April 19, 2006 Source: :
http://www.brandonu.ca/news/article.asp?A_ID=1005 BU School Of Music appoints new Voice Professor BRANDON, MB – Dr. Glen Carruthers, Dean of the School of Music at Brandon University, announced the appointment this week of baritone David Playfair to the full-time teaching faculty. Playfair will fill the vacancy created in the voice program with the retirement of Sylvia Richardson. Playfair is currently Assistant Professor of Voice at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. His appointment at Brandon University begins August 1. Playfair was a professional singer/dancer/actor for ten years in and around Toronto before completing his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees at the University of Toronto. His voice teachers included Gary Relyea, Lorna MacDonald and Mary Morrison. Playfair has taught voice privately and at the university level for many years and has also taught children in schools and in the community. He has been director of many musical theatre productions and has appeared professionally in Phantom of the Opera in Toronto and Vancouver. His concert and opera experience is extensive, ranging from a recital with the St. Lawrence String Quartet to Gilbert and Sullivan productions at the National Arts Centre (Ottawa), Kennedy Centre (Washington) and Stratford Festival. Earlier in his career, he acted in several productions at the Stratford and Charlottetown Festivals and sang with Opera Atelier. Playfair is a candidate for the PhD in Vocal Pedagogy at the University of Iowa and has also studied at the Banff Centre of the Arts and Britten-Pears School of Advanced Musical Studies in Aldeburgh. Sylvia Richardson is very pleased that the vocal studio she developed over many years is to be left in such capable hands. "Playfair is a terrific choice, and will bring a wealth of acting, singing and teaching experience to the School of Music." Glen Carruthers was equally enthusiastic: "Sylvia has built an outstanding voice program at BU, that is respected all over the country. David will build on this firm foundation and bring his own distinct music personality to the position." David Playfair comments, "After visiting Brandon University I was delighted with the extraordinary talent of the students and the excellent teaching that Sylvia Richardson has been giving them. I am very enthusiastic about becoming a part of this first-rate School of Music, participating in its involvement in the community, building further on such a strong and healthy tradition, and in general to this new chapter in my life." Playfair will teach a voice studio of approximately 15 students, as well as courses in vocal pedagogy, vocal literature and opera. For more information, or to arrange an audition at the BU School of Music please contact:
Heather Beesley
Brandon University School of Music
Phone: (204) 727-7388
Email: beesleyh@brandonu.ca. Kelly Stifora
Communications Officer
Brandon University
Phone: (204) 727-9762
Email: communications@brandonu.ca - 30 -
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