"Over thirty students actively participated as interpreters, as well as another fifty who took part as listeners, most coming from the two largest universities in Rio de Janeiro, including students from other musical institutions and teachers who came to observe the proceedings. Given the high artistic and technical standard of the classes and the enormous interest which they aroused, we hope that both teachers may return as soon as possible."
Professor Elaine
Sampaio, Course Coordinator,
University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil
"We believe that your participation, so clear and so brilliant, contributed to a complete idea of your outstanding artistic, pedagogical, and human qualities, leaving us with a great desire to have your prestigious contributions again."
Julio Fainguersch, Rector, National Conservatory of
Music,
Bueno Aires, Argentina
"I would like to express my thanks to you for your outstanding teaching at the Shanghai Conservatory. We have been most appreciative for your detailed work on technique, diction, and interpretation. We feel that your suggestions have been most helpful and will have a positive impact on our students…. We sincerely hope you will be able to return again."
Professor.Zhou Ziao-Yen, Shanghai Conservatory,
President, Chinese Musicians Association
"We would like to thank you for the two weeks of Master Classes which you presented in our Central Conservatory last month. Your thorough attention to all details of diction, interpretation and vocal technique were so well received by our students and faculty that we were happy to be able to extend the one week of master classes which was originally planned to two weeks. I heard comments from faculty and students that they especially liked your combination of diction, interpretation and technique, not limiting yourself to anyone aspect and working with great intensity and detail on all three. They appreciated your informal, positive, friendly and enthusiastic approach which still retained its efficiency in working to produce more polished performances. They were also especially grateful for your work on the develop-ment of more head voice as an aid in extending and improving the upper register and encour-aging a more easy tone production through relaxation. They found the specific vocal exercises very helpful here. Thank you again on the part of all vocal teachers and faculty."
Liu Lin, Vice President, Central Conservatory, Beijing,
China
"All of the student evaluations of your French Master Class were excellent and the students said that they learned a great deal, even though all of them did not get to sing during the class."
Professor Marika C. Kuzma, Director
of Choral Activities,
University of California at Berkeley
"I am extremely pleased to share my observations on the Meyers Master Class offered to the members of our Ministry of Cantors at Espiritu Santo Catholic Church. Firstly, I would like to commend the Meyers on their ability to work with singers with vastly varied vocal training and abilities. Many of our cantors are amateur singers with little or no formal vocal training. Many of them had quite a bit of trepidation in singing for people with the Meyers world-class experience...but that was quickly allayed. With their enthusiastic and light hearted approach and their sensitivity to each singers level, Joe and Violette quickly put everyone at ease. I was amazed at their ability to clearly explain complicated vocal techniques such as breathing, support, vibrato control and vowel shapes and pulled from each singer sounds that they were not aware they were capable of making in a very short 20 minutes each. In addition, the members of our choirs who were in attendance as observers where able to take away so much that can be reinforced during our regular choir rehearsals that it has quickly made a difference in their sound and breathing. I would highly encourage any church choir director or director of music to take advantage of the Meyers presence here in our area and bring them in for a class...you will not be disappointed."
Jeffrey FitzCharles,
Director of Music Ministries
Espiritu Santo Catholic Church
Safety Harbor, Florida USA
727-726-8477
Joe and Violette,
Just a note to tell you how much both the faculty and students enjoyed your master classes while you were here for our “Songfest” that we have every February. Your mastery of the voice, diction and style were most helpful to all of our students as well as giving a fresh approach to some of the difficulties we all face as teachers. You both have such a kind thoughtful demeanor that made the students feel at ease and able to work on the specific areas that you knew could be fixed. You also gave excellent ways of exercising for specific problems that we all could use in both the teaching studio and our own voices.
I was particularly thrilled on how your techniques made such a big difference in so many, so quickly. Your help in my diction class and Women’s Chorus were also greatly enjoyed by the students and faculty alike. Thank you for your energy and enthusiasm to make a difference in our young singers.
It is always a delight and pleasure to be around both of you and I am so happy we were able to get you both here at the University of Evansville to work with our students.
Thank you for your time and effort and above all your expertise of the singing voice.
Gregory B. Rike, D.M.A.
Assistant Professor of Voice and Diction
University of Evansville
Evansville, IN 47722
812-488-2885
gr15@evansville.edu
"You adapted to the special nature of our institution with admirable collegiality and you quickly won the confidence of colleagues and students alike without the least difficulty. Not only did you demonstrate your high professional qualities in the performances of the Lieder Class of Professor Erik Werba and yourself, but you also communicated many details of artistic practice to our students through your outstanding pedagogical abilities…. The collaboration between you and us has been successful in every respect and, above all, productive for the students."
Dr. Guenther Weiss, Vice President, Munich Musikhochschule