Jane Olian

Voice teacher Jane Olian, born in New York City, has performed in operas, oratorios, recitals, and with orchestras throughout the U.S., Canada, Italy, and Mexico. She sang in the U.S. premiere and broadcast of Rossini’s La Gazzetta and has sung U.S. opera premieres including The Voice of Temperance (Jeffrey Stock) for the Public Theater, The Elementary Principles (Michael Kosch), and Phillip Marshall (Seymour Barab). She is a recipient of the Minna Kaufmann Ruud Distinguished Performance Award and recorded The Winning of the West (CMS Records, 1974) with Tom Glazer. Olian is a founding member of the Westminster Trio. She has served as an adjudicator for the Ellen Faull Gordon and AMTL Competitions. She is co-founder and co-director (with pianist Donna Gill) of Classical Singing and New York in June, an intensive vocal study program enhanced by cultural immersion. She has kept a private studio in New York for 35 years and has taught on the faculties of N.Y.U., Queens College, Mannes College, New England Conservatory, Westminster Conservatory, Artescénica (Mexico), and Academie la Roche D’Hys (France). She has taught master classes for the Metropolitan Opera Guild, Minnesota Opera’s Project Opera, Iowa State University, and Artescénica. She has been a faculty member of Manhattan School of Music’s Pre-college Division since 1991. Olian received her B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College. She studied voice with Ellen Faull, Edith Bers, Edward Zambara, and Rita Patané. She coached with Margo Garrett, Brian Zeger, Steven Blier, Corradina Caporello, Jane Klaviter, and others. She sang in master classes with Pierre Bernac, Léopold Simoneau, and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and studied acting with Max Gartenberg. Olian has been an Evening Division faculty member since 2009.