Milnes and Friends Will Lead Disney Workshop
(Orlando Sentinel) -- A workshop that brought a batch of aspiring singers -- and some acclaimed professionals -- to Walt Disney World last summer will kick off its return engagement Friday, offering music lovers a rare chance to see fledgling performers and seasoned ones at work together. VoicExperience, a training program spearheaded by acclaimed baritone Sherrill Milnes, is expanding from one week at Disney to two. Actor Tony Randall, who led a master class last year, will return for another class. A second veteran of stage, screen and television -- character actor Fritz Weaver -- will be a new participant, leading a series of sessions on acting. In addition to Milnes, the teachers on the musical side will include Maria Spacagna, a soprano particularly known for the title role in Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Twenty-seven singers ranging from 17 to 42 years old will take part. Although coaching sessions and lessons with Milnes and others will be private, master classes and other events will be open to the public. Last year, the master classes offered not only a variety of music and an introduction to a crop of singers, but a fascinating look at the work it takes to polish an operatic per-formance. This year's schedule will include sessions with Weaver and his wife, actress Rochelle Oliver, on Monday. Randall's master class will take place the afternoon of Aug. 3. The evening of Aug. 3, the singers will present showcase concerts at Downtown Disney. The workshop at Disney will run through Aug. 5. A third week will take place in Tarpon Springs.
(Orlando Sentinel) -- A workshop that brought a batch of aspiring singers -- and some acclaimed professionals -- to Walt Disney World last summer will kick off its return engagement Friday, offering music lovers a rare chance to see fledgling performers and seasoned ones at work together. VoicExperience, a training program spearheaded by acclaimed baritone Sherrill Milnes, is expanding from one week at Disney to two. Actor Tony Randall, who led a master class last year, will return for another class. A second veteran of stage, screen and television -- character actor Fritz Weaver -- will be a new participant, leading a series of sessions on acting. In addition to Milnes, the teachers on the musical side will include Maria Spacagna, a soprano particularly known for the title role in Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Twenty-seven singers ranging from 17 to 42 years old will take part. Although coaching sessions and lessons with Milnes and others will be private, master classes and other events will be open to the public. Last year, the master classes offered not only a variety of music and an introduction to a crop of singers, but a fascinating look at the work it takes to polish an operatic per-formance. This year's schedule will include sessions with Weaver and his wife, actress Rochelle Oliver, on Monday. Randall's master class will take place the afternoon of Aug. 3. The evening of Aug. 3, the singers will present showcase concerts at Downtown Disney. The workshop at Disney will run through Aug. 5. A third week will take place in Tarpon Springs.