Wednesday 4 September 2019 12:40pm
The University's new Voice Lecturer Tessa Romano, who will perform this Sunday at 3pm at Marama Hall.
The University community and the Dunedin public will have an opportunity to hear the School of Performing Arts’ new Voice Lecturer perform this weekend.
Tessa Romano took up the role at the beginning of the second semester, replacing Judy Bellingham, who held the position for 25 years.
Dr Romano, a mezzo-soprano, holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado Boulder, a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, and a Bachelor of Arts in Italian from Princeton University. She has most recently worked as a freelance performer and voice teacher in New York City.
"This is a great place, with an active arts community. This role was extremely desirable, offering stability for an artist's lifestyle."
Highly qualified and very enthusiastic about her new Otago position, Dr Romano points out that she has big shoes to fill.
“I’m so excited about this job, but if you know Judy, you will know that she left a robust musical legacy here.”
She says she and her husband, a poet, had wanted to live abroad, and when this job came up it was a perfect opportunity.
“This is a great place, with an active arts community. This role was extremely desirable, offering stability for an artist's lifestyle,” she says. “We’ve settled in really well. Everyone has been so kind and welcoming.”
Her research interests are diverse, ranging from vocal pedagogy and technique, to transgender and gender queer voice, to Norwegian art and folk song.
She has won a number of prizes for both teaching and singing.
Dr Romano will perform at Marama Hall at 3pm this Sunday afternoon, accompanied by the University’s Blair Professor of Music Terence Dennis. The performance will include a mixture of old and new songs from around the world, including Norway, America, France and New Zealand.
“It’s a way to introduce me to the University and the Dunedin musical community.”
Come along:
Inaugural Recital of New Voice Lecturer Dr Tessa Romano
Sun 8 Sep, 3pm
Marama Hall
$10 waged/$20 unwaged (door sales)