Marcie Stapp, author of The Singer's Guide to Languages, is a well-known vocal coach, accompanist and translator whose operatic translations are performed by leading music schools and professional companies across the country. She taught English and French at the Mangold Institute in Madrid, served as conductor/coach for the Academy of Vocal Arts, the Curtis Institute of Music, Indiana University, the Mozart Opera Studies Institute in Austria, Japan's Osaka College of Music and Sakai City Opera, the Gernot-Heindl Opera Studio of Munich, San Francisco Opera Center and Hawaii Opera Theatre among others. Ms. Stapp has accompanied the master classes of Margaret Harshaw, Renato Capecchi, Max Rudolf, Jess Thomas and Gerhard Hüsch, and has appeared in recital with members of the Metropolitan, San Francisco and New York City Opera companies. The Metropolitan Opera's renowned diction coach Nico Castel selected her as the editor of his popular Opera Libretti Series and the two collaborate annually on the Castel-Stapp Master Classes in San Francisco.

 

Alexander Technique, San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Teacher, Alexander Technique, San Francisco Conservatory since 1984; BASOTI since 2000.  He maintains a private teaching practices in San Francisco as well as teaching at the Alexander Training Institute of San Francisco.  Robert Britton has chaired the American Society for the Alexander Technique from 1997-1999, he is conference director of the International Association of Alexander Teachers.  He has pursued studies in Buddhist meditation, Zen practice and Asian martial arts. Mr. Britton is on the Faculty Executive Committee at the Conservatory and serves on the Board of Directors at BASOTI.

Velvet Singer seminars transform careers into action-oriented, goal-centered, and thriving businesses by establishing the basic habits that lead to success. We offer two seminars, both of which feature our unique seminar workbooks. The workbooks provide an efficient and practical platform for rich discussion.

Seminar A: “How To Sustain A Well-Tuned Business Plan”During this seminar each singer creates a career business plan. Singers assess strengths and weaknesses, define and prioritize goals, compose a career mission statement and much more.

For advanced young artists and emerging professionals

Seminar B: “From Dissonance To Harmony: How To Organize Your Career”Getting and staying organized is the key to being empowered, positive, and ready to move up to the next stage. In this seminar, singers establish the core administrative and technology skills that lead to success.

For students and young artists

AND

HECTOR CORREA, AUDITION TECHNIQUES

                                                         

ALEXANDRA MATTHEW, ACTOR, USE OF THE SPOKEN VOICE

Alexandra Matthew is happy to join BASOTI again this year having appeared as an actress at BASOTI in 2007.

At Marin Shakespeare Company, notable roles include two Cecilys (Travesties and Importance of Being Earnest), Viola (Twelfth Night), Hermione (Winter’s Tale), Katherine (Henry V), Celia (As You Like It), and Ophelia (Hamlet). Recent credits: Mrs. Manningham in Gaslight at Hapgood Theatre, and Ella in Eugene O'Neill Foundation's All God's Chillun Got Wings. At Pacific Alliance Stage Company: Cass (Wonder of the World), Emma (Betrayal), Stella (A Streetcar Named Desire), Catherine (Proof), Ann (All My Sons), Casey (Anton inShowbusiness) and the title role in Sylvia. Also: San Francisco Shakespeare Festival (Love’s Labour’s Lost, Twelfth Night), Center REP (Proposals), Foothill Theatre Company (world premieres When It Goes Haywire and Bad Axe), Willows Theatre (I Remember Mama), and Crowded Fire (Light Shining in Buckinghamshire), among others. Alexandra holds two Dean Goodman Choice Awards, and is a graduate of Drama Studio London, U.K.  This summer Alexandra is playing Lady Macbeth opposite husband, William Elsman

WILLIAM ELSMAN, ACTOR, ENGAGING YOUR PUBLIC

William Elsman- A professional actor and teacher in the Bay Area since 2007.  Local performance credits include the Sacramento Theater Company where he’s played Sherlock Holmes in THE FINAL ADVENTURE, and Mrs. Badden-Rotten in CINDERELLA.   Five Seasons at Marin Shakespeare Company include Henry Carr in TRAVESTIES (Broadway world.com nominee for Best Leading Actor), Octavius in ANTONY & CLEOPATRA,  Antony in JULIUS CAESAR, Orsino in TWELFTH NIGHT (BATCC nominee for Best Leading Actor), and Salieri in AMADEUS.  Other stage credits include MAN OF LA MANCHA (The Mountain Play), GASLIGHT (Hapgood Theatre), and THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY (Phoenix Productions National Tour).  TV work includes Lend America and IBM.com commercials, as well as music and industrial videos.  He will portray Macbeth with his wife, Alexandra, as Lady Macbeth on stage this summer. Mr. Elsman holds a BFA from Rutgers University and an MFA from the Professional Theatre Training Program at the University of Delaware.