Curriculum Vitae

Benjamin D. Laur

710 7^th Street Apt. 6, Bowling Green, Ohio 43402

blaur@bgsu.edu ▪ (989) 590-0511

Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION

Doctor of Musical Arts – Voice Performance, expected May 2016 (currently enrolled), The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.

Master of Music – Voice Performance, May 2013, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio.

Bachelor of Music – Voice Performance, December 2010, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Dr. Sigmond Frog (The Fowl Trilogy, Benjamin)—Bowling Green Childen’s Opera, June 2013.

Customs Official; chorus (La bohème, Puccini)—Toledo Opera, October 2012.

Dandini (The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Davies)—Bowling Green Childen’s Opera, June 2012.

Bass soloist (The Messiah, Handel)—Port Clinton Community Choir, December 2012.

Giuseppe, a servant; chorus (La Traviata, Verdi)—Toledo Opera, October 2011.

OTHER ROLES PERFORMED

Orfeo (L’Orfeo, Monteverdi)—Bowling Green State University Early Music Ensemble, April 2013.

Baron Cascada (The Merry Widow, Lehar)—Bowling Green State University Opera Theatre, March 2013.

King Hildebrand (Princess Ida, Gilbert & Sullivan)—Bowling Green State University Opera Theatre, January 2013.

Aeneas (Dido and Aeneas, Purcell)—Bowling Green State University Opera Theatre, November 2012.

Hercules (Hercules, Handel—Operatic staging)—Bowling Green State University Opera Theatre, April 2012.

Koko (The Mikado, Gilbert & Sullivan)—Bowling Green State University Opera Theatre, February 2012; Central Michigan University Opera Theatre, April 2008.

Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni, Mozart)—Central Michigan University Opera Theatre, March 2010.

Papageno (Die Zauberflöte, Mozart)—Central Michigan University Opera Theatre, April 2009.

Fred/Petrucchio (Kiss Me, Kate, Porter)—Central Michigan University Music Theatre Program, November 2008.

ORATORIO PERFORMED

Bass soloist, The Messiah, Handel — Port Clinton Lutheran Church, December 2011.

Baritone soloist, Requiem, Fauré — Central Michigan University Festival Chorus and Orchestra, November 2009.

REPERTOIRE LIST

Operatic Arias:

“Benché nasconda” (Orlando furioso, Vivaldi)*

“Hai giá vinta la causa” (Le Nozze di Figaro, Mozart)*

“Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja” (Die Zauberflöte, Mozart)*

“Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen” (Die Zauberflöte, Mozart)*

“Fin ch'han dal vino” (Don Giovanni, Mozart)*

“Deh, vieni alla finestra” (Don Giovanni, Mozart)*

“Donne mie, la fate a tanti” (Cosi Fan Tutte, Mozart)

“Bella siccome un angelo” (Don Pasquale, Donizetti)*

“Ô vin, dissipe la tristesse” (Hamlet, Thomas)*

“Avant de quitter ces lieux” (Faust, Gounod)*

“Questo amor, vergonga mia” (Edgar, Puccini)*

“Zázá, piccola zingara” (Zázá, Leoncavallo)*

“Vision Fugitive” (Hérodiade, Massanet)*

“Tanzlied des Pierrot” (Die tote Stadt, Korngold)*

Oratorio Arias:

“O Lord, my dearken'd heart enlighted” (Christmas Oratorio, Bach)*

“Thus saith the Lord … But who may abide” (The Messiah, Handel)*

“The trumpet shall sound” (The Messiah, Handel)*

“With joy th’impatient husbandman” (The Seasons, Haydn)*

“Is not his word like a fire?” (Elijah, Mendelssohn)*

“Hostias” (Requiem, Fauré)*

“Libera me” (Requiem, Fauré)*

Italian Song, Chanson, Lieder, and Art Song:

Bellini songs (“Per pieta, bell’idol mio,” “Vaga luna”)*
"L'amante impaziente," Beethoven

Don Quichotte à Dulcinée, Ravel*
L'horizon chimérique, Fauré*

Fauré songs (“Automne,” “Les Roses d’Ispahan,” “Lydia”)*

Duparc songs (“L’invitation au voyage,” “Extase,” “Lamento”)*

Gesänge des Harfners, Schubert (“Wer sich der Einsamkeit ergibt,” “Wer nie sein 

            Brot mit Tränen aß,” “An die Türen”)*

“Erlkönig,” Schubert*

Dichterliebe, Schumann*

“Feldeinsamkeit,” Brahms*

Wolf songs (“Der Rattenfänger,” “Verborgenheit,” “Verschwiegeneliebe”)*

Five Mystical Songs, Vaughan Williams*

Songs of Travel, Vaughan Williams*

Three Shakespeare Songs, Quilter*

A Shropshire Lad, Butterworth*

“Love Went a-riding,” Bridge

Duke songs (“Miniver Cheevy,” “Luke Havergal,” “Richard Cory”)*

 “The Whipping,” Cipullo*

                                                                                        [*] signifies public performance(s)

AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS

2011-2013 BGSU Graduate Assistant Instructor – Taught voice class and applied study; tuition waiver and stipend included.

2009 CMU Summer Scholars Grant Program - Composed and performed “The Letter of Jesse Givens,” a set of songs for Baritone and orchestra.

2009 R. Cedric Colness Vocal Scholarship Award - Awarded to music student who exhibits excellence and proficiency in voice performance.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Private Voice Instructor, Bowling Green, OH; Mount Pleasant, MI. Maintains private studio and provides coaching for auditions, technique, and vocal development (2009-current).

Midland Christian School, Midland, MI. Elementary and Secondary Music Teacher – Designed curriculum and instructed five music classes; arranged music for and conducted four choirs; directed biannual concerts (August 2010-June 2011).

STATEMENT OF TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

I believe that music is a universal gift and that everyone has a natural ability to sing. Any student who will work hard and apply themselves to mastery of the art can learn to sing well.

I tailor my method of voice instruction to each individual student, borrowing liberally from the international schools of voice teaching. Every person, as well as every fach, represents a unique instrument, and must be treated as such.

Students in my studio learn quickly that fine singing is largely a physical as well as mental exercise, and that fitness, hydration, and muscle-memory are expected of them. The fine singer must rely not only on the strength of their talent but also on the strength of their body.

I believe that as an educated instructor of voice, I bear a responsibility to the art form to initiate my students into a deeper appreciation for all art that fine singing imbibes. Singing well is a fine art, and my students learn to appreciate and create fine art.

OTHER EXPERIENCE

Senior Composition Recital Chorus, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI.  Choral Conductor, Composer - Organized, rehearsed and conducted student choir for the premier of  original works in senior composition recital  (Spring 2010).

Senior Composition Art Songs, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI. Composed and performed The Letter of Jesse Givens, a set of songs for baritone and orchestra, in honor of US Army Pvt. Fc Jesse Givens, who died in 2003 in the line of duty in Iraq.

International Composition Premier, Aachen, Germany. Composed “Set Me As A Seal” - Text:  Song of Solomon 8:6-7.  In 2009, this choral octet premiered internationally at the Aachener Chorbiennale Festival in Aachen, Germany.  The Aachener Kammerchor maintains the piece in their repertoire.

Supertitle Operator

Marked score and operated supertitles for Don Giovanni, Mozart, with the Toledo Opera Company, February 2013.

Supertitle Operator

Operated supertitles for Le Nozze di Figaro, Mozart, with the Bowling Green State University Opera Theatre, November 2011.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Section Leader, Bowling Green First Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir, Bowling Green, OH, 2011-2012.

Chorister, Mount Pleasant First United Methodist Church Chancel Choir, Mount Pleasant, MI, 2010-2011.

Worship Team Leader, His House Christian Church, Mount Pleasant, MI, 2009-2010.

Worship Team Member, His House Christian Church, Mount Pleasant, MI, 2007-2009.

Worship Team Leader, Campus Crusade for Christ, Mount Pleasant, MI, 2004-2006.

TEACHERS

Dr. Sean Cooper, Bowling Green State University (Current).

Dr. Eric Tucker, Central Michigan University.

Dr. Barbara Burdick, Central Michigan University.

NOTABLE MASTERCLASSES

Ms. Lydia Brown, Bowling Green State University, March 2013.
Mr. Samuel Ramey, Bowling Green State University, November 2012.

REFERENCES

Available upon request.

INTERESTS

Voice pedagogy; the history of voice pedagogy; zwischenfach fachs; the “golden age of singing”; popular music recording and production; musical composition; faith; literature; history; mythologies; philosophy.