Meet The Faculty - AIMS Graz

Alison Acord

Voice Teacher

Mark Alexander

Repetitor

Alfonse Anderson

Voice Teacher

Lukas Beikircher

Conductor

Wolfgang Brendel

German Diction Coach

Marzio Conti

Conductor

Darryl Cooper

Vocal Coach – Opera Coordinator

Roberta Cunningham

Tisch Talks – Living & Working in Europe – Mindfulness for Singers – Breathing & Posture Workshop

Linda Di Fiore

Voice Teacher

Melanie Diener

Masterclass Teacher

Ana Djukic-Cocks

German Language

Gabriel Dobner

Vocal Coach – Lieder

Dale Dreyfoos

Acting

Alfred Eschwé

Conductor

Margaret Gonglewski

German Language & German Diction

Joel Goodfellow

Repetitor

John Greer

Vocal Coach – Opera

Kenneth Griffiths

Vocal Coach – Lieder

Christina Haan

Vocal Coach – Opera

Gustavo Halley

Voice Teacher & Henry Pleasants Lecturer

Thomas Hampson

Masterclass Teacher

Kevin Hanrahan

Voice Teacher

Charlene Harb

Collaborative Piano Teacher

Timothy Hoekman

Vocal Coach – Lieder

Hyun Kim

Repetitor

Clemens Anton Klug

Auditioning in Europe

Mariusz Kwiecień

Masterclass Teacher

Minji Kwon

Repetitor

Jee-Eun Lee

Repetitor

David Limburg

German Language

Bernadette Lo

Repetitor

Eddy Malave

Viola & Alexander Technique

Christina Mancheni

Voice Teacher

Malcolm Martineau

Masterclass Teacher

Gary Matthewman

Workshops for Collaborative Pianists

Lyndsi Maus

Vocal Coach – Lieder

Ethan McGrath

Repetitor & Church Music Coordinator

Siphiwe McKenzie

Masterclass Teacher and Special Guest

Kevin McMillan

Voice Teacher

Paul McNamara

Voice Teacher

Laurie Middaugh

Repetitor Co-Coordinator

Nathan De’Shon Myers

Voice Teacher

Gero Nievelstein

Performance & Audition Skills

Frances Pappas

Performance & Audition Skills

Mihaela Pavel

Repetitor

Nina Radtke

German Diction & Speaking Lieder Lyrics

Michael Ramach

Acting; Period Movement Classes

John Robertson

Repetitor Co-Coordinator

Joanna Ruszala

Voice Teacher & Stage Presence Workshop

Robert Sawilla

German Diction

Andreas Schöneich

German Diction

Victoria Schwartzman

Vocal Coach – Opera

Elisabeth Schwarz

Special Guest – Soprano

Ina Selvelieva

Repetitor

Hyewon Shin

Repetitor

Jung-Won Shin

Repetitor

Johannes Silberschneider

Special Guest – Actor

Bo Skovhus

Masterclass Teacher

Greg Smucker

Acting

Marius Stieghorst

Conductor

Rebecca Thomas

German Language

Fabio Toraldo

French and Italian Diction

Eric Trudel

Vocal Coach – Opera

Rolando Villazón

Masterclass Teacher

Linda Watson

Masterclass Teacher

Patricia-Maria Weinmann

Performance & Audition Skills

Stephanie Weiss

Voice Teacher Coordinator

Piotr Wiśniewski

Vocal Coach – Opera

Kathryn Wright

Vocal Coach – Opera

Wayne Wyman

Vocal Coach – Opera

Jana Young

Voice Teacher

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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