AMY ENGELHARDT

Vocal Workshop Clinician/Adjudicator

http://amy-engelhardt.blogspot.com

I first began working with young singers as the female voice in Grammy-nominated vocal band, THE BOBS. Whether we brought live music to an elementary school in rural Iowa in a state-sponsored residency or a high school in New York City, sharing the joy of music with young people was incredibly inspiring. Now I lead a cappella and choral master classes and clinics, coach students on performance and auditions, and regularly adjudicate at competitions for high school, collegiate and adult groups all over the US. From vocal jazz to classical, pop a cappella and show choir, I want to help students become the best performers they can possibly become, and to have fun doing it.

BIOGRAPHY
From 1998 to 2011, AMY ENGELHARDT sang, arranged, produced, wrote and drove an awful lot of rental cars as the sole female member of legendary, Grammy-nominated vocal "band without instruments" The Bobs. Amys brainchild, Rhapsody In Bob - Gershwin's masterwork arranged for genre-busting vocal orchestra (The Bobs) and blues-infused piano (Bob Malone of the John Fogerty Band) - premiered at Wolf Trap and toured with Columbia Artists. As a session and concert singer, Amys insanely diverse credits include TWO BOBS, NO WAITING! (three 2012 BroadwayWorld Nominations for writing and performance), Danny Elfmans score for Real Steel, Jim Henson's Animal Jam (Discovery Kids/TLC), Harry Shearer & Judith Owens Holiday Show (tour and Walt Disney Concert Hall), Barbra Streisand's Timeless, the Los Angeles Bach Festival, Neil Young's Living With War, Comedy Centrals Roast of Roseanne and Sit-N-Spin, tons of commercials, video games, and Paul Provenzas SATIRISTAS. In 2011, Amy received the Burman Award for Songwriting from the Manhattan Association of Cabarets (MAC) and in 2012, a MAC Award nomination for Special Musical Material. Her solo CD, Not Gonna Be Pretty, hailed as the "unlikely and intriguing marriage of Nellie McKay and Meat Loaf," garnered two JPF Music Awards nominations for Best Modern Rock Song and Best Female Singer/Songwriter Album. Amys first love was the theatre; as a performer, she appeared in 40+ shows from Shakespeare to Simon to Sondheim. As a composer/lyricist, her cheeky score for BASTARD JONES (with librettist Marc Acito) was a Finalist for the 2012 Richard Rodgers Award for New Musicals, the 2012 Eugene ONeill Music Theater Conference. The shows January 2013 workshop was funded with a NAMT (National Alliance for Musical Theater) Residency Grant Amy is also the lyricist for TESLA with Acito and former Everclear keyboardist James Beaton. TESLAs first reading was just produced in New York by the New Musicals Foundation, also funded by a NAMT Writers Residency Grant. Other theatrical credits include lyrics for commissioned adaptations of Carl Sagan's CONTACT with Hungarian rocker Peter Sipos (2009 Puget Sound Theater Award Best New Play), NICHOLAS NICKLEBY with electric violinist Eyvind Kang at Seattles CenterStage and music/lyrics for the Bobs/Flying Karamazov Brothers collaboration A COMEDY OF ERAS at ACT Seattle. Special music credits include Dylan Brodys MOTHER, MAY I at Baltimores Strand Theater (dir. Rain Pryor), THE EGG GAME (Present Company, NYC) and THE NEW NORMAL (John Raitt Theater, Hollywood). Amy served as librettist/creative consultant for the PBS concert special Call Me Irresponsible (2011 Telly Award, Best Original Programming) featuring Ashley Brown (Broadways original Mary Poppins), and as Musical Director/Arranger for the world premiere of Drunk with Love: A Tribute to Frances Faye at San Francisco's New Conservatory Theater. A graduate of Syracuse University (Musical Theatre) and Bostons Berklee College of Music (Songwriting/Arranging), Amy is a proud member of SAG/AFTRA and ASCAP, and an honorary member of the Vienna Boys Choir. A diehard travelhound and gourmet cheese fanatic, Amy splits her time between New York and Los Angeles, and is likely in a plane somewhere over Nebraska right now doing her umpteenth crossword puzzle.

AMY R. ENGELHARDT
VOCAL WORKSHOP CLINICIAN/ ADJUDICATOR
iaremusic@gmail.com

Council Rock HS (Pennsylvania), April 2012

SingStrong Festival (Washington, DC), March 2013

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (Los Angeles, October 2013) Guest Clinician, Auditioning for Musical Theater (singers and non-singers) SOUTH LAKES HIGH SCHOOL (Reston, VA, October 2013) Choral master class CASA (Contemporary A Cappella Society): VoCALnation (Philadelphia, July 2013) Finding Your Funny Onstage seminar, Songwriting panel COMEDYSPORTZ PHILADELPHIA (July 2013) Musical Improvisation workshop CHERRY HILL HIGH SCHOOL WEST (Cherry Hill, NJ, April 2013) - Master class w/vocal ensemble Fermata, Musical Theater Performance Coaching SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY SETNOR SCHOOL OF MUSIC (March 2013) - Master class w/jazz vocal ensemble Windjammer, SU DRAMA DEPARTMENT - Theater Lab Guest Artist SINGSTRONG DC (March 2013) High School/Collegiate Vocal Competition Adjudicator, Master Class/seminar - Finding Your Funny Onstage), private ensemble performance coaching LOS ANGELES A CAPPELLA FESTIVAL (January 2013) Adjudicator, Scholastic Competition, (January 2010) Master Class Clinician - Group Performance MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY NEW MUSICALS WORKSHOP (January 2013) Artist/Writer in Residence BASTARD JONES NAMT Writers Residency Grant, University Fellowship Grant, developing and workshopping a new musical with student performers and faculty advisors A CAPPELLA PROJECT PHILADELPHIA (July 2012) Master Class Clinician- Performance

COUNCIL ROCK HIGH SCHOOLS (Holland, PA, April 2012, October 2013) Master Class Clinician Choral/A Cappella and Group Performance PERFORMERS THEATER WORKSHOP (Maplewood, NJ, 2012) Songwriting, acting, interp LOS ANGELES BERKLEE ALUMNI SONGWRITERS FORUM (co-creator, moderator, 6 years) MIDWEST A CAPPELLA FESTIVAL (Chicago, October 2010) Master Class Clinician - Group Performance YOUNG ACTORS THEATRE CAMP (San Francisco, 2008) Master Class Clinician (Musical Theater Auditions) NATIONAL HARMONY SWEEPSTAKES (San Francisco) Finals Judge (2009, 2007, 2002) REGIONAL HARMONY SWEEPSTAKES (Los Angeles) Finals Judge (2013, 2011, 2010) THE BOBS (1998 - 2011) - vocal ensemble performance and songwriting outreach, residencies and workshops (partial listing): Fairfax County Elementary Schools (VA), SPOT ADVENTURE Residency (University of Iowa, Iowa City): Des Moines YMCA Summer Camps, Iowa Childrens Museum, Marcy School (Minneapolis), Chestnut Ridge Middle School (PA), Nellysford, VA Community Center, State of Delaware Dept. of Education, Council Rock HS South (Holland, PA), Winchester Community Center, (Las Vegas), Center of Contemporary Arts (St. Louis, MO), Northampton High (MA), Lincoln High (Santa Clara, CA), Hamilton High (Los Angeles), Rutgers Prep (NJ), Yeshiva of Flatbush (NY), Mira Mesa HS (San Diego), San Jose Academy HS (CA), Christian Brothers Academy (Sacramento), Cal State Sacramento, Durham School for the Arts (NC), Morningside College (Sioux City, IA), Purdue University Convocations, Kentucky Center for the Arts.

MUSIC EDUCATORS SAY

I've been involved in professional A Cappella for 14 years, both as a performer and promoter. The best of the best invariably have that extra 'something' that goes beyond the music and connects them with their audience. An hour with Amy Engelhardt, at her session at SingStrong, is the closest I've ever seen anyone get to teaching what many consider unteachable. She has a rare gift for helping people get comfortable with their own stage persona, and connecting with their funny. I was thrilled to watch her work her magic. -Kevin Taylor, Distinguished Concerts International

Amy helped the students in Windjammer to focus on the importance of the lyrics in a piece of music. She gave us nice ideas on word stress and word painting. A fresh, new view was greatly appreciated! - Jeffrey Welcher, Director,Windjammer Vocal Ensemble, Setnor School of Music (Syracuse University)

Within a two-hour period, Amy worked with two of my choirs, discussed a cappella arranging strategies with budding composers, worked with me on different approaches to solving ensemble trouble spots, advised my students on music-related career choices beyond high school, demonstrated her amazing voice, and overall inspired my singers and me to push ourselves to become better musicians. This was all done in a warm, welcoming environment. She is EXTREMELY approachable and will bend over backwards to make sure that you are given a valuable experience. My students are already asking when she can come back again! THANKS, AMY!!!! - Corey Axler, Director of Choral Activities, Professor of Theory and Composition, Council Rock High School South, Holland, PA

"When Amy came in to coach the young people at Young Actors Theatre Camp, she took great care to deal with each individual and their specific performance needs, while also delivering universal messages to the students observing. We noticed a increase in confidence and performance level after their Master Class with Amy that helped them achieve their goals throughout the rest of camp in both classes and auditions." - Terese Genecco and Shaynee Rainbolt, YATC Teachers in Residence

STUDENTS SAY
I was so fortunate to attend Amy Engelhardt's class during SingStrong DC on adding comedy to your performance. She clearly knew her material and made it very relevant to a general audience. She got us involved from the minute we walked in and even called some folks up (including me) to try our hand at a bit of stage improv. So much fun and very inspiring! - Pam Wilson, Ashburn, VA

Thank you so much for coming! It was refreshing to hear a new opinion on the music we are already used to singing. I loved your honesty and sense of humor in everything you said, from your musical comments to your love for what you do. - Danielle Davidson, student, Council Rock High School

Amy's class went beyond the usual "Here's what to do with your voice" or "here's what to do with your notes" and went to "here's what to do with YOU", a subject sorely needed in this sort of performing. Her methods allow people to be the best version of themselves they can be on stage, and this class altered how I will approach my next performance. A must-attend for any stage performer. - Mike Olson, Attendee, Los Angeles A Cappella Festival Master Class

Having Amy come to my school was really a dream come true for me and my classmates. Her knowledge about musical theatre and the industry was so enlightening and inspired many of my friends to pursue what they love. In addition the work she did with our choirs was incredible, within a half hour of work the entire feel of the song had changed and we really started making music. Thanks, Amy! - Molly Barson, Council Rock High School

Thanks SO much for coming to YATC. I really learned a lot from what you told the other campers. - Elle Rosenthal

Amy did a great job giving advice on presentation that was well-tailored to the strengths and weaknesses of each group!- Chris Rishel, U of Chicago Voices in Your Head, Midwest A Cappella Fest