BURTON GOLDSTEIN MANAGEMENT LLC

NI CHO L AS TAM AGNA

TEACHING ARTIST

215 Park Avenue South Suite 1403

New York, NY 10002

e: mail@nicholastamagna.com

t: 646.712.4208

www.nicholastamagna.com
 N I C H O L A S TA M A G N A
TEACHING ARTIST

BIOGRAPHY

NICHOLAS TAMAGNA is a countertenor, phonetician, voice pedagogue and CEM

of Counterpoints Publishing LLC.

As a countertenor, Opera Now described him in the role of Orpheus as

"exquisite, combining perfect tonal quality with substantial power. His voice
soared with piecing [sic] sadness and soothed with a silky beauty, giving a
glimpse, perhaps, of why castrati voices became the divos of the Baroque era.”
Tamagna broke the gender-barrier as the first countertenor to perform the role
of Ulrica in Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera with Brooklyn Repertory Opera and
with Edgar & Friends in concert version. Nicholas Tamagna performed a special
New Year’s All-Bach Concert 2010 as the alto soloist in cantata 11 with the Amor
Artis Chamber Orchestra and Choir. He was also an invited 2010 young artist
with Canadian Operatic Arts Academy in London, Ontario in collaboration this
year with Opera London and Maestro Timothy Vernon. Prior to 2000, Nicholas
Tamagna was a musical theater actor playing in community theater and small
companies in New York.

As a phonetician, Tamagna has taught diction classes at Hunter College and has
been a private tutor in diction for singers as well as an ESL teacher in NYC. He
was the phonetic consultant for Crysede, an opera in Chaucerian English set by
composer Alice Shields, performed at New York City Opera Vox in 2008. He
prepared the phonetic transliteration of the libretto compiled and edited by
Nancy Dean, Chaucer and Medieval Studies expert, as well as author and
playwright, which was used by the singers for their preparation.

Nicholas Tamagna maintains a private voice studio in Manhattan, and is the

longtime musical director of Summer Theater Institute in residence at the
Juilliard School of Music, where he serves as director of vocal studies and
musical director. His teaching combines elements of traditional bel canto vocal
technique, with vocal principles of early music and healthy contemporary styles.
His technique is easily applicable to jazz, musical theater, contemporary
classical, early music, standard opera, and soft rock and r & b pop stylings. His
aim is to give his singers a roadmap towards achieving efficient, successful, and
supported singing, as well as improving musicianship, style, bodily awareness
and understanding of the science behind the voice.

CONTINUED…

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 He also is the CEM of Counterpoints Publishing LLC, established in 2010, to
provide important information (i.e. articles and books), career services and
products (i.e. scores) for countertenor voice, career, and repertoire.

To learn more about Nicholas Tamagna, visit www.nicholastamagna.com.

T E ST I M O N I A L S

LINDSEY BULLER, TEACHING ARTIST, EDUCATIONAL DIRECTOR AT NEW VICTORY THEATER

"Nick is an amazing technician of the voice! A few lessons with a singer and I have watched their
voices blossom. Their sounds become integrated and rounder. They have more confidence and
understand the mechanics of their voice as well as broadening their range. He has high
standards, but provides a lot of support to help his students reach those standards.
He is an amazing teacher and can help people uncover a whole new aspect to their voice."

JESSICA CHI, STUDENT AT SUMMER THEATER INSTITUTE

“Nicholas Tamagna is an extraordinary talent and an exceptional teacher with whom I have had
an absolute pleasure in working. With an unparalleled expertise in music and singing, he is
skilled in quickly and accurately diagnosing areas for improvement (many of which often go
unidentified by other voice coaches) and in offering comprehensive guidance to assist each and
every single one of his students’ growth as an artist. His multi-faceted understanding of music
and performance makes him an incomparable voice teacher – one who is able to impart
invaluable wisdom about technique, style, and presentation. Unfalteringly patient and
supportive, he is extremely attentive to his students’ needs and provides generous advice to
address any and all of his students’ concerns. He maintains a professionalism of the highest
caliber while still developing a close connection to every person he instructs. His enthusiasm for
his work is clear in the boundless energy he brings to all of his classes and lessons and in his
eagerness to spread his love of music to all.

TALLIE GABRIEL, STUDENT AT SUMMER THEATER INSTITUTE

"Working with Nicholas was such a terrific experience. He really knows how to communicate his
technique and get it across to the students. After working with him for only four weeks, I felt my
technique and confidence in my voice improve. I carry out the things he taught me when I sing
every day now!"

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 RESUME

OBJECTIVE
As a teaching-artist, I want to use my skills as an actor, singer, voice specialist, teacher and director to empower
students and clients to question and explore methods of artistic expression in theatrical form, and improve
upon their artistic skills.
ACADEMIC PREPARATION
B.A./M.A. in Voice, City University of New York at Hunter College, 2004-07 (graduated)
Concentration in Voice, French, Piano, Composition, and Vocal Pedagogy
B.M. Voice Performance, Manhattan School of Music, 2002-2004 (transfer)
Concentration in Opera Studies and Voice
B.Mus.Ed., University of North Carolina, 2000-2002 (transfer)
Concentration in Piano, Voice, Music Education, Languages, and Opera Studies

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Corporate Executive Member and founder, 2010
Counterpoints Publishing LLC
Current owner of a company dedicated to publishing informative articles about countertenor voice and
providing scores for sale in countertenor repertoire.

Piano Teacher, 2000-Present

Private Studio in NY
Teach students improvisational skills and classical technique (all ages).

Vocal Technician, 2005-Present

Tamagna Vocal Studio
Teach students vocal technique and coach music (all ages).

Vocal Technician and Musical Director, 2008-Present

Summer Theatre Institute NYC – in residence at Juilliard School of Music
Taught teenagers 14-18, vocal masterclasses, gave private voice instruction, taught song presentation
and interpretation, and gave a three-day lecture on Theatre and Music History entitled, “Evolution of
the Mask.” Co-directed and accompanied final devised theatre pieces with incidental music and songs.

Substitute/Adjunct Professor
City University of New York at Hunter College, 2008
Taught Voice 101 classes and Italian diction.

Musical Director, 2005-07

Summer Theatre Institute NYC – in residence at Columbia University
Assisted Master Teacher Susan Gonzalez in teaching vocal technique classes. Co-directed and
accompanied final devised theatre pieces with incidental music and songs.

Musical Director, 2007

Summer-on-the-Hill, Horace Mann Private School, Riverdale, NY
Taught general music classes and prepared 2nd and 3rd grade classes for final presentations.

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Teaching Artist, 2006-07
Hunter College Now!
Assisted Master Teacher Susan Gonzalez in teaching vocal technique classes. Co-directed and
accompanied final devised theatre pieces with incidental music and songs. Gave a week lecture on the
History of Musical Theater.

Musical Director, 2000-01

Lakeland School District – Arts Education Program (Cortlandt Manor, NY)
Choral Director. Co-directed and accompanied final revue.

Music Director, 1999

Croton Children’s Theatre (Croton, NY)
Taught 2nd grade music classes, prepared final performance of “Our Giraffe,” an original children’s
musical with 2nd graders.

LECTURES
Presenter. “The Evolution of the Mask,” Lecture Series at Summer Theatre Institute and College Now (CUNY-
Hunter). New York, NY 2006-Present. (An evolving lecture series)

CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS

Pedagogical Reference for countertenors and teachers of countertenors
The Male Voice in the Modern Age
PERFORMANCE
OPERA
Giulio Cesare in Egitto∙Giulio Cesare
Opera London (London, Ontario) 2010; Bel Cantanti Opera (Washington DC) 2009

Orpheus and Eurydice∙Orpheus

Opera Memphis (Memphis, TN) 2010; Brooklyn Repertory Opera (Brooklyn, NY) 2008

The Hunger Art / Gonzales Cantata∙Milos

Burning Bayreuth (Bard College, NY) 2010, Philly Fringe (Philadelphia, PA) 2008/09

Un Ballo in Maschera∙Ulrica
Edgar & Friends Opera in Concert (NY) 2009; Brooklyn Repertory Opera (NY) 2009

Hand of Poker∙Billy
Hunter Opera Workshop (NY) 2009
CONCERT
Oratory Church of St. Boniface, Countertenor Soloist 2005-Present
Fairfield Chorale Society, Messiah, Alto Soloist 2010
Canadian Operatic Arts Academy 2010
Scenes from La Calisto (Cavalli) Endimione
David et Jonathas (Charpentier) La Pythonisse
Christ Church and St. Stephen’s, El Niño (J. Adams), Countertenor I 2009
One World Symphony, Rückert Lieder: “Ich bin der Welt,” Soloist 2009
Amor Artis, All-Bach New Year’s Eve Concert – Bach Cantata 11, Alto Soloist 2009
Bridges Vocal Ensemble, Modern Art Song, Countertenor Soloist 2009
Gloria Parker Singer Showcase 2008-09
Midsummer Night’s Dream (B. Britten) Oberon
Flight (J. Dove) Refugee
The Rake’s Progress (I. Stravinsky) Baba the Turk
Giulio Cesare (G.F. Handel) Tolomeo
Hunter Symphony, Utrecht Jubilate (G.F. Handel), Alto Soloist 2009
46 Barrow Street Recital Series, Les Ariettes Oubliées (C. Debussy) 2008; Les Banalités (F. Poulenc) 2008
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TELEVISION
30 Rock – Extra work 2010

MUSICAL THEATRE/OPERETTA
Kiss Me Kate Hunter Opera Workshop (2005) Fred
Monsieur Choufleuri Danny Kaye Theatre (2007) Babylas

PIANO
With over 20 years of study, cabaret pianist for over 10 years, playing for shows at Don’t Tell Mamma’s
and Cabaret Duplex in NYC, as well as pianist accompanist, arranger, and consultant to singers around
NYC.

TRAINING
Acting: Dona D. Vaughn, Richard Crittenden, Elizabeth Vrenios Alissa Grimaldi, Gloria Parker, Allyn Sitjar
Voice: James Baumgartner, Patricia Misslin, Marianna Christos, Susan Gonzalez, Alissa Grimaldi, Mark
Oswald, and David Jones.
Ornamentation: Susan Gonzalez, Harry Saltzman
Movement/Dance: Frank Patrelle and Miranda Wickett
Alexander Technique: UNC-Greensboro
Stage Combat:
- audited with David Hastings
Dialects: U.S.: New York, Southern; Europe: French

PROGRAMS
Operafestival di Roma in Rome and Verona, Italy (singer and accompanist for the program)
Richard Crittenden Opera Workshop
David Jones Teacher Seminar
Canadian Operatic Arts Academy – Summer Intensive

COMPUTERS SKILLS
Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Vegas Movie Editing Software, Sibelius 6, Microsoft Word, Windows and Mac
Systems Proficient.

REFERENCES
Lindsey Buller, Education Programs Manager, New Victory Theater, 917.693.5049
Allyn Sitjar, Director of Youth Theatre of New Jersey and Summer Theater Institute, 201.415.5329
Heidi Stallings, Co-Teaching Artist, 917.523.9183
Susan Gonzalez, Ph.D, Director of Voice Studies, City University of New York at Hunter College, 917.923.3636
Alissa Grimaldi, Voice Technician and Mentor, 212.679.3461

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 H EA D S H OT

CO N TAC T

NICHOLAS TAMAGNA
Burton Goldstein Management LLC

215 Park Avenue South Suite 1403

New York, NY 10002

t: 646.712.4208

e: mail@nicholastamagna.com

www.nicholastamagna.com

Visit us for videoss of performances and lectures on youtube

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