Voice Faculty Concert

Shudong L. Braamse, soprano.
Monique McDonald, soprano.
Tatiana Rubinskaya, soprano.
Michael Bulychev-Okser, piano.
Inna Leytush, piano.

Tuesday 15th July 3.30 - 5.00 pm (no intermission)

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The program will be announced soon.

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Shudong L. Braamse (China/United States)

An international performer, coloratura soprano Shudong Braamse, has appeared on stages in Italy, Austria, Singapore, and China. She holds masters and DMA degrees in voice performance from Michigan State University. Her operatic roles have included Lucy in The Telephone, Sally in Thomas and Sally, and Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore. As a recitalist, she has premiered a number of works by Asian and American composers including Gary Nash's cycle Peace, Love and Prosperity. In addition to her academic credentials, Dr. Brammse was certified by the Salzburg Voice Festival Program in 2012. Critic Carol Cohan of Orlando's The Villages Daily Sun praised Shudong's "powerful upper register" and described her technique as "fluid and true," flowing from "top to bottom effortlessly."

Dr. Braamse has a passion for sharing the traditions of Western vocal music with her native China, and sharing developments in Chinese concert music with audiences and students in America. She has given numerous master classes at Chinese universities including Wuhan Conservatory, Capital Normal University in Beijing, and Jiaotong University in Shanghai. She has also translated vocal pedagogy works by Joan Dornemann and Clifton Ware into Chinese. The books have been published by People's Music Publishing House in Beijing. Her recent recording, Silvery Night introduces American listeners to the songs of Yao Qi, a composer from Singapore.

Dr. Braamse is a member of the College Music Society and the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). Currently she is an associate professor in voice at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida.

Monique McDonald (United States)

American Soprano Monique McDonald is hailed for her dynamic stage presence. Her powerful and moving performances have captivated audiences and critics alike, dawing praise from The New York Times, The LA Times, and Opera News among others.

She is becoming known as one of the prominent Verdian Sopranos of her generation. She has enjoyed great success as Lady Macbeth in Macbeth in Spain; Tosca and Elisabetta in Don Carlo with Opera Royal de Wallonie, Belgium; Serena in Porgy & Bess in her debut with the Los Angeles Opera. Other engagements include the title role in Tosca with Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Italy, together with a 15 city tour of Spain including Toledo, Zaragoza, and Burgos theaters; Ariadne in Ariadne auf Naxos for her Seattle Opera debut; Leonore in Il Trovatore for Teatre de Mostoles in Madrid, Spain; Aida at the Luglio Musicale Festival in Sicily. Ms. McDonald is a winner of The Sullivan Foundation Competition, the first Leonie Rysanek prize for the George London Competition, and 1st prizewinner of the Palm Beach Opera and Houston Grand Opera Competitions.

Ms. McDonald made her New York City Opera debut in the role of Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni and Seattle Opera debut in the title role of Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos.On the concert platform, McDonald has appeared as soloist at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Library of Congress, New York Festival of Song, The Marilyn Horne Foundation, Caramoor Music Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, Santander and Verrano en La Villa Festivals-Spain, Italian Embassy in Paris (Italian and American Ambassadors in attendance), and commanded solo performances for the Prince of Monaco and the King of Belgium. Works performed include Verdi Requiem, Dvorak Requiem, Dvorak Stabat Mater, Brahms Requiem, Mozart's Requiem, Mozart's C Minor Mass, and Exultate Jubilate with conductors that include Maestros Anton Guadagno, Pier Giorgio Morandi, Paolo Arrivabeni, Christopher Hogwood, Lorenzo Muti, John Mauceri, Gerard Schwarz, and Skitch Henderson.

A native New Yorker, Ms. McDonald has been a life-long student of her mother, Betti McDonald. In addition to being accepted into The Juilliard Opera Center, other honors include the Sullivan Foundation Award, the first Leonie Rysanek Award in the George London Competition, first prize winner of the Palm Beach Opera Competition, and first prize winner in the Eleanor McCollum Competition at Houston Grand Opera.Ms. McDonald has sung in opera houses all over the world including Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Japan.

A Julliard graduate and Grammy-nominated recording artist, Ms. McDonald has now brought her talents to The Institute For Musical Arts, NYC where she has been appointed Executive Director and Master Teacher.

Tatiana Rubinskaya (Russia)

was graduated from the vocal department of music faculty of Moscow State Pedagogical University (class of Professor A. Menabeni) and post-graduate course of Moscow State Conservatory. Tchaikovsky (in class honored.\'s Artist of Russia N. Mikhailova). She has participated in master classes with Carlo Kozutta and Birgit Nilsson, held a master course in creative workshops Charitable Foundation. Lisitsian.
Began his artistic career as a soloist of the ensemble of contemporary music «Sorgente», who worked extensively with young writers in Russia and America. The singer took part in the festivals of contemporary music «Moscow Fall» (1998, 2000.), The First Moscow Organ Festival (2001), performed in antrepriznoy opera staged in conjunction with the Norwegian group «Vergen Barokk», which was also presented at the festival «Moscow Action» (2002) won the International Competition of Opera Singers. Dimitris Mitropoulos of Greece (Athens 2003), participated in an international opera project within the Greek cultural Olympiad (Athens 2005).Since 2003 - soloist of the Moscow Philharmonic Society.Her repertoire includes works from different eras and styles, performs with orchestras, chamber ensembles, accompanied by organ.The singer performed with concerts in many cities of Russia and other countries.
Tatiana - the diploma- winner of the First International Competition-Festival «Modern Art and Education» (2006 Moscow), Winner of the Second All-Russian open competition of vocalists by Valentina Levko (2008 Moscow), winner of the International Bach Festival «from Christmas to Christmas», winner of the V Moscow Competition romances «Romansiada Without Borders» (Moscow, 2010), a participant of festivals organized by the Moscow Conservatory on 60 -year anniversary of Victory in Great Patriotic War, the 125 th anniversary of Miaskovsky, 150-th birthday of Sergei Taneyev, as well as the festival Grieg, Sibelius and Scandinavian culture, the Seventh International Festival «The Soul of Japan», in which participated in the premiere of «On-Natsu» Issa Tsukamoto (In ancient language). Participated in the opera by Rimsky - Korsakov\'s «Snow Maiden» Opera House of the Moscow Conservatory (Spring party) – 2005. In May 2009 she performed «Song of the Earth» Mahler with the orchestra «Savaria» (Hungary, conductor A. Ertungealp). Was the first performer in Russia, the avant-garde work «Impressions» (J. Tsinnstag) accompanied by the State Symphony Orchestra «New Russia» Yuri Bashmet (Conductor Olivier Kyuande - 2009).Participated in the opera Berg «Wozzeck» under the leadership of Theodore Currentzis (the party of Mary) - The Bolshoi Theatre, 2009. Moscow.In 2011 Tatiana Rubinskaya the Winner of the II International Olympiad of arts in Moscow in the nomination of the ensemble-a duet with the soprano Helena Olkhovskaya ( The First prize ).In 2012 Tatiana took part in the «Festival of the Grand hall of the Conservatory.

Find out more about the artists:
www.shudongbraamse.com
http://www.moniquemcdonald.com/
http://en.rubinskaya.com/
www.bulychevokser.com