Voice Lessons - Learn how to build your whole singing instrument to make beautiful sounds!

From 41.98 £ /h

The foundation of my vocal teaching philosophy is rooted in empowering the human being in front of me through the instruction of the vocal arts. Through my study and professional experience, this process consists of careful attention and detail to the breath and body in physical, mental, and kinesthetic sense; understanding of text and interpretation that comes from an authentic place to heighten the beauty of the voice and clear communication of artistry; tuning carefully my ear to not only what sounds good but also feels good; observing if the singing was done with enough poise, ease, and elegance; yield my students to release any unnecessary and extra efforts while inviting freedom that is calm, collected and dynamic; guide my students to learn how to become their own teacher. This is what I hope to impart to my students. I look forward to passing on my own knowledge but furthermore learning from my future students to become an even better teacher.

Location

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At student's location :

Around The Hague, Netherlands

At teacher's location :

Hendrick Hamelplantsoen, The Hague, Netherlands

Online from Netherlands

About Me

Greetings!

I am originally from San Francisco, California, and have been based in The Hague now for 3 years. I came here to pursue a life and professional career in Europe as the classical music scene is quite rich here as I have been fortunate to perform recitals and productions in venues like the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ and Het Concertgebouw. I do love performing and am still very much active as a classical singing actor but I also very much enjoy teaching what I have learned in my own training and from the professional stage. It is very important for me to listen carefully and differently to each student that comes into my studio. Not everyone learns the same so I continue to find many ways to communicate the same method depending on the student in front of me. When singing is free and beautiful, it can be a cathartic and euphoric feeling that I want all of my students to experience. I entrust that taking voice lessons with me will not only improve your singing voice as well as your physical and mental strength and intelligence. I look forward to uncovering your true and authentic timbre and sound!

Education

Dutch National Opera Academy
Bard College Conservatory Vocal Arts Program (New York, USA) - Masters in Vocal Arts
San Francisco Conservatory of Music (San Francisco, CA) - Bachelors in Vocal Performance

Experience / Qualifications

Voice Teacher - 7 years experience: Private studio; 1-year Graduate Vocal Teaching Assistant (University of Maryland, USA); 3 years at Inspire Music Lessons Studios (San Francisco, California)

Profession Opera Singer - 10 years experience
San Francisco native, Filipino-American baritone Rolfe’s performance highlights include Don Alfonso (Cosi fan tutte), Leporello and Masetto (Don Giovanni), Figaro and Il Conte (Le nozze di Figaro), Achilla (Giulio Cesare), and Claudio (Agrippina), Junius (The Rape of Lucretia), Farasmane (Radamisto), and Dulcamara (L’elisire d’amore). In 2016, Rolfe was invited to the Banff Centre’s Open Space: Opera in the 21st Century performing the role of Junius in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia directed by Paul Curran. Received his Master’s degree from the Graduate Vocal Arts Program at the Bard College-Conservatory of Music in 2017 where he worked with Sanford Sylvan and Dawn Upshaw. At Bard, he sang the role of the Sprecher in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte and was a soloist in Handel’s Messiah. Outside of Bard, he was an active performer with the Broad Street Orchestra in Kinderhook, NY as well as with the Albany Symphony as a soloist for Handel's Alexander's Feast, Dettingen Te Deum, Ode for Queen Anne and Bach Cantata BWV 78. He is a recent graduate of the Dutch National Opera Academy and is a recipient of the Holland Scholarship and the Non-EU Talent Grant. Outside of the DNOA, Rolfe has been a soloist singing Bach Cantatas with the Bach Collegium ‘s-Hertogenbosch, he covered Leporello in Orchestra of the 18th Century production of Don Giovanni and has been on tour with Opera2Day’s production of Philip Glass’s The Fall of the House of Usher as the Medic and understudy of William. Recently, he gave a Grote Zangers live stream concert in the Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ and was seen at the 2021 Holland Festival performing the role of Wotan/Hingaan Jann in a new opera entitled Ine Aya’ by Indonesian composer Yadi Nursalim Anugerah. The NRC reviewed his performance saying, “the Germanic god Wotan was played by the impressive Filipino baritone Rolfe.” His vocal-piano duo, Youth and Love, was recently awarded 2nd prize at the 2021 Copenhagen Lied-Duo Competition in which he collaborates with Lithuanian pianist, Gabrielė Žemaitytė. Upcoming for Rolfe are productions at the Chautauqua Opera Company for summer 2022 as a Festival Artist performing roles in Thomas Virgil’s The Mother Of Us All and a contemporary opera by Kamala Sankaram entitled Thumbprint.

Age

Teenagers (13-17 years old)

Adults (18-64 years old)

Seniors (65+ years old)

Student level

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Duration

30 minutes

45 minutes

60 minutes