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Robert Sussuma, counter-tenor, voice teacher and movement educator, a M.Mus. in Voice Performance, is a Certified Master Teacher and Course Instructor of Estill Voice Training, and Certified Teacher of Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement. He has worked with vocalists of all types--from beginner to professional, classically trained to contemporary--helping each find more vocal awareness and choice. A voice and movement educator with a unique background, Robert brings together his expertise in the Feldenkrais Method of Somatic Education and Estill Voice Training (along with other modalities and experiences) to create a learning environment that integrates the whole self into the study of voice and voice into the study of the whole self. He recognizes that one can not study voice alone without looking at one’s habits of self-use in breathing, standing and moving. Through movement and sound awareness exercises, he helps students become aware of and reorganize their own habitual “posture” and learn to find a more neutral, efficient and free use of self in life, learning, practice and performance. When one understands the relationships between breathing, moving, dynamic stillness, singing/speaking and expression one can ‘learn how to learn’ in a way that allows a performer maximum vocal and physical choice throughout the entire creative process. Robert’s teaching motto is: “When you know what you are doing, you can do what you want!” Education Bachelor of Music, Vocal Performance ong>, 1999; SUNY Fredonia, Fredonia, New York. First two years as a Musical Theater Major: Acting, Dance, and Voice before transitioning to Voice Performance.
Master of Music, Early Vocal Performance, 2003; The Longy School of Music, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Specializing in Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque Music including Medieval Drama, Early English Theater, and Early Opera. Certified Master Teacher, Estill Voice Training System, 2005; Estill International (www.trainmyvoice.com). Founded on the ground-breaking work of Dr. Josephine Estill, a physiologically based approach that brings scientific knowledge, vocal skill, artistry and sensory awareness together into an innovative and effective voice education model. Certified Course Instructor, Estill Voice Training System, 2007; Estill International. A rigorous certification process requiring comprehensive knowledge of vocal anatomy and physiology, acoustics, speech pathology, pedagogy and artistry. CCIs are privileged to present Estill Voice Courses, Certify students, and represent Estill International nationally and abroad. Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner, (will be competed May 2011), The Feldenkrais Center of New York; Upon completion will be endowed with full certification in Awareness Through Movement and Functional Integration. (www.Feldenkrais.com) Teaching Experience Private Voice and Voice Class Instructor; SUNY Fredonia, Fredonia, NY: 1997-1999 Group class and weekly private lessons for credit for undergraduate non-music majors. Singing with Your Whole Self; The Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY: 2000-2002 A weekly voice class for staff of the Omega Institute exploring voice, breath and movement for beginners. Private Voice Instructor; Naropa University, Boulder, CO: 2004-2009 Private voice instruction for Music Majors and BFA Students for 1, 2 or 3 credits each semester. Vocal Coach, The Ars Nova Singers; Boulder, CO: 2004-2009 A nationally acclaimed, 40-member, semi-professional chorus specializing in both early and modern choral repertoire. Under Robert's guidance, Ars Nova has become the first fully-trained Estill Choir in the world. Director, The Naropa Chorus; Naropa University: 2005-2009 A semester-long, 3 credit course, in which students learned the basics of Estill Voice Training and applied that learning to various choral music including world, renaissance, rock, original and more. Voice Class Instructor, BFA in Contemporary Performance; Naropa University: 2006-Present A semester-long, 3 credit class that covered diction, voice and included coaching of final thesis projects for 10 students in their final semester of the former BFA. Executive Director and Instructor, The Estill Voice Institute; Boulder, CO: 2006-2009 Taught quarterly 3-5 day Estill Voice Training Courses (Level I: compulsory Figures for Voice Control; Level II: Figure Combinations for Six Basic Voice Qualities--Speech, Falsetto, Twang, Sob, Opera, Belt) and other voice workshops. Presentations included: lectures, demonstrations, practice, and coaching. See www.trainmyvoice.com for details. Head of Voice, BFA in Contemporary Performance; Naropa University: 2007-2009 Created the voice component for the new BFA program. Responsibilities included: curriculum development, writing course descriptions for the course catalogue, working with other voice, acting and dance faculty to develop pedagogical themes across disciplines using text, movement, compositional devices and performance practices. Also taught the BFA Voice class, a 3 credit course each semester that met three times a week for 2 hours. Classes covered movement and voice awareness, improvisation, text and song work. Voice Team Leader, The National Feldenkrais Conference; Boulder, CO: August 2008 Assembled a team of 5 Feldenkrais Practitioners from around the U.S. specializing in working with the voice and students of voice. Created a 5-lesson series and personally lead the singing portion at the beginning and end of each lesson. The series was recorded by the Feldenkrais Guild and is available on CD. Symposium Chair, Presenter and Performer, The Fourth Annual Estill World Voice Symposium; Boulder Colorado: August 2009. Organized and ran a four-day symposium brining together voice professionals from around the world to share research, present work and discuss the relationship of Estill Voice Training to current vocal understanding, standard voice training, clinical voice work, voice science and performance. Guest Trainer, Feldenkrais Training Program, Albuquerque, New Mexico: April 2010 Led a voice segment for Feldenkrais Training Program Students via SKYPE for 10 hours over two days. The segment included new applications of Feldenkrais to voice work including voice scans and work with the larynx and tongue in the context of the whole self. Movement Educator, Various Workshops and Classes; Boulder and Denver, CO: 2007-Present Breathing for Speaking, for Singing, for Life!: a 2-day workshop on improving breathing through various movement lessons. The learning was applied to speaking, singing and movement in general. The Spine in Action: a 5-week series for Pilates Instructors focusing on clarifying the cardinal movements of the spine as related to bending, twisting, rolling and more. Thinking and Breathing: a 2-day workshop focusing on self-image, breath and movement. Dynamic Stillness: 3-day workshop focusing on a skeletal skeletal organization that relieves extraneous muscle tension and allows for the most ease and freedom of movement in any position, especially lying, sitting and standing. Movement for Singers: An introductory class for singers of all types. Class includes Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movment Lessons and voice exercises designed to enhance vocal ease and skill. Private Voice Instructor; New York, Boston, Boulder and Denver: 2000-Present Testimonials "Robert Sussuma is the consumate voice professional. His sensitivity and intuition coupled with is incredible vocal skill and knowledge combine for that rare "wow factor" that Robert has both as a teacher and singer." -Dr. Kimberly Steinhauer, President, Estill Voice International "Such precise, gentle and daring coaching of the voice. Confidence and encouragement - all the way!" -Barbara Dilley, teacher, performer at Naropa University "In my 3+ years of study with Robert, I learned a lot about my voice and about myself. His ability to observe what I did physically and listen not only to my singing but to how I felt about my singing was extremely helpful. Robert understands and capitalizes on the connection between the physical and emotional aspects of singing. I took away something meaningful from every lesson." -Amy French, singer, Ars Nova Singers "I feel "freed up" as a result of my work with Robert. His whole self, sensory-oriented approach via both Estill Voice Training and the Feldenkrais Method has opened my eyes to the fact that "working too hard" is not what it's all about! I am a much stronger teacher and powerful singer due to our work together." -Cody Qualls, singer, voice teacher Performance Experience 2003 Boston Early Music Festival: Featured performance of The Passion of St. Ursula an original work created and directed by Robert C. Sussuma including the chant of Hildegard von Bingen and 13C English Polyphony. 2003-2006 Summer tours in Switzerland, Germany and Austria with Ensemble al Verso, a vocal trio specializing in both early and modern Music. Soloist and ensemble singer. 2004-2009 Soloist with The Ars Nova Singers, under the direction of Thomas E. Morgan. The groups specializes in Renaissance, Baroque and 20/21st C. compositions. Solos included: Lilium floruit (Anon.12th C); songs of Hildegard von Bingen, Dowland, Rachmaninov, Morgan and others. 2006 Soloist and director of The Passion of St. Ursula (fully-staged version) with women of The Ars Nova Sing ers and other soloists. 2007 Alto Soloist with the Boulder Bach Festivals performance of Bach’s Magnificat. 2007 Solist and Ensemble singer, Songs of the English Renaissance for the Colorado Early Music Festival 2007 “The Goose” in Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana the Ars Nova Singers and Frequent Flyers Arial Dance Com pany, Boulder Colorado, Mackey Hall, University of Colorado. 2008 Soprano soloist, Gems of the Italian Baroque with the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado 2009 “The Sorceress” in Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas with the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado. 2009 Soloist, Jubilent aethera by Johann Rosenmuller, with the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado. Reviews “Haunting and other-worldly” Kyle MacMillan, The Denver Post “In the role of the Sorceress was counter-tenor, Robert Sussuma, whose stage presence was as entertaining as his vocal flexibility.” Paul Siegel, Colorado Music Buzz Magazine Articles and write-ups http://www.denverpost.com/entertainmentheadlines/ci_11733942
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