The Kristin Lewis Foundation “Troubadour”

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In every issue of our newsletter, one Kristin Lewis Foundation Vocal Scholarship finalist or award recipient will be lovingly presented as a KLF “Nightingale” or “Troubadour,” in homage to artists who have shared their gift of beautiful singing throughout history.

A “Nightingale” is derived from “night”, and the Old English galan, “to sing.” Its Old English form nihtgale, means “night and day songstress.” A “Troubadour” was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages. This word is etymologically masculine.

The Kristin Lewis Foundation, an organization that shines a spotlight on talented musicians, is extremely proud of all the wonderful singers who participate in its scholarship program. These singers are among the next generation of great artists who intend to grace the world’s top opera stages.

Chosen from universities and colleges across the country, finalists are invited to Arkansas for a two-day audition process and given an invaluable opportunity to work with esteemed professionals while in competition for financial awards.

The Kristin Lewis Foundation Troubadour for the month of April is Blake Densen, baritone.

Introducing KLF Troubadour: BLAKE DENSON

photo of Blake Denson in his dressing room

Bartitone Blake Denson began his musical life as a percussionist in the Paducah Tilghman High School band. He reflected upon his childhood by saying, “My mom always sang around the house, so music has always been around me.” He successfully made the shift from band to choir, and subsequently was accepted into the voice department at the University of Kentucky.

Blake Denson at Kristin Lewis Foundation awards

Since participating as a finalist in the Kristin Lewis Foundation’s 2018 Vocal Scholarship Audtions, Blake has graduated from the University of Kentucky with his Bachelor of Music in Voice. While there, he sang “Joe” in the UTK Opera Theatre’s production of Showboat and was featured in an article in the LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER, which included an interview and video of his singing the iconic song “Old Man River.”

Video: What does ‘Old Man River’ mean to ‘Show Boat’?

Article: Star of UK’s ‘Show Boat’ wishes the racism portrayed in musical was all in the past. Read more here.

Blake Denson graduation

Blake is currently attending Rice University while pursuing a Masters degree in vocal performance under the guidance of Dr. Stephen King. He has shared his excitement with us in writing: “I am blessed to be able to work with the top voice students and faculty in the nation on a day to day basis so it definitely is a great driving force in my development.” Blake feels that he is ‘finding his true sound’ and developing greatly as an artist. He was cast in the role of “Mercurio” in Rice’s 2018 fall opera production of La Calisto. Another highlight is the role of “Elder McLean” in Rice’s opera production of Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah.

Blake will travel abroad for the first time in summer 2019 to participate in a study abroad program in the beautiful city of Florence, Italy. When he returns to America, he will cover the roles of “Pierrot” in Gluck’s opera, L’île de Merlin and “Kaiser Overall” in Viktor Ullmann’s Der Kaiser von Atlantis. He will perform the role of the “Wigmaker” in Richard Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos with Wolf Trap Opera.

We look forward to celebrating the many future successes of the talented and hard-working Blake Denson, and wish him all the luck in the world, or, as they say in the opera world, TOI TOI TOI!

The Kristin Lewis Foundation “Nightingale”

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Each month, talented Kristin Lewis Foundation scholarship award winners or finalists will be presented in La Fermata. They will be lovingly referred to as “Nightingales” and “Troubadours,” in homage to artists who have shared their gift of beautiful singing throughout history.

A “Nightingale” is derived from “night”, and the Old English galan, “to sing.” Its Old English form nihtgale, means “night and day songstress.” A “Troubadour” was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages. This word is etymologically masculine.

The Kristin Lewis Foundation, an organization that shines a spotlight on talented, young musicians, is extremely proud of all the wonderful singers who participate in its scholarship program. The fifteen finalists chosen from universities and colleges in America each year are invited to Little Rock, Arkansas for a two-day audition process, in competition for financial awards. Each participant is given an invaluable opportunity to work with esteemed professionals from leading, international opera houses during the scholarship auditions. These singers are among the next generation of great artists who intend to grace the world’s top opera stages.

The Kristin Lewis Foundation “Nightingale” for the month of September is

Melissa Joseph, soprano.

Since winning the Kristin Lewis Foundation’s Young Artist Award in 2016, Ms. Joseph has gone on to win other competitions such as 3rd place in Georgia District NATS, and the 2016 Orchestra Noir Virtuoso Collegiate Concerto Competition where she was awarded 3rd place and an opportunity to perform with Orchestra Noir under the direction of Maestro Jason Ikeem Rogers. Her most recent performances were as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni and Micaela in Carmen with the GSU Opera Theater under the direction of Mr. Carroll Freeman.

Ms. Joseph recently wrote to us:

“When I received the 2016 Kristin Lewis Young Artist Award, I was completely shocked and humbled. It is often rare to find artists who are so willing to give back to their community and finance the dreams of young singers. Furthermore, Ms. Kristin Lewis took the time to speak to every one of the contestants and make them feel so special and recognized. Not only was this competition rewarding financially, but also educationally. The one-on-one time with the judges after the preliminary round was so beneficial and insightful…”.


Melissa attended Georgia State University where her talent and hard work earned her a full scholarship with a Graduate Assistantship. In May 2017 she graduated from GSU with a Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance.

In February, Melissa was selected as one of 10 finalists in the 2018 Grand Concours Vocal Competition in Austin, Texas. In March of the same year, she was featured in a concert featuring women composers. Under the direction of Harv Wileman, founder of Voices of Reason ensemble, she sang, “I am Moses the Liberator” from Nkeiru Okoye’s opera Harriet Tubman: When I Crossed That Line to Freedom. She has been a featured soloist in art shows and cabarets around the local Atlanta area. More recently, she was cast as Musetta in Peach State Opera’s production of Puccini’s La Boheme. During this fall season she will move to Boston, Massachusetts to further her private studies with Ms. Sharon Daniels, with the intention of obtaining an Artist Diploma in the near future.

We wish Melissa all the luck in the world, or, as they say in the opera world, TOI TOI TOI!

The Kristin Lewis Foundation “Nightingale”

Written by

 

Each month, talented Kristin Lewis Foundation scholarship award winners or finalists will be presented in La Fermata. They will be lovingly referred to as “Nightingales” and “Troubadours,” in homage to artists who have shared their gift of beautiful singing throughout history.

A “Nightingale” is derived from “night”, and the Old English galan, “to sing.” Its Old English form nihtgale, means “night and day songstress.” A “Troubadour” was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages. This word is etymologically masculine.

The Kristin Lewis Foundation, an organization that shines a spotlight on talented musicians, is extremely proud of all the wonderful singers who participate in its scholarship program. The fifteen finalists chosen from universities and colleges across the country each year are invited to Arkansas for a two-day audition process, in competition for financial awards.

Each participant is given an invaluable opportunity to work with esteemed professionals from leading, international opera houses during the scholarship auditions. These singers are among the next generation of great artists who intend to grace the world’s top opera stages.

The Kristin Lewis Foundation “Nightingale” for the month of July is

Naomi Brigell, mezzo- soprano.

Naomi-Brigell_009

Naomi is quickly gaining recognition as an “expressive, athletic and strong-voiced” presence on the operatic stage and “lights up every scene she’s in” (Naples Daily News). A native of Belmont, MA, she is currently an apprentice artist at Des Moines Opera. In addition Naomi is presently singing the role of Third Wood Sprite in the mainstage production of Rusalka. Earlier in the year she joined Opera Naples as a resident artist, where she performed the roles of Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro and Giannetta in L’elisir d’amore under the baton of Ramón Tebar.

Naomi-Brigell_010

Other recent operatic roles in which she has performed include the Dritte Dame in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte with Opera in the Heights, Sesto in Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito with Chicago Summer Opera, and Zulma in Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri with Operativo Houston, where she also covered the role of Isabella. Further operatic highlights have included Nancy in Britten’s Albert Herring and Rebecca Nurse in Ward’s The Crucible. Equally at home on the concert stage, Naomi has appeared as an oratorio soloist with Palm Beach Symphony, Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church, Houston Lutheran Choral, and Boston University Concert Choir.

Naomi-Brigell_011

In 2017, Brigell was awarded the Kristin Lewis Foundation Vocal Scholarship Competition’s grand prize: a residency in Vienna to study with operatic soprano Carol Byers, coaches from the staff of the Wiener Staatsoper, a noted stage director and native speaking language/diction coaches. In 2018, she was first runner-up in the Madame Rose Competition at Mobile Opera. During her formal academic studies, Naomi was awarded titled scholarships, including the Winifred and Maurice Hirsch Memorial Scholarship at the University of Houston and the prestigious, Ellalou Dimmock Vocal Honors Award at Boston University.

Naomi Brigell with German vocal coach, Werner Lemberg.
Naomi Brigell with German vocal coach, Werner Lemberg.

The Vienna Stipendium awarded to Naomi was granted on September 19-27, 2017. Her Stipendium included an all expense paid round trip airfare, housing and a daily stipend. She received daily voice lessons from dramatic soprano Carol Byers, Italian diction and voice coaching from the Vienna State Opera pianist Luisella Germano, German diction and vocal coaching from Werner Lemberg, and acting lessons from noted Stage Director, Peter Pawlik. Cultural excursions within the city of Vienna were also granted. Here is a reflection of Naomi’s trip to Vienna in her own words:

Naomi Brigell with operatic dramatic soprano and voice teacher, Carol Byers.
Naomi Brigell with operatic dramatic soprano and voice teacher, Carol Byers.
Naomi Brigell with European Stage Director, Peter Pawlik.
Naomi Brigell with European Stage Director, Peter Pawlik.

“My lessons with Carol Byers were really helpful for reminding me about certain aspects of my technique that I have neglected recently, and also for helping me find my fullest and most mature sound throughout my entire range. I loved the fact that she never let me get away with even one tone that was less than my best– that helped me make sure that I was singing as well as I possibly could throughout an entire piece! She also helped me get more into my body when I sing, which is something that I have struggled with in the past.

All of my coachings were also incredibly beneficial. I worked very closely on language skills with native speakers (German with Werner Lemberg and Italian with Luisella Germano). I worked on phrasing, musicality, and the “big picture” of each aria with David Aronson. Also, Peter Pawlik helped me to theatrically work through my characters in a completely natural way, where I was using the way I act in everyday life to help motivate my characters and their movements. He was especially helpful for physicalizing my pants role characters, which is, of course, always a challenge.
It’s safe to say I completely fell in love with Vienna. Not only is it beautiful, but it has such a rich arts and musical presence that is around every corner. Being able to participate in so many cultural activities and go to so many performances was such a delightful and immersive experience that I won’t be forgetting anytime soon. I also must thank the foundation for supporting me financially, allowing me to enjoy the city and all it had to offer without worrying about financial burdens.

Overall, I feel like I grew as an artist and a person during my week in Vienna. I left feeling motivated– I know I have a lot of work to do, but this trip and everyone involved gave me tools and encouragement to do that work and continue to pursue this career.“