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The Royal College of Music

Professor Janis Kelly DRSAMD, FRCM has been teaching singing alongside her performing career for over ten years, with her studio including eminent singers and students from across the UK, as well as the USA and Europe, and she has been a vocal professor at the RCM for six years. Recently she was awarded the Chair in Vocal Performance at the RCM resulting in the title of Capital "P"professor. With many students successes in RCM, National and International competitions-including Sopranos Soraya Mafi (Susan Chilcott Award, ROSL voice Winner, Ferrier Second and Mozart Comp second places),  Sarah Jane Brandon (Kathleen Ferrier winner 2009, Salzburg young artist, Operalia and Veronica Dunne finalist), Mezzo soprano Emilie Alford (Lies Askonas and Handel Comp prize winner), Soprano Rhian Lois Evans (Lies Askonas winner and Welsh song prize winner) among others working in the profession nationally and internationally, including Rosie Aldridge on contract at the Vienna Staatsoper and Filipa von Ecke in South Africa, Lisbon and UK. Soraya  Mafi is appearing with ENO,ETO, ROH ,SEATTLE Opera  and  appeared  with Janis  in WNO's production of Sweeney Todd in 2015  and appearing with Rhian in the Marriage of Figaro at ENO in 2018.

 

As well as her Vocal Teaching qualification from the RSAMD, Janis’s knowledge and experience of the technical aspects of singing are drawn from the in-depth teachings of Martienssen-Lohman by way of Elisabeth Grümmer and traced back four generations to Manuel Garcia. This, together with the body and breath work Janis has studied and uses within Feldenkreis, Alexander and Psychology training means her approach is holistic and includes day workshops as part of her teaching. Janis and RCM colleague Norbert Meyn, with support from the RCM, have produced two DVDs A History of Vocal Teaching a unique film tracing her vocal lineage and Singing in English a practical guide and personal experience of Catherine Lambert. She has given masterclasses for the RAM, RNCM, RCM, RSAMD, BYO, Co-opera-co, Royal Holloway, Buxton Festival and for LA Opera and was artistic advisor on the ENO Opera Works Course. She made her directorial debut with a much acclaimed Così fan tutte at Grange Park Opera followed by Iolanthe. Janis gives stagecraft classes and directs opera scenes at the RCM as well as for Oxenfoord International Summer School.


Janis herself, a prize winning student at the RSAMD and RCM, graduated as a Teacher of Singing and Performer and at RCM Opera School on full scholarships. A Kathleen Ferrier Finalist, Anna Instone Prize winner and a succession of awards both nationally and internationally, including the Countess of Munster and the Royal Society of Arts enabled her to continue her vocal studies in Paris with the world renowned Soprano Elisabeth Grümmer whilst at the same time, make her concert debut at the Wigmore Hall and her operatic debut with English National Opera where she has continued to appear in major roles for over 30 years.

Teaching News

October 2012

Janis will be coaching principals in Poulenc's 'les Mammelles de Teresias' for the production at Aldeburgh.

September 2012

Janis will be doing some distance teaching via a video-link up from R.C.M to the Manhattan school of Music NY.

Janis for more information on teaching

View Clips

A History of Vocal Teaching

A film by Janis Kelly and Norbert Meyn.

Discussing fundamental principles of singing passed down through the generations since the old italian masters.

The film gives an account of the teaching of Franziska Martienssen-Lohmann (1887-1971), one of the most influential German singing teachers in the 20th century, and of the famous German soprano Elisabeth Grümmer (1911-1985), featuring the German coloratura soprano Jutta Vulpius (born 1927) and her pupil Carola Höhn of the Staatsoper Berlin.

Following a direct lineage to great teachers in the 19th century, the Dutch baritone Johannes Messchaert (1857-1922), the German teacher Julius Stockhausen (1826-1906) and the Spanish educator Manuel Patricio Rodríguez García (1805-1906).

Giving examples of exercises for beginners and advanced students.

This film is suitable for classroom teaching or individual study.

Playing time: 40 min

Supported by the Royal College of Music

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