Professor Sarah Elizabeth Wolfson, Voice
Education
Undergraduate: BM Vocal Performance, The Juilliard School
Graduate: MM Vocal Performance, The Juilliard School
Other Education: Wolf Trap Opera Young Artist, Florida Grand Opera Young Artist, Santa Fe Opera Apprentice, Steans Institute at Ravinia, Aspen Music Festival and School, RYT Prajna Yoga.
Performance and Teaching Experience
A soprano known for her remarkable ability to communicate with an audience, whether in recital, oratorio, cabaret, or on the operatic stage, The New York Times called her “a keenly intelligent artist [who sings] with luminous sound and impressively focused high notes”. She has been seen in recital/concert at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fischer Hall, David Geffen Hall, Rockport Chamber Music Festival, Miller Theater, Café Sabarsky at The Neue Galerie, Miami Museum of Contemporary Art, and with New York Festival of Song. Companies she has performed with include The Metropolitan Opera, Opéra de Montpellier, The Santa Fe Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Opera North, Spoleto Festival USA, Aspen Music Festival, The Ravinia Festival, La Jolla Summerfest, The American Symphony Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra, Bangor Symphony, Chamber Music Cincinnati Chautauqua Chamber Music Festival, Bowdoin Summer Music Festival, and The Vocal Arts Society of Washington, DC. Ms. Wolfson is a member of Victory Hall Opera, a singer run ensemble in Charlottesville, VA., as well as a part of Singtank, a singer driven thinktank working to make meaningful change in the opera industry.
Ms. Wolfson is an adjunct professor at Hofstra University and William Paterson University. Besides teaching studio voice at both institutions, Ms. Wolfson has also developed a Stagecraft for Musicians course at William Paterson. In addition to performing masterclasses at universities across the country (Mercyhurst University, North Central College, Pittsburg State University, HBCU – Philander Smith College), she has also taught a Vocal Performance class at Columbia University as part of the Music Performance Program. Ms. Wolfson has also served as a judge for a number of competitions, these include NATS-NYC, Professional and High School Level, Mondavi Center Young Artist Competition, The Columbia University Concerto Competition, and The Juilliard Pre-College Concerto Competition
Teaching Philosophy
“I approach vocal technique and performance from a holistic and individual standpoint. Every student moves at his or her own pace and absorbs information differently. This is based on vocal maturity as well as how that individual learns, and I constantly evaluate where the student is in the learning process and how they can be supported. I have experience working with neurodiverse individuals, using individualized tools to help them access technical know-how and musical expression. I believe that breath, body alignment, and an understanding of how text is produced and expressed are key to accessing the student’s true voice.”
At Levine Music
“As a proud Levine alumna I feel so honored to be a part of a beautiful musical family. I have had the chance to be a voice student (taught by Charles Williams and Rosa Lamereux), a piano student (Pierre Fournier), a Levine Camp counselor, a concerto winner, an honor’s student, a masterclass teacher, and a visiting performer. I have always felt deeply nurtured in every role I’ve experienced at Levine. I can’t wait to return that same level of support to my students.”
Personal
“I love running, yoga, pilates, and Netflix & chilling with my awesome daughter, husband, and dog.”
Website: http://www.sarahwolfson.com/
Video Sample: https://youtu.be/ogrgriHri7A