Lucas Meachem very generously shared his wisdom and artistry in a brilliant masterclass yesterday! He shared the "keys to the kingdom" with his wise and artistically inspiring coaching of six very talented young artists. He donated his time and personally provided scholarships to the singers, which he screened and selected through their video applications.
With the partnership with Opera Buffs Inc. and NATS - Los Angeles Chapter, the fantastic vocal performances, and the incredible Collaborator Irina Meachem at the piano, it was a great day for the vocal arts! Lucas enlisted donations from Bärenreiter (three Mozart opera scores) and donated a "gift bag" of some of his favorite study tools as raffle prizes.
He also gave away two tickets to a performance of Don Giovanni at LA Opera! I was the lucky winner of the Don Giovanni score - which he signed! I can't wait to hear him perform in Don Giovanni today!
Finally, as if that wasn't enough, there were two special prizes: Alissa Goretsky, soprano, won the audience favorite and Jacob Hanes, baritone, was selected by Lucas Meacham as the most improved. Ayanna DelK-Lewis, soprano, Claire Pegram, soprano, Dominic Salvati, tenor, and a last minute wildcard singer all thrilled us with their beautiful voices. It was a thrilling and educational experience that I was glad to share with my students, friends, and colleagues. Bravo and thank you Lucas Meachem!