changed my life.

Alexandra Flood

soprano '13 - Meistersinger Finalist

I want to thank all of you for being a vital part of my growth into an emerging professional artist. Being a part of AIMS last summer opened my eyes to the professional world of music and helped me understand who I am as an artist and what I needed to accomplish to transition from a student to a professional musician. Thank you SO much for inspiring me to work hard in the practice room; to connect my entire body when I perform; to walk into auditions not expecting anything but to have fun sharing my craft; and to go after career opportunities knowing that they will not come to me. I appreciate it more than words can express!

Kayla Bailey

soprano '13 - Opera Studio

AIMS has given me a true sense of where I need to work from – how I measure up and areas I need to strengthen for a future in classical singing. I learned more about my voice and how to maximize its use in one week at AIMS than I had in three years.

Eldric Bashful

tenor ’03, ’04, ’06

The AIMS experience is necessary for any opera singer that doesn’t want to just ’fall into’ the European music scene. With dedication and diligence, one can come away with a wealth of knowledge and preparation.

Marsha Thompson

soprano ’00; Meistersinger Competition Finalist

I had the chance to work with so many good and serious singers as well as top-notch teachers…that alone was worth it, but I carried away so much from the program that the cost was minuscule compared to what I learned. Contrary to being burnt out by six weeks of intensive music studying, at the end of AIMS I was more eager than ever to go to my university’s music library and check out as many books on Lieder and opera as I could carry. I realized the true quality of the AIMS music instructors when the first book I checked out happened to be edited by not one, but five AIMS instructors.

Jeremy Peterman

student pianist ’03, ’04; staff pianist ’05- ’16

AIMS was a wonderful experience of learning, performing, and seeing a dedicated staff in action. I am personally better from being blessed to have had this opportunity. Many thoughts continue to filter down from this unique and outstanding musical studies program.

Nancy Marriott

soprano ’98 & '16 - Opera Studio

Everyone I had ever known who had gone to AIMS in the past couldn’t stop raving about it, and now I know why. It was my best summer ever!

trombone ’00-’01

During the six-week program at AIMS, I received voice lessons and coachings. I also took my first German class and became attracted to the German language. My affinity for German caused me to take a particular interest in its poetic-song companion, the Lied. It is an aspect within standard solo vocal literature that I admire. Mr. Harold Heiberg, my vocal coach at AIMS, who specialized in Lieder, taught me how to appreciate and utilize the language in song performance. This was my first in-depth experience with song interpretation that illuminated musical collaborations not only between the poet and composer, but also between the singer and pianist. It was an exciting time as a developing musician.

Makeda Hampton

soprano '05 & '06 - Opera Studio