Students currently in 8th-11th grades may apply for High School Arts Instruction.
The NOCCA Classical Vocal Music Department accepts talented students who have an aptitude and interest in pursuing classical vocal music. The Vocal Music Curriculum is designed to develop the student’s vocal technique, performance skills, and musicianship. Classes include Voice Class (vocal technique and repertoire), Music Theory, Musicianship (ear training and sight singing), Piano Class, Opera Workshop and Choral Ensemble.
At the live in-person audition, which will take approximately 10-15 minutes, you will be asked to:
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- Demonstrate a singing voice with potential in classical music by singing one prepared and memorized song from the following list:
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o Any Italian art song from the 24 Italian Art song book (G. Shirmer). We recommend Caro mio ben or Sebben crudele for beginning students.
o One of these songs: “Danny Boy," “Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes"
o Two verses of a hymn
o A traditional spiritual
No other song genres are permitted. Some of these songs are linked below for download. Please bring the sheet music in your key for our accompanist to play for you at your audition. You must sing with our piano accompanist- no a capella singing, please. Please dress appropriately for an audition (in nice clothes) and memorize your audition piece.
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- Demonstrate the ability to match pitches and melodies that will be played for you on the piano.
- Repeat clapped rhythms (example available in link below).
- Sing a major scale ascending and descending.
- Be able to discuss with the Vocal Music faculty your grades and your desire to explore Classical Vocal Music.
- Demonstrate basic music sight-reading skills involving simple rhythmic and melodic sequences (An example of the sight singing may be downloaded from the link below)
- Answer basic music theory questions.
- Read aloud a short poem in English that will be given to you at the audition.
click here for clapped rhythm and sight singing examples and click here for song examples.
In addition to individual department requirements, all applicants will:
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- Upload to the application a 1-2 minute video of the applicant answering the question, “Why do I want to train at NOCCA?"
- Upload to the application a copy of the most recent report card. Applicants must have at least a 2.0 GPA.
- Be prepared with the email of an adult who is not related to you to complete your recommendation. Your recommender will receive an email from Acceptd with a link to fill out a recommendation form online.
Faculty
Phyllis Treigle
Classical Vocal Department Chair VocalBiography
Phyllis Treigle is a native of New Orleans and is the daughter of the great bass-baritone Norman Treigle. She holds a B.M. and M.M. from Loyola University and she made her professional debut with the New Orleans Opera Association in 1980. She has since appeared with this company several times, most notably as Senta in Der fliegende Holländer in 1998. She was a member of the Houston Grand Opera Studio in the early 1980’s, and appeared in several roles with Houston Grand Opera. Miss Treigle has also appeared with the New York City Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Dublin Grand Opera Society, Pittsburgh Opera, Sarasota Opera Association, and Wolf Trap Opera Company, among others. In 1997, Ms. Treigle portrayed the title role in the original version of Cherubini’s Médée, for Opera Quotannis, at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, which was subsequently recorded by Newport Classic. Recent performing credits include the role of Dame Marthe Schwerlein in Faust and the role of Mamma Lucia in Cavalleria rusticana, with the New Orleans Opera Association in 2017. Ms. Treigle joined the faculty of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) in 2001, and is the Department Chair of Vocal Music.