Broadway composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz visits CCM
Schwartz led a master class with BFA Musical Theatre students, sharing advice and feedback
Prolific composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz visited CCM to lead a master class with the college's up-and-coming Broadway stars.
UC College-Conservatory of Music's BFA Musical Theatre students received advice and words of wisdom from one of the most influential composer and lyricists in America in a master class on Thursday, Sept. 10.
From Broadway's Wicked, Godspell and Pippin to Disney's Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (and many, many more), Schwartz's work has moved generations of music and theatre lovers. Dozens of CCM students got to learn from his mentorship up close in a 2-hour workshop and Q&A in Cohen Family Studio Theater.
Carter Minor, Gabby Beredo, Stephen Schwartz and Morgan Lindell at the CCM master class. Photo by Jenna Adkins-Manuel, UC Brand Multimedia Specialist
Three Musical Theatre students performed for Schwartz and received direct feedback and advice. Senior Carter Minor performed "Lost in the Wilderness" from Children of Eden and "What Would I Do if I Could Feel?" from The Wiz. Junior Morgan Mindell performed "I'm Not That Girl" from Wicked and "Easy to Be Hard" from HAIR. Sophomore Gabby Beredo performed "God Help the Outcasts" from The Hunchback of Notre Dame and "I'm Not Waiting" by Andrew Lippa. The singers were accompained by MM Orchestra Conducting students Luke Molloy and Jake Sinsky.
"I was so excited to get to work with him, and it was definitely a full circle moment for 10 year old Gabby who would listen to the cast recording of Wicked over and over," Beredo said. "Getting direct feedback especially on songs that he wrote was wonderful because they were notes that came directly from the source, he has worked with so many brilliant actors that I look up to, and no one knows this music better than him."
Stephen Schwartz during the CCM master class. Photo by Jenna Adkins-Manuel, UC Brand Multimedia Specialist.
Schwartz's advice focused on empowering students to embrace the feelings and stories that drive the music, and to overcome fear and self-doubt. In a Q&A with students and CCM Musical Theatre Chair Vincent DeGeorge, Schwartz also talked about his process and his experience as a young creator during his college years at Carnegie Mellon University."
“So often, particularly with talented performers who are your age, I see people who are trying too hard or second-guessing themselves or feeling they have to do something that isn’t coming from an organic place, feeling that they are not ‘enough.’ You are." He said to the full room of hopeful students.
He also encouraged students to take advantage of every opporunity they have while they are at CCM.
"I also really resonated with his advice to absorb all of the wonderful resources we have here at CCM to work, grow, and fail," Beredo added. "It is so motivating to soak up every bit of information there is to learn in my time here. I feel so lucky!"
After graduation, many CCM Musical Theatre students move to New York to work and live in the heart of the theatre industry. Playbill regularly ranks CCM in the top 10 most represented schools on Broadway, and alumni are often recognized at the Tony Awards. Each year, the graduating seniors present a showcase to agents and casting directors in New York, but working directly with Schwartz at CCM is a learning opportunity for the entire musical theatre cohort.
“Thank you for the pleasure and the privilege of being able to be here with you very talented people in this really cool school," Schwartz said as the master class concluded. "I wish you all the best and I hope some of the things we’ve talked about will resonate for you and help you on your journeys.”
Schwartz is in Cincinnati for the world premiere of Corner of the Sky: The Songs of Stephen Schwartz, presented at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati. Conceived and created by CCM alumnus Scott Coulter (BFA Musical Theatre, '93), the production features the work of CCM faculty, students and alumni including Vincent DeGeorge, Shannon Rae Lutz, Brian C. Mehring, Chris Lipstreu, Ken Early, Chris Blem, Jessica Hendy, Jordyn Jones, Gavin Poronsky, Sydney Short and Chanduni Herath. Learn more via coverage from Local 12 news.
Featured image at the top: CCM's BFA Musical Theatre students with Stephen Schwartz during the master class. Photo by Jenna Adkins-Manuel, UC Brand Multimedia Specialist.
Additional Contacts
Curt Whitacre | Director of Marketing/Communications | UC College-Conservatory of Music
whitaccp@ucmail.uc.edu | 513-556-2683
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