Singing with Xavier J.

Xavier, a native of California, has been involved in music from a very early age. In church, Xavier was active as a soloist with the children’s and adult choirs. Beginning in high school, Xavier was very active in the music program of Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy. As a member of the concert band, he played the alto and tenor saxophones. He also sung in the concert choir and in the highly auditioned chamber singers. In seeking to broaden his musical interests, Xavier auditioned for and performed the role of Enjolras in Schoenberg’s Les Miserables in 2004, and the Beast in Menken’s Beauty and the Beast. Upon graduation, Xavier continued his musical training at Oakwood University where he majored in vocal performance and pedagogy. While at Oakwood, Xavier studied with Dr. Julie Moore Foster, sang and toured extensively with the world renowned Aeolians, and toured with gospel choir, Dynamic Praise. In the summer of 2010 Xavier auditioned for and was accepted to the Manhattan Summer Voice Institute at Manhattan School of Music in New York City. While at the program he studied with Maitland Peters and performed in a scene of Mozart’s Don Giovanni. In the summer of 2011 Xavier participated in the Harrower Summer Opera Workshop and sang the role of Maestro Spinelloccio in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and sung a scene from Bizet’s Carmen. While at GSU Xavier has sung the roles of King Melchior in Amahal & the Night Visitors and Bartolo in Le nozze di Figaro. In the summer of 2012 Xavier returned to the Harrower Workshop and sang the role of the 2nd Priest in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. He recently returned from Beijing, China where he participated in a musical exchange program at Renmin University. In the fall of 2012 Xavier performed the role of John Brooke in Adamo’s Little Women. Currently Xavier is a 2nd year graduate student at Georgia State University in the studio of Kathryn Hartgrove. As a teacher, I will help you or your child tap into their own voice. I will use a classical technique as a base, but this technique can be used for any genre of music. I live to use examples, while explaining to you exactly how your body is involved in your singing. Since I am still a performer, I am always learning how to improve my instrument, and I will share any new insight gained. *** Lesson Details *** During our first lesson we will discuss your goals so that each lesson can be centered around them. I will always give you vocal exercises that you can use to practice the skills we've worked on during the lesson. I encourage you to record all lessons so that you have a record of what took took place. After every lesson you will receive homework so that you can continue working, and so that you will not forget what we have discussed. After three months of lessons, you will understand your voice, how its works, what we are doing to improve it, and you'll have increased your singing repertoire. *** Studio Equipment *** If the lesson is an in-studio lesson, we will use a keyboard or upright piano. *** Travel Equipment *** I can provide a keyboard. My students will provide all of their own textbooks/music books. *** Specialties *** I am classically trained, and therefore I specialize in classical/opera voice training.