035: Behind the Scenes with Opera Coach JoAnn Kulesza

In today's show, we delve into the inspiring career of JoAnn Kulesza, the retired Chair and Music Director of the Opera Department at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland. With a profound knowledge of Opera's vast repertoire, JoAnn has dedicated her career to teaching recitative and repertoire classes while mentoring collaborative pianists and conductors. Her journey spans freelancing with regional opera companies, leading the chorus for the Wolf Trap Opera Company, and transitioning from pianist to conductor with Opera Omaha, showcasing her versatility and dedication. Throughout our conversation, she shares invaluable insights and advice for aspiring musicians, making this episode a must-listen for anyone passionate about the art of collaboration in music.

• Introduction to JoAnn Kulesza and her distinguished career in the opera world.
• Her role as the retired Chair and Music Director of the Opera Department at the Peabody Conservatory of Music.
• Discussion on teaching recitative and repertoire classes at Peabody.
• Her extensive experience in working with and mentoring collaborative pianists and conductors.
• Insights into her early career and freelancing with various regional opera companies.
• Challenges and opportunities she faced in her journey from freelancing to working with major institutions.
• JoAnn's leadership role as the chorus master for the Wolf Trap Opera Company.
• Transition from a collaborative pianist to a conductor with Opera Omaha.
• Key skills and qualities necessary for collaborative pianists, including language proficiency and flexibility.
• Importance of communication and emotional sensitivity in coaching students.
• Advice for young pianists to diversify their skillset through sight-reading and learning from top voice teachers.
• JoAnn's perspective on the evolving role of a collaborative pianist in today's music world.
• Strategies for networking and maintaining professional contacts throughout one's career.

Links Mentioned

• JoAnn Kulesza Website

Today’s Guest

JoAnn Kulesza is presently Interim Chair and Music Director of the Opera Department at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, MD. The Department produces between six and ten performances a year, serving between 85 and 100 singers. With her years of experience in the professional world, she provides an important aspect of the aspiring professionals' training. Well versed in Opera's vast repertoire, she teaches classes in recitative, repertoire and works with collaborative pianists and conductors at the school. She team-teaches a seminar in Opera Conducting with the master teacher Gustav Meier.

A life-long lover of choral music, Ms.Kulesza worked with the renowned Margaret Hillis at the Chicago Symphony Chorus and as assistant to Chorus Master Philip Morehead at the Chicago Lyric Opera. She was chorus master for the Wolf Trap Opera Company for many years and prepared the chorus for Washington National Opera's Romeo & Juliet in 2004, under Maestro Bertrand de Billy. She presently conducts the Arundel Vocal Arts Society, a chorus of 35-45 members, in two concerts annually, of a wide variety of repertoire; she is in her eighth year as Music Director of this ensemble.

Since entering the conducting realm, Ms. Kulesza has conducted three world premieres and led as well as played continuo for productions of Mozart, Rossini, and Britten. She has worked with some of the most notable conductors in the field – Loren Maazel, George Manahan, Heinz Fricke, Stephen Lord, Margaret Hillis – and is in demand as a clinician and educator around the country. She made her Opera Omaha debut in February '11, conducting and playing continuo for Mozart's Don Giovanni.

About Rachel Ehring

Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.

• Visit her website at https://rachelehring.com/
• Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring
• Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music

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