Baritone Randall Scarlata at Lincoln Center

Baritone Randall Scarlata recently performed in "Schubert Ascending," a three-concert festival at The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in New York City. The program featured the masterpieces Franz Schubert (1797-1828) composed in his final year before dying at age 31.

An assistant professor of music at West Chester, Scarlata joined several of his acclaimed young colleagues, including the show's curator, pianist Inon Barnatan, to celebrate Schubert's passion for musical collaboration with youthful musicians of the great composer's time.

Scarlata's own career includes performances throughout the United States and Europe in recital, chamber music, opera, and works for voice and orchestra. A Philadelphia native, he appears regularly on the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society schedule and is a frequent guest on Lyricfest programs. He has appeared with Great Performers at Lincoln Center, and was featured in the world premiere of Thea Musgrave's one-man opera The Mocking-Bird in Boston and the world premiere of George Crumb's Voices from the Morning of the Earth at Carnegie Hall. He has appeared in many of the world's great music festivals, including the Ravinia, Marlboro, Edinburgh, Vienna, Aspen and Spoleto (Italy) festivals. For more than 10 years, he has volunteered with Sing for Hope, a non-profit "artists' Peace Corps" of more than 600 professional visual and performing artists who volunteer in educational outreach programs for underserved children; in hospital performances and workshops that complement the healing process; and in benefits for humanitarian causes.
In a recent interview about his performance in "Schubert Ascending," Scarlata discussed his dual role as a professional singer and as a teacher and mentor of college-age vocalists.

Q. "Schubert Ascending" celebrates youth as well as the composer's greatest works. What do you enjoy the most about working with students at West Chester?
A. I primarily teach studio voice. I really enjoy working with students because they are so hungry to gain more knowledge. I love when they challenge me and have strong or differing opinions from mine. I can't imagine singing without teaching too.

Q. Where did you teach before joining the faculty at West Chester?
A. I'm in my sixth year here at West Chester. Although this is my first formal teaching position as a permanent part-time faculty member, I've done a lot of workshops, lectures and residencies, for example, at Hartt School of Music, Williams College, SUNY, Iowa State University, University of Georgia and the University of Nebraska. I also maintained private studios in Vienna and New York City.

Q. When did you start singing?
A. I started singing when I was very young, but when my voice started changing, I stopped. In fifth grade, I started playing the viola, and that experience had quite an influence on me. I was in a string quartet, and I loved working on chamber music. In high school, I had orchestra practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The choir director knew I was also interested in theatre. He asked me to give choir a try. I didn't even know if I could sing, but I decided to try it, and I loved it! I got a part in the school show, and I started taking voice lessons. My voice teacher took me to Curtis Institute of Music, where I was told that I had a really fine voice.

Q. How do you prepare for your performances?
A. I think about the poem first, then the composer's intentions and interpretation of the text. Then I start to sing, working through the piece slowly and ironing out any technical difficulties. Once I'm comfortable with my part, I get together with the other performers and watch and listen as things unfold. We rehearse a lot and we have a lot of trust in each other.

Q. Where do you find inspiration? What are your profession's challenges and rewards?
A. My students absolutely inspire me! I am also fortunate to work with wonderful collaborators. This is not an easy time for classical music. There have been a lot of cutbacks because of the economy, but I've stayed busy. The music world is small so your work develops from networking, friendships and some luck. You have to stay on top of your game because you never know when a new opportunity might surface.

Q. How has technology changed the way you approach your profession?
A. Technology has made it much easier to find music. Many works prior to 1925 are in the public domain, and you can find them online. I find recordings of pieces on iTunes and other music servers. Performers are using computers to make modifications such as changing sounds and amplification. You can find great classical performances on YouTube.

Q. What is your most memorable performance(s)?
A. I love singing in places like Vienna and London and New York, where there is a great tradition of music and attentive audiences, but I also remember being pleasantly surprised with wonderfully knowledgeable listeners in Omaha, Nebraska. There are wonderful pockets of culture and terrific audiences all over the world. I also find it memorable to sing for my students because it gives me a chance to practice what I preach.

Randall Scarlata earned a bachelor's degree from the Eastman School of Music and studied in Vienna on a Fulbright Grant. He received his master's degree at The Juilliard School as a student of Beverley Johnson and was a member of the Juilliard Opera Center.