Alumnus Sterrenberg ‘08 is selected to participate in one of the nation's most prestigious vocal training programs!
Athens Academy alumna, Rachel Sterrenberg ‘08, is a rising music performance junior at the University of Kentucky. Rachel, who is in her seventh and final week of training at Chautauqua Music Festival, continues to build on the work she has done as a vocal student at UK School of Music.
It is not surprising that Sterrenberg was selected as an undergraduate to participate in this training program. Before arriving at UK, Sterrenberg took home the first place undergraduate award in the Alltech Vocal Scholarship Competition.
To participate in the Chautauqua Music Festival, Sterrenberg had to endure an audition process. After applying last fall, she competed against approximately 50 singers at one of five different auditions held around the country.
The Chautauqua Institution Voice Department is a seven-week intensive educational program that seeks to offer the highest caliber of training for the young singer, 18 and older. Under the leadership of Marlena Kleinman Malas, a select group of singers participate in voice lessons, role preparation, diction classes and vocal coachings are guided by a full-time staff of voice teachers, coaches and a resident stage director, along with numerous guest artists, who specialize in song literature, opera repertoire, technique or languages.
Sterrenberg relishes the opportunity to continue her studies. "I think it is important to go out in the summers and further what you are doing during the school year. Meeting new people is very important in the music business as well: connections are everything," says the vocalist.
As part of the training program, Sterrenberg is performing in main stage productions of "La Bohème" and Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro."
Sterrenberg is the daughter of Mary and Todd Sterrenberg and sister of Katie '08 and Athens Academy 11th grader TJ. Since attending UK, Sterrenberg debuted the role of Dana Kelso in the premiere of the Lincoln opera "River of Time" and was First Lady in the undergraduate production of the "The Magic Flute." This fall she will be covering the role of Musetta for "La Bohème."
After her studies, Sterrenberg plans to pursue a career as a vocalists.
