Lift Every Voice

Lift Every Voice Masterclass with Giovanni Reggioli

January 11, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.

Christ Episcopal Church | 4001 Franklin Street | Kensington, MD 20895

In the first Lift Every Voice Oratorio Fellowship event of 2025, renowned international conductor, vocal coach, and music educator Giovanni Reggioli offers his expertise in a masterclass on oratorio to the 24-25 cohort of Cantate fellows: soprano Nuria Shin, mezzo-soprano Javon Charles, countertenor Jared Marshall, tenor David Pelino, and baritone Shikahi Jones. Come hear these extraordinary singers and learn about oratorio repertoire, style, context, and tradition as well as the singer/conductor relationship.

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Meet the Clinician:

Maestro Giovanni Reggioli is a critically acclaimed opera and orchestral conductor whose influence extends over five continents. Among his many credits are positions at Teatro alla Scala, Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Accademia Guiseppe Verdi, Orchestra da Camara di Firenze, the Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, New York City Opera, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Opera de Québec, Orchestra Symphonique deQuébec, the National Arts Center Orchestra of Ottawa, Ópera de Caracas, Ópera de Colombia, the New National Theater of Tokyo, Opera Australia, Queensland Opera, Orchestra Victoria, and Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Trained in both conducting and piano performance at the Juilliard School, Conservatorio Luigi Cherubini, and Salzburg Mozarteum, Mo. Reggioli has collaborated in concert and recital with such renowned singers as Renata Scotto, Plácido Domingo, Cecilia Bartoli, Anna Moffo, Carlo Bergonzi, Denyce Graves, and Samuel Ramey. Also widely respected as a pedagogue, he has lectured at the Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music and has served as a guest coach at the Lisa Gasteen National Opera School in Brisbane; the Caramoor festival in New York; the Renata Scotto International Vocal Academy in Florence, Italy; and the Daniel Ferro Vocal Program in Greve, Italy. Mo. Reggioli has lent his talents as a coach and administrator to the Young Artist Programs of Teatro alla Scala, the Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, and the New National Theater of Tokyo. He is the founder and General Director of Bel Canto in Tuscany, and he coaches emerging singers, pianists, and conductors at his home studio in Washington D.C.

Bethesda, MD, October 15, 2024 – Cantate proudly announces its 2024-2025 Lift Every Voice Cohort: Nuria Shin, soprano; Jared Marshall, countertenor; Javon Charles, mezzo-soprano; David Pelino, tenor; and Shikahi Jones, bass-baritone. These extraordinary young singers will join Cantate Concert Choir to provide skilled support to each of the sections while receiving professional-level training and first-hand experience in the performance of varied choral repertoire. In the program’s first full year (following the Spring 2024 pilot) each of these fellows will 

  • Participate as paid choristers in three performances with Cantate Concert Choir.
  • Receive resume and biography coaching from Cantate’s professional network.
  • Coach solo oratorio repertoire with Cantate’s artistic director as well as up to two collaborating choral or orchestral conductors.
  • Attend soloist, orchestra, and dress rehearsals, as well as oratorio performances of collaborating organizations.
  • Participate in two masterclasses with leading local experts on varied oratorio repertoire.
  • Perform solo and small ensemble repertoire with orchestra at a LEV showcase incorporated into a Cantate season concert. The performance will be professionally recorded for the singers’ personal use, and leading area choral and orchestral conductors will be invited.

Fellows emerge from their residency with Cantate better prepared for careers in the choral/oratorio field, and with a network of supporters and advocates to enable their success. Fellows are compensated competitively for rehearsals and performances and provided a travel stipend. Resume and biography consultation, vocal coaching, rehearsal and concert access, and masterclasses are provided to LEV fellows free of charge.

LEV is the evolution of Cantate’s Young Artist of Color (CYAC) residency. Launched in 2021 the CYAC – now LEV – aims to address the widespread racial inequity in the field of classical music by providing mentoring and performance opportunities to exceptional young BIPOC artists. In the program’s first season, Cantate featured baritone Anthony Anderson, who returned to perform with Cantate as a soloist on Magnificat this past December. Composer Ronald “Trey” Walton has recently completed his residency with a recital of his works in October 2023. Each extraordinary young artist worked with advisors throughout the Cantate programming year to refine his craft and prepare to present his polished works.

Applications to this season of LEV were open to pre-professional singers – those pursuing a career in music but not yet subsisting on income provided by performing or teaching in the field. Vocational singers aged 30 and under without professional representation were considered. The 24-25 cohort of LEV fellows will perform on Cantate’s Verdi’s Requiem, Heal, and Journey, in which they will be featured as soloists with orchestra, performing works polished and perfected during their residency with Cantate. Fellows are compensated for rehearsals and performances and provided a travel stipend. Resume consultation, vocal coaching as appropriate, and masterclass participation are provided to LEV fellows free of charge.

Additional questions about the program may be addressed to Cara Schaefer, Cantate’s Executive Director, at exec@cantate.org.