Rebecca W. TakeLessons Instructor Voice, Classical Voice, Opera S Dorchester, Chicago, IL

Ohio native Rebecca has degrees from Ashland and Roosevelt Universities.  In 2006, she finished her Artist Diploma in conjunction with Chicago Opera Theatre (COT).

While in Ashland, Rebecca was involved in many theatrical and musical productions. She was also a member of Alpha Psi Omega, the theatre honorary society. She was a featured soloist with the Ashland Symphony Orchestra in Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer’s Nights Dream. Before moving to Chicago in 2001, Rebecca worked at the Showboat Becky Thatcher for two consecutive summers. There she was seen in The Fantasticks, Alas! Alack! Zorro’s Back, and Barry Manilow’s The Drunkard, as well as being a featured singer in other performances.

Rebecca has been seen on Chicago’s theatre front, as well as the local opera scene, including singing the role of Serpent in the Joseph Jefferson nominated Seashore and Quest Theatre’s Blue Nativity (in which she appeared as the Narrator for 3 consecutive years).

During her time at Roosevelt, Rebecca performed Suzel in L’amico Fritz, Lady Billows in Albert Herring, Mimi in La Bohème, and Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte.  Rebecca also had the opportunity to perform The Rosenkavalier Trio with the Chicago College of Performing Arts Orchestra on Opera Night, featuring Samuel Ramey at Auditorium Theatre. Rebecca was also featured with the Wheaton Symphony, under the baton of Peter Lipari.

In the summer of 2004, Rebecca spent the summer at the prestigious Chautauqua Institution Program under Marlena Malas. There she participated in a recital with Craig Rutenburg, "An Evening of Strauss Lieder." Some of her scene work at Chautauqua included Nedda in I Pagliacci and Ellen in Peter Grimes.

From the fall of 2004 until the spring of 2006, Rebecca participated in Roosevelt University’s joint program with Chicago Opera Theatre. There she covered the roles of La Countessa in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Helena in Britten’s Midsummer’s Night Dream and Pat Nixon in John Adam’s Nixon in China. As a Young Artist with COT, Rebecca sang the 2nd Bridesmaid in Le Nozze di Figaro, and the title role in Finding Yolanda, COT’s Outreach Opera. She also participated in numerous recitals and master classes.

In the summer of 2006, Rebecca was invited to participate in the Opera Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca in Lucca, Italy. She spent 6 weeks in Italy learning its language and culture, as she performed all over the country. There she studied with the great Italian coach Lorenzo Malfatti.

Rebecca has received numerous awards for her singing, particularly 1st, 3rd and Honorable Mention in the National Teachers of Singing program. She also placed as a semi-finalist in the Bel Canto Foundation Scholarship Program, winning a Bravo Award the following month; the next year Rebecca was a finalist in the contest, finishing 3rd.

I teach a Classical-style approach to all lessons. Once one learns the basics of a healthy technique, one can sing any genre comfortably.

I focus on the basics of singing, concentrating mainly on breath support and vocal placement. These basics allow the voice to produce only the most beautiful and healthy sounds.

I believe in a relaxed and structured learning environment. Building the confidence and techinque of a student allows the student to perform with freedom.

Singing should be fun!! I like to create an environment in which the student feels safe and encouraged at all times.

I have a working knowledge of Italian, German, French and Latin.

An example of a typical hour-long lesson would include 15 to 20 minutes of warm-ups and 35 to 45 minutes of working on the music, language, theory and expression of the piece.

Opera

Ashland University - Bachelor of Arts in Voice Performance with a Minor in Theater - 1996-2000

Roosevelt University - Master of Music in Voice Performance - 2001-2004

Roosevelt University - Artist Diploma in Voice/Opera - 2004-2006

Voice, Classical Voice, Opera