English diction specialist Erie Mills gives a master class which will focus on the interpretation of arias and art songs in English.

Sponsored by the Los Angeles Philanthropic Committee for the Arts, this master class will be followed by a lunch reception on the patio.

Erie Mills has received critical and popular acclaim throughout the world, dazzling audiences with her sparkling coloratura voice, captivating personality, and vivid portrayals of operatic roles. She has performed in the world’s major opera houses, including at the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, the Vienna Staatsoper, the English National Opera, the San Francisco Opera, the Santa Fe Opera and the New York City Opera. As a concert artist, Mills has appeared with the orchestras of Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Cleveland, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the VARA radio Orchestra at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Mills may be heard on RCA’s recording of Sondheim’s Follies, New World Records’ Grammy award-winning Candide, Newport Classic recordings of Handel’s Muzio, Scarlatti’s Ishmail, and her own solo CD of American song, Always It’s Spring, for VAI. Her performance of Cunegonde at the New York City Opera was seen on a national telecast on PBS’ Live From Lincoln Center.

From 1998 to 2008, Mills was on the voice faculty at San Jose State University. Since 2004, she has worked as the English diction specialist for the Opera Theatre of St. Louis; she also works in this capacity for the Metropolitan Opera and the Santa Fe Opera. In 2004, she became the first singer to join the board of directors of Opera America. She is a graduate of The College of Wooster in Ohio, the University of Illinois, and the Houston Opera Studio.

More Information:

• muspub@usc.edu
• (213) 740-2584
• http://www.usc.edu/music