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Brian Zeger Takes the Helm of Vocal Arts Department By JAMÉE ARD
Beginning this year, singers studying at Juilliard will find many changes in the way the Department of Vocal Arts functions. These involve a renewed commitment on behalf of the department to make the curriculum current, and an administrative structure in the process of being transformed to address the needs of its students more clearly.
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| Brian Zeger (left) instructing student Ben Sosland at a master class in January 2003. (Photo by Beth Bergman) |
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Additionally, a new position has been created: that of artistic director of the Department of Vocal Arts, whose responsibilities now fall to Brian Zeger. Zeger's involvement with the faculty, staff, and students of Juilliard has been longstanding—first as a student himself; then later, as a faculty member in the collaborative piano department, overseeing the Songbook series and Honors Recital; next, as director of performance activities in Vocal Arts; and most recently, in his newest position as artistic director.Focusing the leadership in this way is a new and innovative step for the department, answering the needs of students, faculty, and staff that were voiced at a retreat in the fall of 2003. Beth Foreman, administrative director of vocal arts, says that all who attended the retreat "recognized the great resources of the department—its faculty, coaches and staff. However, all believed that the students could be better served if there was one person who oversaw the artistic vision—one person to turn to." It was quickly and clearly determined that Zeger was the person for the job."I am very pleased that Brian has taken on these new responsibilities," said President Joseph W. Polisi. "His intellect and artistry are powerful qualities that will bring a new dimension and dynamism to the Vocal Arts program at Juilliard."He comes to his duties at the School having initially pursued a career as a soloist, after earning degrees at Harvard, Juilliard, and the Manhattan School of Music. While on his way as a soloist, he says he "woke up" and realized that, above all, he loved "this other thing"—the human voice in song and opera. His exposure to vocal music began as a child, when he listened to the broadcasts from the Metropolitan Opera. He often accompanied his mentor and first piano teacher, Morris Borestein, to the opera, and further developed his interest during his years at Harvard, where he worked with professor and composer Earl Kim—"spending hours," he recalls, "on a single Schubert song." For Zeger, there was little that matched the "magic of the synthesis between great poetry and great music. What captivated me was the place where speech becomes music—working on the nuances of a single word and all the cadences in music that match and amplify those of speech."
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| Brian Zeger (Photo by Christian Steiner) |
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Once he made the decision to pursue a career as a collaborative pianist, his talents were soon called upon by the likes of Marilyn Horne, Arlene Auger, and Hei-Kyung Hong. In no time, Juilliard, too, sought the influence of this talented alumnus on its singers and young pianists. Then, as now, the possibility of "bringing along the next generation" provided Zeger with great excitement and fulfillment. "The talent pool here at Juilliard is rich beyond compare, varied and deep. I find great excitement in seeing the individuality of each person's talent and how it blossoms. My new job at the School is to coordinate this process and to make sure that each singer is pointed in the right direction. We want to make certain that each individual's assignments unlock the potential in his or her talent."Zeger's experience with some of the world's great singers will ably inform his work as artistic director, as he strives to create a current and dynamic vision that promises to transform the Department of Vocal Arts and its students. Underlying the changes envisioned is the philosophy that each student at Juilliard should have an individualized program to help him or her meet the needs of the changing landscape in the world of the performing arts. The current student-to-teacher ratio in the department is 33 full- and part-time faculty to approximately 72 students. With such a remarkable opportunity for students to be guided so closely by professionals in the field, Zeger will seek to assure that all students "get exactly what they need to perform at their very best and to succeed in their careers."It is Zeger's plan to organize the curriculum for students on a continuum, from undergraduate through graduate and, if appropriate, into the training grounds of the Juilliard Opera Center. Along the way, Juilliard's mission to train "whole and complete people" (as Foreman describes it) will never be forgotten. Previously, there was not a comprehensive scheme to the process. Now, as Zeger puts it, "all the programs should rhyme."The School was encouraged by attendees at last November's retreat to coordinate the administrative forces in the department. To that end, President Polisi and Dean Stephen Clapp formed four committees to address the issues of mission structure, curriculum, internal communications, and external communications. Zeger himself will chair the curriculum committee. In addition, he will coordinate the long-range planning of repertoire for the Juilliard Opera Center, as well as overseeing which directors, stage designers, and conductors will be engaged to oversee J.O.C. performances. "I am really looking forward to mobilizing this incredible team," he says. "We have a great responsibility to make sure that all that we do contributes to the education of our singers in the most meaningful ways possible."Zeger has clear ideas about what vocalists need to succeed both at Juilliard and in the world beyond: "a vital connection with the audience that is, above all, honest, as well as a willingness to look at their careers in an entrepreneurial way." He stresses that every singer should be willing to explore new ways to bring music, and their thoughts about that music, to a public that may have less education in this musical form than in times past. In addition, believes Zeger, the era of "every man for himself" is over. Vocalists must learn to make connections by engaging in unique and innovative collaborations, and by connecting to audiences of all types. The rigors of a career in the 21st century include capturing the attention of an audience that is more visually oriented. As a result, Zeger feels that any singer who succeeds in being accepted into the Juilliard Opera Center must possess world-class vocal talent as well as an "individual spark" that informs potent and passionate performances.
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Faculty Recital: Brian Zeger and Friends
Juilliard Theater
Tuesday, Oct. 26, 8 p.m.
Free tickets available in the Juilliard Box Office after Oct. 5.
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For those who have come to admire Zeger's work as a collaborator in vocal recitals around the city and as contributor on the intermission programs during the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts, have no fear; he plans on continuing his involvement in both of these arenas.One of the first duties he will fulfill in his new position at Juilliard will demonstrate his ongoing commitment to performance, as he graces the Daniel Saidenberg Faculty Recital Series this month in the Juilliard Theater. This recital will offer an array of repertoire joining music, dance, and drama—combinations that have intrigued Zeger throughout his career. "The repertoire was chosen through conversations I had with Stephen Pier, of the Dance Division, and Ralph Zito, of the Drama Division," he explains. "As the program began to take shape, the musicians I asked were all excited by the idea. Stephen Clapp, Jerry Lowenthal, and Darrett Adkins will all be taking part."Included in the evening will be From Pent-up Aching Rivers, featuring the choreography of Donlin Foreman in the slow movement of Rachmaninoff's Sonata for Cello; Mazurkas, with the music of Chopin choreographed by José Limón; Kaddish by Kodaly, choreographed by Anna Sokolow; and a new work featuring the music of D. Scarlatti choreographed by Alan Danielsen. Jacqulyn Buglisi and Risa Steinberg will join the artists listed above for this performance.It is clear from Zeger's first performance as artistic director that he is returning to the collaborative magic that captivated him when he first discovered vocal music, and that this force continues to feed his artistic drive and vision to this day.Jamée Ard, director of national advancement/alumni affairs, is also an alumna of Juilliard's Vocal Arts Department.
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