Voice
For Intermediate & Advanced Students Ages 9-18
Led by NYC vocal coaches Jeremy Powell, Kyle Branzell and pianist Ellen Sommer, voice students at SoundWaves spend the week honing their craft, learning about the music industry landscape, and putting a fully staged musical theater showcase on its feet. See below for a full breakdown the SoundWaves Voice Program courses. The SoundWaves Voice Program is ideal for young singers ready to level up their performance skills and students who are seriously considering or beginning to consider studying music in college and/or pursuing a singing career.
Camp Dates:
July 20-27, 2024 | 9am - 4pm
SoundWaves is an auditioned camp
A video audition is required to register for SoundWaves.
In April, students will be sent a request for your audition video. This is to ensure the video is recent and gives a clear indication of what the student is capable of. This request will provide specific instructions on how to submit the video, but below are the requirements and guidelines for your preparation.
Camp Info
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Staging & Choreography - The Voice Program’s large ensemble course, all voice students rehearse and learn staging and choreography for the program’s final concert held on July 26, 2024 at 7 pm.
Masterclass - Is a daily semi-private lesson. Each student receives individual instruction by a teacher. This class is shared with 2 students who are at a similar playing level.
Note: Students may register for extra daily masterclasses for $250. Students taking an extra masterclass will not have a practice hour. Extra masterclasses are subject to availability. You will not be charged for the extra masterclass if we cannot fit it in your student’s schedule.
Performance Lab - With a focus on acting, students take turns workshopping one piece with voice faculty while other students observe and absorb.
Showcase Music Rehearsal - Students focus strictly on refining the music they will perform for the Showcase concert with voice faculty.
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Two contrasting pieces.
Choose one of three vocalises posted below. You may change it to any key that suits your voice comfortably, and sing using any vowel or syllable you prefer.
Helpful Tips:
A recital or lesson is a great time to capture a performance piece, and you can even record your video on a good smartphone. If you are recording outside of a performance setting, place the recording setup about six feet from your instrument. Piano accompaniment, when appropriate, is recommended.
Landscape orientation is preferred.
Your audition may be submitted in up to three videos.
Please upload your videos to YouTube or Vimeo. Be sure anyone with the link to your video can watch it. Check that your video settings are “public” or “unlisted” but not “private.”
Resources for making an awesome self-tape video
If you are recording your own audition video, the videos below have great tips on equipment setup and best practices.
The Omaha Conservatory does not have a relationship with or endorse any of these content creators, and list their videos solely as a resource for students.
IMPORTANT: You do not need to buy any of the equipment mentioned in these videos. Set up well, a smartphone on a tripod should capture what it needs to for our purposes. However, if you are serious about pursuing music professionally, it may be a good time to consider investing in some of the equipment.
Adrienne Walker | 32 Bar Cut:
Self Tapes at home for musical theatre auditions + how to do it by yourself The COMPLETE Guide to making a professional self-tape!
Sing with Cinderella: How to Tape the BEST VIRTUAL SINGING AUDITION of Self-Tape
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At SoundWaves, we utilize a tiered date-based tuition structure. The tuition cost is determined by your registration date for the camp. Enroll early to take advantage of cost savings. Spots in the voice program are limited.
Jan. 15 - Feb. 15 $750
Feb. 16 - Mar. 16 $800
Mar. 17 - June 3 $900
June 4 and after* $1050
*Registration after June 3, 2024 is subject to administrative approval.
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We are pleased to offer housing to SoundWaves students on the Creighton University campus.
Students can check in Saturday, July 22 and must check out by Sunday morning, July 30, 2023. Students who take advantage of this lodging are automatically opted into the Lunch Plan at no extra cost. Breakfast and dinner will be provided in the dining hall on Creighton’s campus. This option covers all your housing, meals, and transportation needs during your time at SoundWaves.
Cost: $1050
Please note that students are responsible for their own transportation between the airport and Creighton’s campus.
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Cost: $130
Starting Sunday July 21, lunch will be catered to the Conservatory daily from various nearby restaurants. Students can opt in to these lunches for the week for $130 a person. Students purchasing the Room & Board plan are automatically opted into the Lunch Plan at no extra cost.
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Cost: $250
Students taking an extra masterclass will not have a practice hour. These can be additional masterclasses for the student’s primary instrument, or in a different instrument the student plays. Extra masterclasses are subject to availability.
You will not be charged for the extra masterclass if we cannot fit it in your student’s schedule.
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At the time of registration, a non-refundable $75 deposit is required.
That money goes toward tuition, but will not be refunded should the student withdraw from SoundWaves. When a student withdraws, a refund will be issued in a prorated amount based on how far out the withdrawal occurs. See below for more:
Before June 3: Full refund
June 4 to June 7 - 80% of total invoice refunded
June 8 to June 15 - 60% of total invoice refunded
June 16 to June 23 - 40% of total invoice refunded
June 24 to June 30 - 20% of total invoice refunded
If a student withdraws after July 1, 2023, no refund will be issued, and all tuition must still be paid.
To withdraw from SoundWaves, please email camps@omahacm.org
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The Omaha Conservatory is proud to be able to provide financial assistance to its current families in the form of Ambassador Funds. These funds are given out on a first-come-first-served basis and cannot be guaranteed until registration is completed, and the $75 deposit is paid. A member of our admissions team will reach out in the next few business days with your final invoice, including your Ambassador award. If you are a current OCoM student hoping to know the amount of Ambassador Funds you are eligible for before you register, please reach out to financialaid@omahacm.org.
Students seeking financial aid who do not currently participate in programming at Omaha Conservatory of Music are encouraged to work with their private instructors, schools, families, and community organizations to find funding opportunities.
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Rock Lab - an all-major elective in which students learn how to jam and rock to classics in the rock genre. If you sing, play guitar, drums, or bass as a second instrument, this is a great place to use those skills! Students are also welcome to bring their traditionally “non-Rock” instruments (violin, cello, clarinet, etc) to this class! This class will perform during the Variety Show on the evening of July 25th, 2023.
Music Production - Omaha’s own Marcey Yates will teach students how to use music technology to compose, create, and record their own music.
Audition Mastery - Designed to empower aspiring career musicians, this dynamic class could be your key to unlocking audition success. Participants will delve into the art of preparation, stage presence, and self-confidence, gaining insights on how to shine in any audition scenario. This elective is for students who are preparing for a career in music and plan to audition for colleges, young artist programs, and professional opportunities in the near future.
Vocalises
Choose from one of these three vocalises for your audition video. Choose one of three vocalises posted below. You may change it to any key that suits your voice comfortably, and sing using any vowel or syllable you prefer.
SoundWaves Voice Guest Faculty
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Kyle Branzel
Kyle Branzel envisions a future in which we are all free to listen to our hearts and safe to express what we find there. A multi-disciplinary theatre artist based in NYC, Kyle works as a director, music director, pianist, coach, and teacher, helping actors and singers use their voices and bodies to tell dynamic stories with confidence and pride. He is currently on teaching faculty at New York Film Academy and Jen Waldman Studio, head of acting at Omaha Conservatory’s SoundWaves, a guest lecturer at Hartt School of Music, and a musical theatre consultant for Western Illinois University. He has presented workshops and lecture series at Hartt School of Music, Roosevelt University, Western Illinois University, Omaha Conservatory of Music, and John Brown University.
He is the creator of Rock U, a comprehensive system for interpreting and performing popular music, as well as In a Nutshell with Kyle Branzel, a social media series aimed at helping actors shine. In a previous life, Kyle was an actor, most notably starring in the first national tour of Murder for Two. He is an Ohio native and avid poker player. BFA Musical Theatre, Roosevelt University.
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Jeremy Powell
Jeremy Powell is a voice teacher with experience internationally, working with singers of varying genres, varying ages, and achieving a variety of goals for clients, all within one area of specialty: TECHNIQUE.
Jeremy has formed a strong international reputation as a specialist in two major areas of technique: 1. Building voices from the ground up for those who are new to vocal technique, and 2. Solving problems and repairing injuries/poor habits for established professional singers.
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Ellen Sommer (Collaborative Pianist)
Pianist Ellen R. Sommer is a sought-after collaborative pianist, chamber musician, and coach. Her reputation for excellence has led to extensive engagements throughout the United States, Canada, Central and South America, Europe, and Asia. Recent performances include a chamber music recital at the Montgomery Arts House for Music and Architecture in Malibu, California with Maria Newman, Scott Hosfeld and instrumentalists from the Metropolitan Opera orchestra; and a series of concerts and masterclasses in San Jose, Costa Rica at the Universidad de Costa Rica and Casa de la musica in Quito, Ecuador.
Ellen is Lecturer in Piano at the University of Kansas School of Music, where she regularly performs with faculty, visiting artists, and students. From 1994-2003, she taught piano and voice at Missouri Western State University. Ellen serves on faculty as a coach and collaborative pianist at the Omaha Conservatory of Music Institute, Brian Lewis Young Artist Program, Sound Encounters Suzuki String Camp, Midwestern Music Camp, and Interlochen Arts summer camps. In 2016 Ellen was named one of three Distinguished Alumni from Missouri Western State University.
A Summer of Artistic Discovery
From captivating ensemble performances to individualized instruction, this program has it all. Embrace your artistic potential – enroll now for a summer of vocal growth and artistic exploration!
