ROBYN DRIEDGER-KLASSEN

1. What are you reading?
All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Peace Pipe Dreams: The Truth About Lies About Indians by Darrell Dennis

2. What are you listening to these days?
Baby Beluga – Raffi (I have a 3 year-old. It’s on an endless loop.)
X & Y – Coldplay (puts the new baby to sleep every time!)
CBC Radio
Die Zauberflöte – Mozart
Schoenberg String Quartet No. 2
Fine As Fine Can Be – Gordon Lightfoot. (my new baby’s theme song)

3. Where and what do you teach?
Head of Voice for the College Program at Vancouver Academy of Music:
private lessons, masterclasses, workshop, diction

4. What are your favourite websites, mobile tools, favourite singers?
The Diction Police podcast
Joyce Didonato’s Yankee Diva Youtube channel
Music On Main Youtube channel
bulletproofmusician.com
dongreene.com

Favourite singers: Renata Tebaldi, Dawn Upshaw, Helen Donath, Beniamino Gigli, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Jussi Björling, Bryn Terfel, Joyce Didonato, Pavarotti

5. Do you have a particular repertoire expertise, and suggestions for members to explore?
I have found my way into the realm of new music and it is vast and exciting! There are oodles of great composers out there who really understand the voice. A few of my favourites:

Jake Heggie (At The Statue of Venus is one of my most favourite works that I program as often as possible. Audiences love it!)
Libby Larsen
Ana Sokolovic
Jocelyn Morlock
Tom Cipullo
Leslie Uyeda
Kaija Saariaho
Caroline Shaw

6. What are your recent and upcoming performances?
I’m mid-tour with my group, QuintEssence. We are four singers and piano. Right now we are touring BC with our silly, zany show of opera favourites and a few off the beaten track ensembles.

Next up is Schoenberg Quartet No. 2 with the Borealis Quartet.

7. What is your experience with NATS (volunteering, conferences, competitions, judging, etc.)
I’m brand new to NATS! I’m looking forward to discovering all there is to learn from this group. My main reason for joining was that I seem to attract students who have vocal injuries. It is a joy to help them, but is often technically confusing and emotionally difficult. I realized that I need support from this vast group of professionals.

8. What are your professional affiliations?
Founding member and core faculty of Vancouver International Song Institute
Vancouver Academy of Music
Canadian Actor’s Equity