Jonathan Walker-VanKuren curriculum vitae www.jonathanwvankuren.com [email protected] / 570.250.8700 education
Artist Diploma in Voice Texas Christian University / Fort Worth, TX / 2020 Master of Music in Vocal Performance Michigan State University / East Lansing, MI / 201 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance Indiana University of Pennsylvania / Indiana, PA / 2015 academic employment & teaching Lebanon Valley College ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF VOICE (ARTIST TEACHER OF MUSIC THEATRE & STUDIO VOICE) Present • Teach Applied Voice Lessons (MUI 121 & 221); which involves assigning repertoire, weekly lessons, developing vocal technique in varying genres, informing lyric diction and preparing for jury evaluations. • Teach Song Interpretation (MSC 225); which involves analyzing texts of songs of varying genres and workshopping how to perform them on the stage whether in concert, production, or in an individualized lesson.
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF VOICE August 2019 – May 2020
• Teach English, Italian, and Latin Diction (VOI 1602A): which involves teaching students the basics of the International Phonetic Alphabet as it pertains to the English, Italian, and Latin languages. • Teach German, Italian Song Literature (VOI 3412A); which involves giving the students the tools to listen to certain repertoire and distinguish the differences between the standard eras of music and composers all while exposing them to literature/poetry of the greats in the respective languages. • Teach English, French, Spanish Song Literature (VOI 3422A); which involves giving the students the tools to listen to certain repertoire and distinguish the differences between the standard eras of music and composers all while exposing them to literature/poetry of the greats in the respective languages.
Jonathan Walker-VanKuren academic employment & teaching
Nimitz & MacArthur High School HEAD PRIVATE VOICE INSTRUCTOR August 2018 – May 2020 • Teach classical, contemporary, and crossover vocal techniques in a private setting. • Choose repertoire for students’ use to improve their technique and their vocal aesthetic/tonal goals and encourage students to sing in multiple genres. • Prepare students for competitions, auditions, roles, and performances with vocal, movement, and acting coaching. • Write recommendation letters for students for acceptance into schools, programs, scholarships, and auditions. Michigan State University GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT August 2015 - May 2017
• Teach Applied Voice Lessons (MUS 151), which involved assigning repertoire, weekly lessons, developing vocal technique in varying genres, informing lyric diction and preparing for jury evaluations; taught between five and six students per semester. • Assisted with Vocal Pedagogy (MUS 341): which involved teaching two select lectures on Vocal Formants, tutoring and question and answer sessions. • Assist with Voice Studio of Professor Richard Fracker in regards to specific teaching days.
Michigan State Community Music School VOICE FACULTY August 2015 - May 2017 • Teach classical, contemporary, and crossover vocal techniques in a private and or group setting. • Choose repertoire for students’ use to improve their technique and their vocal aesthetic/tonal goals and encourage students to sing in multiple genres.
Haslett High School VOICE INSTRUCTOR August 2015 - May 2017
• Teach classical, contemporary, and crossover vocal techniques in a private setting. • Choose repertoire for students’ use to improve their technique and their vocal aesthetic/tonal goals and encourage students to sing in multiple genres. • Prepare students for competitions, auditions, roles, and performances with vocal, movement, and acting coaching. • Write recommendation letters for students for acceptance into schools, programs, scholarships, and auditions.
Jonathan Walker-VanKuren opera/musical theatre
Parpinol La Bohème Fort Worth Opera 2020 Mall Cop Yeltsin in Texas Texas Christian University 2020 Mr. Fiorentino Street Scene Texas Christian University 2020 Thamar Alì Babà Opera Southwest 2019 Faor Alì Babà Opera Southwest 2019 Beppe Pagliacci Savannah Opera 2019 Father Confessor Dialogues of the Carmelites Savannah Voice Festival 2019 Nelson Porgy and Bess Fort Worth Opera 2019 Don Jose La tragédie de Carmen Texas Christian University 2019 Fenton Falstaff Texas Christian University 2019 Witch Hansel and Gretel Fort Worth Opera 2018 Giuseppe La Traviata Savannah Opera 2018 Gastone La Traviata Savannah Opera 2018 Narrator Into the Woods Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre 2018 Schroeder You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre 2018 Fakir The Secret Garden Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre 2018 Donald Hopewell Gallantry Opera Santa Barbara 2018 Count Almaviva Il barbiere di Siviglia Opera Santa Barbara 2018 Des Grieux Manon Opera Santa Barbara 2017 Frederic Pirates of Penzance Main Street Opera Theatre 2017 Basilio Le Nozze di Figaro Michigan State Opera Theatre 2017 Reverend Eager A Room With A View Michigan State Opera Theatre 2016
* upcoming solo experience
Tenor Soloist Britten Rejoice in the Lamb Michigan State University 2017 Tenor Soloist Beethoven 9th Symphony Livingston Symphony 2017 Tenor Soloist Haydn Paukenmesse The Peoples Church of East Lansing 2016 Tenor Soloist Bach BWV 150 IUP Symphony Orchestra 2015 Tenor Soloist Haydn St. Nicholas Mass IUP Symphony Orchestra 2012
Jonathan Walker-VanKuren awards, scholarships, & grants
Artist Diploma Tuition Waiver / Texas Christian University / 2018 - 2020 Clare S. Mackey Scholar in Voice / Michigan State University / 2016 – 2017
Teaching Assistant Scholarship / Michigan State University / 2015 - 2017 Graduate Teaching Assistantship Tuition Stipend / Michigan State University / 2015 – 2017
Joan F. Boytim Senior Music Scholarship / Indiana University of Pennsylvania / 2014 – 2015 Hazel Wilson Bowsman Memorial Scholarship / Delta Omicron Summer Scholarships / 2012 Kenneth Sell Memorial Music Scholarship / Indiana University of Pennsylvania / 2011 – 2015 educational outreach
Fort Worth Opera CHILDREN’S OPERA THEATRE • Three Pigs Remix (Performed the role of the Brick Pig) • Musicians of Bremen (performed the role of the Rooster)
Opera Santa Barbara OPERA LAB • Performed a fifteen-minute opera that is improvised in regards to plot while using small cuts of operatic arias, duets, trios, quartets, and recitatives. This was performed for elementary students throughout southern California.
Michigan State University OUTREACH PERFORMER • Performed alongside three other colleagues performing concerts of “Opera’s Greatest Hits to local high schools, Retirement Homes, and underserved local organizations.
Jonathan Walker-VanKuren young artist programs
Apprentice Artist / Opera Southwest / 2019 Hattie Mae Lesley Apprentice Artist / Fort Worth Opera / 2018
Chrisman Studio Artist / Opera Santa Barbara / 2017-2018 Festival Artist / Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre / May - August 2018
Sherrill Milnes Studio Artist / Savannah Voice Festival / August 2017, 2018, 2019 Artist / Classical Singing and New York in June (CSNY) / June 2013 masterclass participation
Jennifer Rowley / Metropolitan Opera Soprano Fort Worth Opera / 2019
David L. Jones / Author & Vocal Pedagogue Texas Christian University / 2019
Sherrill Milnes / Metropolitan Opera Baritone Savannah Opera / 2018
Lillian Groag / Stage Director Opera Santa Barbara / 2018
Kristine McIntyre / Stage Director Opera Santa Barbara / 2017
Fabrizio Melano / Metropolitan Opera Stage Director Savannah Voice Festival / 2017
James Morris / Metropolitan Opera Bass-Baritone Michigan State University / 2016
Edward Parks / Metropolitan Opera Baritone Indiana University of Pennsylvania / 2015
Richard Fracker / Metropolitan Opera Tenor Indiana University of Pennsylvania / 2014
Margo Garrett / Collaborative Pianist & Vocal Coach CSNY / 2013
Jonathan Walker-VanKuren masterclass participation
Kathryn LeBouf / English Diction Coach CSNY / 2013
Corradina Caporello / Italian Diction Coach CSNY / 2013
Todd Queen / Tenor, Dean of LSU College of Music Indiana University of Pennsylvania / 2012 recitals
Artist Diploma Recital / Texas Christian University / Spring 2020 Featuring music by Britten, Moore, and a world premiere by Patrick Vu with Andrew Packard
“Songs My Mother Taught Me” / Fort Worth Opera / Spring 2020 Featuring music by Hogan, Boatner, Johnson, Burleigh, Price, and McLin with Kyle Naig
Faculty Recital / Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary / 2020 Featuring music by Faure, Carter, Hogan, and Moore with Dr. Janani Sridhar
“Cowboy Hats and Crowns” / Festival of American Song / 2020 Featuring the music of Libby Larsen. Cycle performed was My Antonia
Young Artist Recitals / Fort Worth Opera / 2018, 2019 With Michael Sherman (piano) and colleagues Anne Wright, Janani Sridhar, Heather Weirich, Bridget Cappel, Myles Garver, Erik Larsen, and Sam Parkinson.
Broadway Tales: a Broadway Review / Savannah Voice Festival / 2018 Featuring music from Porgy and Bess, 42nd Street, Music Man, and Les Mis with Dan Getting (piano)
King of the High C's / Savannah Voice Festival / 2018 with Dan Gettinger (piano) and colleagues Ting Li, Peter lake, Scott Joiner, and Sean Christiansen
Fab Four, A Beatles Tribute / Savannah Voice Festival / 2018 With Elite Party Band and other Festival Artist colleagues at Savannah Voice Festival
Jonathan Walker-VanKuren
recitals
Studio Artist Recitals / Santa Barbara Opera / 2017, 2018 with Kyle Naig (piano), Stefan Illescu (piano) and vocal colleagues Byron Mayes, Chelsea Melamed, and Elle Valera.
Masters Recital / Michigan State University / 2017 Featuring music by Carter, Bizet, Strauss, Verdi, and Hogan with Ya-Ju Chuang. selected press reviews
As Thamar in Opera Southwest’s revival production of Bottestini’s Alì Babà “Three members of the 2019 Opera Southwest Young Artist Program: Matthew Soibelman as the Treasurer, Jonathan Walker-VanKuren as Orsocane’s Adjutant, and Kameron Ghanavati as Alì Babà’s Slave Faor, impressed me with both their vocal abilities and their stagecraft.” -Opera Today, 2019
As Schroeder in Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre’s Production of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown.
“Walker-Vankuren is a soulful Shroeder. He has great comic timing and a rich voice that is comfortable at both the top and bottom of his range. His showcase number “Beethoven Day” is a crowd favorite.” -Front Row Reviewers, 2018
“Jonathan Walker-VanKuren as Schroeder had perhaps the best voice of the evening, which made the number “Beethoven Day” a pleasure to sit through.” -Utah Theatre Bloggers Association, 2018
As Donald in Opera Santa Barbara’s production of Gallantry. “The doctor made a pass at Lola but she was only interested in her lover, Donald, played by the verismo-voiced Jonathan Walker VanKuren, who happened to be their current patient.” -Broadway World, 2018
Jonathan Walker-VanKuren
directors, conductors, & teachers
DIRECTORS Linda Ade Brand Fort Worth Opera Curt Olds Utah Festival Opera Foad Faridzadeh Opera Southwest Alison Moritz Opera Santa Barbara Grant Preisser Savannah Opera Josh Shaw Opera Santa Barbara Fabrizio Melano Savannah Voice Festival Kristine McIntyre Opera Santa Barbara David Gately Texas Christian University Noelle Jaquez Main Street Opera Theatre David Gately Fort Worth Opera Melanie Helton Michigan State Opera Garnett Bruce Fort Worth Opera Fabrizio Melano Savannah Opera Valerie Rachelle Utah Festival Opera Stefan Espinosa Utah Festival Opera Vanessa Ballam Utah Festival Opera
CONDUCTORS Joe Illick Fort Worth Opera Anthony Barrese Opera Southwest Jorge Parodi Savannah Opera Andrew Bisantz Savannah Voice Festival Tyson Deaton Texas Christian University William Remmers Utah Festival Opera Nicolas Giusti Utah Festival Opera Karen Keltner Utah Festival Opera Kostis Protopapas Opera Santa Barbara Daniel Beckwith Michigan State University Marcello Cormio Michigan State University
TEACHERS James Rodriguez, DMA / Assistant Professor of Voice & Voice Pedagogy at Texas Christian University / Fall 2018 - Present
Richard Fracker, BA / Professor of Voice & Chair of the Vocal Arts Area at Michigan State University / Fall 2015 - Spring 2017
Joseph Baunoch, DMA / Associate Professor of Voice at Indiana University of Pennsylvania / Fall 2011 - Spring 2015
thank you