Posted 3:39 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, 2011
On the opera stage, Kathryn Skemp Moran plays the ingénue — the sweet, innocent and unworldly young woman. In reality, Skemp Moran is much more bold — bringing her worldly opera talent and techniques to UW-La Crosse students.
[caption id="attachment_6753" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="Kathryn Skemp Moran is the new director of UW-L Women's Chorus."]
[/caption]On the opera stage, Kathryn Skemp Moran plays the ingénue — the sweet, innocent and unworldly young woman. In reality, Skemp Moran is much more bold — bringing her worldly opera talent and techniques to UW-La Crosse students.
Skemp Moran started as the new Women’s Chorus director this fall and will lead the choir in its first performance of the year at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, in Annett Recital Hall, Center for the Arts. The choir will perform a mix of music from Mozart to a more modern African American spiritual. Admission is free.
Skemp Moran brings more than 10 years of opera experience to UW-L, including singing with the Chicago Opera Theatre, Aspen Opera, Boston Lyric Opera and Glimmerglass Opera. She continues to perform opera and will tour with the Boston Pops Orchestra after Thanksgiving and into December.
“She brings a lot of energy to rehearsal, which is good — especially when it’s 3 p.m. and everyone wants to take a nap,” says Megan Trotter, a UW-L freshman in Women’s Chorus. “She is a lot of fun and has helped us with our technique — especially with breathing and vowel sounds.”
Skemp Moran also teaches private vocal lessons at UW-L and Viterbo University.
She was attracted to the the position because she grew up in the La Crosse area and feels the area is a good spot to raise a family with her husband, Liam Moran, who is also an opera singer. So far she says she is enjoying her new role.
“I think I’ve become a better singer since I’ve become a teacher,” she notes. “I have to explain the concepts and that has solidified [caption id="attachment_6756" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="Kathryn Skemp Moran leads a rehearsal of the UW-L Women's Chorus in preparation for the fall concert on Friday, Oct. 21."]
[/caption]my technique more. If I tell a student to do something, I have to be confident in it.”
Forty women are in UW-L Women’s Chorus. The freshman to senior students come from diverse majors. No audition is required. Anyone interested in learning more can contact Skemp Moran at kmoran@uwlax.edu.
David Richardson, a Viterbo vocal coach and music faculty member, is also a new choir director on the UW-L campus. He conducts the UW-L Choral Union, the chorus comprised of community members and students. Skemp and Richardson replace Paul Rusterholz, who retired after 22 years at UW-L.
If you go —
What: UW-L Women’s Chorus fall concert
When: 7:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 21
Where: Annett Recital Hall, Center for the Arts
Admission: Free
[/caption]On the opera stage, Kathryn Skemp Moran plays the ingénue — the sweet, innocent and unworldly young woman. In reality, Skemp Moran is much more bold — bringing her worldly opera talent and techniques to UW-La Crosse students.
Skemp Moran started as the new Women’s Chorus director this fall and will lead the choir in its first performance of the year at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, in Annett Recital Hall, Center for the Arts. The choir will perform a mix of music from Mozart to a more modern African American spiritual. Admission is free.
Skemp Moran brings more than 10 years of opera experience to UW-L, including singing with the Chicago Opera Theatre, Aspen Opera, Boston Lyric Opera and Glimmerglass Opera. She continues to perform opera and will tour with the Boston Pops Orchestra after Thanksgiving and into December.
“She brings a lot of energy to rehearsal, which is good — especially when it’s 3 p.m. and everyone wants to take a nap,” says Megan Trotter, a UW-L freshman in Women’s Chorus. “She is a lot of fun and has helped us with our technique — especially with breathing and vowel sounds.”
Skemp Moran also teaches private vocal lessons at UW-L and Viterbo University.
She was attracted to the the position because she grew up in the La Crosse area and feels the area is a good spot to raise a family with her husband, Liam Moran, who is also an opera singer. So far she says she is enjoying her new role.
“I think I’ve become a better singer since I’ve become a teacher,” she notes. “I have to explain the concepts and that has solidified [caption id="attachment_6756" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="Kathryn Skemp Moran leads a rehearsal of the UW-L Women's Chorus in preparation for the fall concert on Friday, Oct. 21."][/caption]my technique more. If I tell a student to do something, I have to be confident in it.”
Forty women are in UW-L Women’s Chorus. The freshman to senior students come from diverse majors. No audition is required. Anyone interested in learning more can contact Skemp Moran at kmoran@uwlax.edu.
David Richardson, a Viterbo vocal coach and music faculty member, is also a new choir director on the UW-L campus. He conducts the UW-L Choral Union, the chorus comprised of community members and students. Skemp and Richardson replace Paul Rusterholz, who retired after 22 years at UW-L.
If you go —
What: UW-L Women’s Chorus fall concert
When: 7:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 21
Where: Annett Recital Hall, Center for the Arts
Admission: Free