Classical Singing
Summer School — Music
This Classical Singing course is an
intensive week of classes and coaching
in vocal technique, performance skills
and repertoire for adult singers, whether
student, professional or amateur.
During this summer school you can take
advantage of a varied programme of
activities with classes being delivered by
highly experienced, successful artists of
international renown.
Students will benefit from individual
singing tuition from a team of expert
vocal tutors, where any aspect of the
singer’s skills can be considered.
rcs.ac.uk/shortcourses
Who is the course for?
Students should be at least 17 years of
age and have reached a minimum of
around ABRSM Grade 8 or equivalent in
order to fully benefit from this intensive
summer school.
Students who would benefit from this
course may be:
• a singer who is preparing to audition
for courses in music conservatoires
• an amateur or semi-professional
singer wishing to refresh their singing
skills and performance abilities
• singers already studying at a music
conservatoire who are considering
applying for post-graduate learning
Entry Requirements
Students will be required to submit a
DVD for consideration by the Course
Leader in advance of being accepted to
the summer school.
Please record and send a solo piece,
of no longer than four minutes
duration which you feel comfortably,
demonstrates your strengths as a singer.
An excellent course for
singers who want to learn
what conservatoires are looking
for in terms of technique and
ability, as well as the chance
to have some amazing tutors
giving a really personal
evaluation of your individual
strengths and where you
could improve.
Classical Singing student,
August 2013
Classical Singing
Venue, Date, Cost
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
100 Renfrew Street
Glasgow, G2 3DB
11 – 16 August 2014
Monday – Friday, 10am–6pm
£510
Course Outline
During this Classical Singing summer
school you will:
• develop and refine your vocal
technique
• improve your performance skills
• gain greater insight into repertoire
artistry
• achieve a better understanding of
yourself as a singer
Each day will begin with a group warm-
up session and a practical class on a
specific aspect of singing technique such
as breathing and support. This will be
followed by a presentation on a different
topic each day so that by the end of the
week each student will have revised
his/her working knowledge of vocal
technique.
Topics for the week will include the
anatomy of breathing, Alexander
Technique, resonance in singing, and
expert diagnosis of registration issues
using state-of-the-art, computer-based
equipment.
Students will be coached in French
Mélodie, German Lieder, Italian and
English Song as well as appropriate
operatic repertoire. There will also be
classes on acting for opera. These classes
will enable singers to develop as artists
and enhance their skills as performers.
rcs.ac.uk/shortcourses
course LEADERS Stephen Robertson
Head of Vocal Performance
Helen Lawson
Stephen Robertson is a vocal pedagogue
Helen Lawson was born in who is much in demand both nationally
Northumberland and studied singing and internationally, especially in the USA
at the Royal College of Music and the where he regularly delivers masterclasses
National Opera Studio in London. A at the University of Indiana. He combines
Sir James Caird Travelling Scholarship the multi-disciplinary skills of singer,
enabled her to pursue her singing teacher and voice researcher.
studies in Germany with Prof. Erik
Werba at the Hochschule für Musik in Stephen studied Music at the University
Munich, and Prof. Konrad Richter at the of Oxford and singing with Marjorie
Hochschule für Musik in Stuttgart. Thomas and David Johnston of the RAM.
He sang at Bayreuth, Frankfurt, and the
Helen has appeared as soloist in opera Salzburg Osterfestspiele where he was
houses both at home and abroad, invited to join the music staff. He taught
including English National Opera, City at the RNCM for six years and has been
of Birmingham Touring Opera, English teaching at the Royal Conservatoire of
Touring Opera and De Vlaamse Opera Scotland for eleven years.
Antwerpen. Some of the many opera
roles Helen has performed include Stephen’s students have sung at many
Butterfly, Countess Almaviva, Pamina; of the world’s leading opera houses,
Governess; Tatiana and Senta. She has including Covent Garden, La Scala,
also appeared as soloist in recitals and Le Chatelet, Netherlands Opera,
oratorio in the UK and abroad. Vlaamse Opera, Canadian National
Opera, Norwegian National Opera,
Helen taught for 10 years in German Strasbourg, Wiesbaden, English National,
universities (Bayreuth and Bamberg) and Glyndebourne, Opera North, and others.
moved to Glasgow in 2002 to take up the
post of Lecturer in Vocal Studies at the Stephen has two articles in preparation
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (then for publication, “Resonance
the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Characteristics in Upper Passaggio Tenor
Drama). Singing” and, “Predicting the Secondo
Passaggio in the Male Voice”. Last
In 2013, Helen attended Meribeth year he was an invited speaker at the
Dayne’s CoreSinging Teacher international Physiology and Acoustics of
Certification Course © in Annecy. Singing conference in Stockholm.
Classical Singing

Timothy Dean In 1994 Timothy was appointed Head Preparing for

Head of Opera of Opera at the Royal Conservatoire your course
of Scotland. Since moving to Scotland
Timothy Dean studied music at Reading he has worked with, amongst others, You should arrive for the course with
University, followed by piano and the RSNO and Scottish Opera as well a reasonable quantity of repertoire
conducting at the Royal College of Music. as giving concerts with the Symphony memorised so that you can fully benefit
He worked for fourteen years as Chorus Orchestras of both the Junior and Senior from the range of classes. Advice on this
Master and Head of Music for Kent Opera Conservatoire. He has also conducted aspect can be sought in advance from
and, in 1987, was appointed the first over forty new opera productions in the Course Leader.
Music Director of British Youth Opera. Glasgow and Edinburgh and developed
He was instrumental in developing the a variety of collaborative projects. He is Students who wish to take French
company into a vital part of the national currently Vice President of British Youth Mélodie, German Lieder, Italian Song,
infrastructure for training young singers Opera, having been Artistic Director English Song, or Operatic repertoire,
and musicians. Other appointments (2000 – 2006). He continues to be active will need to bring suitable material for
include conductor of the London Bach as coach, accompanist, adjudicator and these classes, already prepared and
Society, Music Director of The Opera conductor. memorised.
Company, Assistant Music Director and
Chorus Master with the New D’Oyly Other Guest Tutors
Carte Opera Company, followed by
company debuts for English National Isobel Anderson Book your place
Opera (Oedipus Rex/Bluebeard’s Castle) Mark Hathaway
and Scottish Opera (Barber of Seville). Judith Howarth All short courses can be booked online
Scott Johnson at www.rcs.ac.uk/shortcourses. Please
Julia Lynch-Strehle select the course you wish to book and
Patricia McMahon follow the instructions to confirm and
Clare Shearer pay for your course online.
Julian Tovey
Professor Christopher Underwood If you wish to speak to a member of the
Short Courses team, please get in touch at:

E: shortcourses@rcs.ac.uk
T: 0141 270 8213

rcs.ac.uk/shortcourses