Singing courses 2020 focused on teaching vocal and breathing techniques. After a one-year break, students were led by the experienced mezzo-soprano Markéta Cukrová, who is aware of the importance of improving in this area and emphasizes it in her lessons. She invited the HAMU teacher, associate professor Helena Kaupová, to collaborate. Together with the young singers, they focused mainly on correcting singing attitude, breathing, articulation, principles in creating different types of tones and vocal hygiene. The time was dedicated to solving specific technical problems in the repertoire. The recommended area of study was the work of Gioacchino Rossini and the period of the Italian bel canto. The empathetic pianist Ahmad Jafar Hedar took over the piano tutoring.
The accompanying program offered a lecture on phoniatrics by the renowned expert MUDr. Jitka Vydrová and a lesson about proper breathing from the point of view of the Pilates teacher Renata Sabongui. The topic was further supplemented by a lecture by the musicologist Dita Hradecká.
The 7th year of singing courses took place in the castle grounds in Liteň on August 22nd to 27th and culminated in a popular final concert on August 27th. The participants of the courses performed with the singing support of Markéta Cukrová. It took place in the concert hall of the historic Čechovna. The concert was accompanied by Dita Hradecká with her erudite words. The enthusiasm of the visitors after the concert confirmed that the imaginary bar of our courses is still rising.
Watch the video from the final concert here.