LORENZO MALFATTI
Lorenzo Malfatti (1923-2007) inspired a generation of singers with his teaching. He took many young Americans to Italy for the first time, changing their singing and changing their lives. Among Mr. Malfatti's many students who later found success are composers Stephen Flaherty and Steven Mercurio and singers David Malis, Franc D'Ambrosio, Marie McLaughlin, David Daniels and Michael Maniaci.
Lorenzo was born in Pittsburgh. His parents were immigrants from Lucca, Italy, and he remained connected to that city for the rest of his life.
While serving in World War II as a 19-year-old in India and Burma, he often was called on to sing to the troops. One of these performances caught the ears of the famed soprano Lily Pons, who invited him to tour Asia with her and her husband, conductor Andre Kostelanetz.
The conductor then subsidized Mr. Mafatti's enrollment at the Juilliard School, at which he studied with baritones Mack Harrell and Giuseppe De Luca, among others. He made his professional debut in the United States at Tanglewood singing in "The Tender Land" by Aaron Copland, who he had met in Rome on a Fulbright Program scholarship.
Lorenzo Malfatti (1923-2007) inspired a generation of singers with his teaching. He took many young Americans to Italy for the first time, changing their singing and changing their lives. Among Mr. Malfatti's many students who later found success are composers Stephen Flaherty and Steven Mercurio and singers David Malis, Franc D'Ambrosio, Marie McLaughlin, David Daniels and Michael Maniaci.
Lorenzo was born in Pittsburgh. His parents were immigrants from Lucca, Italy, and he remained connected to that city for the rest of his life.
While serving in World War II as a 19-year-old in India and Burma, he often was called on to sing to the troops. One of these performances caught the ears of the famed soprano Lily Pons, who invited him to tour Asia with her and her husband, conductor Andre Kostelanetz.
The conductor then subsidized Mr. Mafatti's enrollment at the Juilliard School, at which he studied with baritones Mack Harrell and Giuseppe De Luca, among others. He made his professional debut in the United States at Tanglewood singing in "The Tender Land" by Aaron Copland, who he had met in Rome on a Fulbright Program scholarship.
Mr. Malfatti returned to Pittsburgh in 1956 as a faculty member of Chatham College, where he taught voice, diction and opera and conducted the Chatham College Choir. When he took the choir on tour in 1972, it was no accident that the tour began in Lucca. He soon began spending summers there to teach American singers, and in the late 1960s he helped stage director Italo Tajo establish the Opera Barga Festival near Lucca. Mr. Malfatti also prepared leading singers for their debut performances at La Scala, the Metropolitan Opera and Covent Garden through the Accademia Vocale in Lucca. In 1975, he joined the Lyric Opera of Chicago as principal vocal coach for its apprentice program and in 1978 he joined the faculty of the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati. He also judged many Met auditions throughout the country.
Mr. Malfatti retired in 1985, returning to Pittsburgh and continuing to sing at Shadyside Presbyterian Church and in the Italian folk group I Campagnoli. But retirement hardly kept him still. He taught diction at the Pittsburgh Opera Center, founded the Opera Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca and gave master classes in recitative and Italian diction around the country.
Lorenzo died in 2007 but his legacy is alive and well in the many, many students around the world who perform and pass on what he taught them.
(Text adapted from Andrew Druckenbrod celebration article, 2007, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Mr. Malfatti retired in 1985, returning to Pittsburgh and continuing to sing at Shadyside Presbyterian Church and in the Italian folk group I Campagnoli. But retirement hardly kept him still. He taught diction at the Pittsburgh Opera Center, founded the Opera Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca and gave master classes in recitative and Italian diction around the country.
Lorenzo died in 2007 but his legacy is alive and well in the many, many students around the world who perform and pass on what he taught them.
(Text adapted from Andrew Druckenbrod celebration article, 2007, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
BARBARA CLARK (1968-2018)
It is with profound sadness that mourn the loss of Barbara Clark. Her vision and commitment shaped this academy from its inception. In five years of teaching, her expertise and kindness changed the lives of over sixty students. We will strive to keep her spirit of generosity alive as we continue without her. Though we know she would have wanted us to continue in this important work, it is hard to imagine doing it without her.
Dr. Clark was a celebrated voice teacher whose students are currently singing with many young artist programs across the country, including Merola, Seattle Opera, Portland Opera, St. Louis Opera, Wolftrap, Glimmerglass, Central City, Arizona Opera, Opera Saratoga, Chautauqua, Music Academy of the West, and Tanglewood. Ms. Clark's students consistently place in the district and regional finals of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Her professional students perform nationally and internationally, including students in seven different Broadway productions. Internationally, Ms. Clark taught at the Opera Theater of Lucca, CCM’s Spoleto Festival in Italy, and The Vianden Festival in Luxembourg.
Dr. Clark taught for nine years at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) and was an Associate Professor of Voice at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. Along with her love for teaching, Ms. Clark enjoyed an active career as a recitalist and guest clinician.
It is with profound sadness that mourn the loss of Barbara Clark. Her vision and commitment shaped this academy from its inception. In five years of teaching, her expertise and kindness changed the lives of over sixty students. We will strive to keep her spirit of generosity alive as we continue without her. Though we know she would have wanted us to continue in this important work, it is hard to imagine doing it without her.
Dr. Clark was a celebrated voice teacher whose students are currently singing with many young artist programs across the country, including Merola, Seattle Opera, Portland Opera, St. Louis Opera, Wolftrap, Glimmerglass, Central City, Arizona Opera, Opera Saratoga, Chautauqua, Music Academy of the West, and Tanglewood. Ms. Clark's students consistently place in the district and regional finals of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Her professional students perform nationally and internationally, including students in seven different Broadway productions. Internationally, Ms. Clark taught at the Opera Theater of Lucca, CCM’s Spoleto Festival in Italy, and The Vianden Festival in Luxembourg.
Dr. Clark taught for nine years at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) and was an Associate Professor of Voice at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. Along with her love for teaching, Ms. Clark enjoyed an active career as a recitalist and guest clinician.