Associate Professor of Music Deirdre Welborn at the South Carolina School of the Arts at Anderson University co-directed and served as a faculty member at Bel Canto in Todi, two-weeks of intensive singing instruction this past summer in the picturesque Umbrian town of Todi, Italy.
Current Anderson University students Madison Church, Sydney Loop, Hollis Williams and AU Alum Olivia Stepp Darling joined students from universities and conservatories around the world this past summer, establishing an international connection with world-class music professionals, stretching their vocal and performing skills while immersing themselves in the language and culture of Italy. Bel Canto students came from the United States, China, Australia, the United Kingdom and Finland.
Welborn co-directs Bel Canto with Kathleen McKellar-Ferguson of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. When Welborn and McKellar-Ferguson were teaching together in Italy a year ago for a different program, they realized they worked well together and had similar teaching styles.
Welborn said, “Kath and I wanted to create a new school with expectations of excellence in performance but also wanted to include some interest sessions such as Body Mapping, Performance Anxiety, and Singers Health. We wanted our school to be challenging but fun, as well as create a welcoming and encouraging environment.”
With McKellar-Ferguson’s European connections, they were able to assemble an international faculty from Italy, France and Finland—each bringing their own gifts and expertise into the process.
Bel Canto consisted of morning classes in Italian language and afternoons spent developing vocal skills and extending students’ repertoire with one-on-one singing lessons. The program also took a holistic approach to all facets of singers’ wellness, exploring body mapping, performance anxiety and vocal health. Also included were masterclasses and discussion forums. Welborn noted that during Bel Canto the days are long—often starting at 9 a.m. and running as late as 7 p.m.
“They gave us a wide range of repertoire and pushed us out of our comfort zones in order for us to grow,” Williams said. “The performances also allowed us to share our accomplishments and expand our confidence in these new ideas.”
The students performed in three concerts—each tailored to a different aspect of classical music—at venues across Todi. Since Todi is a small town, Welborn said that the residents came out to the performances and also got to know the students. Church recalls how Todi residents would be drawn by the sounds of opera they would hear through the open windows and echoing through the streets on warm evenings.
“The street was filled with opera singers. I went into the butcher shop one day, the oldest store in Todi. The owner was in there, and he was telling me how thankful he was that we were all there bringing music to their streets, and he cried,” Church recalls. “I think that was probably my favorite moment of the whole trip.”
The Bel Canto students lived with host families, immersing themselves further into the Italian culture while enjoying Italian hospitality. Welborn feels students are getting a wonderful experience being around other students from different countries, learning from each other and growing as musicians in the process. Church feels enriched from her interactions with peers from all over the world, including an Australian student who shared the same host home. Williams has happy memories of staying with Maria, her host “mom,” enjoying meals together on the porch each day. She said the food was amazing; also, students also enjoyed the best gelatos they’ve ever tasted.
“I had a phone call with my friends in Scotland to talk about their opera gigs they have coming up,” Church said, noting that she forged strong friendships with others as they all went through a challenging but rewarding time of learning.
While in Italy, the students took side trips, including whitewater rafting at Tern and visiting the nearby Orvieto’s historic cathedral. They also experienced the history and culture of Rome.
“Our students stepped up and improved. They learned from each other,” Welborn said.
One of the concerts was held in the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Annunziata.
“Personally, I think I grew the most in my performance skills and being able to perform in front of groups of people,” Church said. “Going into it, I was more focused on the education aspect and wasn’t really planning to perform or anything like that. But I think it definitely improved my ability to perform in front of people.”
“The experience in Todi allowed me to grow in many ways,” WIlliams said. “I was surrounded by experienced performers, teachers, and coaches. Most of these young singers were beginning their master’s degree in the arts, so they had many years of experience ahead of me. This challenged me to be better, and it showed me where I could be in a few years in my singing career. This also reminded me that I am on my own journey, and I will learn all these concepts at my own pace.”
Welborn and her international colleagues are working to make more connections as they plan for next summer.
Details about Bel Canto in Todi can be found online.