Jaynea Brooks wants to study the mind.
Marquis Murphy wants to study the body.
And both of these talented Central Visual & Performing Arts High School students strengthened their heart and soul this past week while working with Vinson Cole, one of the nation’s most acclaimed opera singers.
Cole recently served as Opera Theatre of Saint Louis artist in residence. Twenty-one local teens received two private vocal lessons from the internationally famous tenor, took part in a pair of Master classes and performed in a recital last Sunday in Graham Chapel at Washington University.
“To develop my voice with Vinson is the greatest opportunity ever,” Brooks, a sophomore, said.
“I’d like to become a psychologist, but I might sing (in college). I just love all classical music.”
A soprano, Brooks said Cole literally “helped me find my voice.”
“I’m so tiny, people didn’t expect such a big voice,” she said.
Murphy is a senior and plans to attend Fisk University in Nashville next fall, where he will begin pre-med studies.
While he could be a future doctor, Murphy said, “I’ve been singing since I could talk – but no classical.”
He called the artist in residence program and working with Cole “a great blessing.”
“This was something new,” he said of opera singing. “When I finally found my classical voice, I felt it was for me.’
Murphy got a head start on his study of human anatomy and how it works when Cole demonstrated what major roles the abdomen and diaphragm play in singing excellence.
“I had a lot of problems with my breathing and holding phrases (while singing),” Murphy said.
“With one touch, he fixed that. In the first lesson, he put my hand on his abdomen while he sang some notes and it literally changed how I sang. It all came together.”
Murphy said the program was a bit intimidating and “we all have our doubtful moments.”
“But when I found my voice, I had it and I never stopped learning,” he said.
Cole remains an active performer and is a member of the music faculty at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, his hometown.
He has performed in many celebrated opera companies in the nation, including the Metropolitan in New York and San Francisco. He sang several roles with Opera Theatre early in his career, including the hero in Donizetti’s Don Pasquale in the company’s very first season in 1976, one year before he won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
Known throughout Europe, Cole has performed at Palais Garnier, Bastille and the Opéra Comique in Paris, La Scala in Milan, Berlin Staatsoper and London’s Covent Garden.
Brooks, Murphy and other participants are members of Opera Theatre’s Monsanto Artists-in-Training program. It offers voice lessons to high school students on an ongoing basis. They work with professional music educators at Washington University, Webster University, University of Missouri – St. Louis and Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville during the nine-month program.
“I can’t say enough how terrific and generous Vinson Cole was as a teacher and mentor for our kids,” said Allison Felter, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis director of education.
“What he is doing is tantamount to Albert Pujols taking 10 days out of the baseball season to coach promising young kids in the sport. Vinson put aside 10 days in his season to work with our kids.”
Cole’s instruction certainly left lasting impressions on Brooks and Murphy, and both intend to use the singing experience to help them in their respective careers away from music.
“The day of my recital, I was nervous, but at the same time I was calm,” Brooks said.
“He taught me to go out there, have fun and do what you need to do.”
Murphy said, “I love taking different aspects of music and applying them to academics. As Vinson said, classical singing takes a certain level of discipline. I can use that to enhance my studies.”
Now, that’s a positive note.
