TOMBALL (October 1, 2024) – Recently, the LSC-Tomball Music Department took ten students to New York City for a weeklong musical theater intensive, specially designed by Dr. Lisa Morales, LSC-Tomball Music director. Over five days, the students worked with A-list celebrity coaches in Broadway rehearsal spaces, engaging in advanced, graduate-level musical theater training.
For LSC-Tomball Dual Credit student Gavin Cabote, who has been involved in performing arts, including dance and vocal performance, for eight years, the intensive was a life-changing experience.
“I’ve traveled a lot, but this trip was special,” said Cabote. “The education Dr. Morales put together was next level, comprehensive, and holistic. The educators we worked with were amazing. They were invested in each of us. They cared about our growth.”
For Cali Noack, an LSC-Tomball graduate who is working to complete her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre (BFA MT) at Sargent Conservatory at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, the NYC trip was unlike any school trip she’s taken.
“I feel like I’ve become a better performer because of the NYC trip,’” said Noack. “In each of the masterclasses, our coaches offered us different perspectives on performance work. One coach valued doing text analysis of scripts, while another emphasized the body movement and how that affects performance. It was cool to see that each coach had a different view, but they were all successful performers.”
The NYC Intensive was part of a new initiative launched by Dr. Morales, the LSC-Tomball Young Artist Development program. This program serves as a pathway for students to enhance their artistry both sonically and visually, encouraging vulnerability and creativity in a supportive environment that fosters professional growth and advancement opportunities.
“To attend a competitive music school like Boston Conservatory, Shenandoah Conservatory, or Manhattan School of Music, the yearly tuition exceeds $50,000,” said Dr. Morales. “While I can’t replicate those exact experiences, I’m striving to create artist opportunities that are affordable, accessible, and incredibly meaningful. We’re working with people’s passions and dreams.”
While in NYC, the LSC-Tomball Young Artist Development students worked long, focused hours and were coached by industry professionals such as Patrick Page, Broadway performer and playwright, Amanda Flynn, singing voice specialist, Mackenzie Bykowski, singer and vocal technician, Will Reynolds, composer and Broadway performer, and Calvin Leon Smith, Broadway performer currently in Cabaret.
They explored the connection between voice and body. They practiced creating authentic, emotionally resonant characters, through vulnerability, and doing deep analysis of their artistic choices. Each student received tickets to attend vastly different Broadway shows Water for Elephants, The Great Gatsby, and the new production, Hell's Kitchen, to experience a wide range of theatrical styles.
"Attending these productions and collaborating with iconic musical theater figures in Broadway rehearsal studios is an integral part of experiential learning and career development,” said Dr. Morales. “I curated this week of activities to help our artists expand their professional networks and enhance their resumes. Most importantly, our students got a glimpse of the kind of training, thought process, and commitment it takes to bring song and character to life - and what it takes to physically sustain these kinds of performances. I am so glad that we’ve been able to give our students the tools to more accurately envision themselves working at this level and thriving in this environment. The ability to visualize your dreams is crucial to achieving them."
The NYC Intensive served as a capstone for two graduating students and a catalyst for those who will continue working within the Young Artist Development program at LSC Tomball Music. Another NYC trip is already in the works, with fundraising efforts underway, which make these opportunities possible.
For Cabote and Noack, the NYC Intensive was a profound experience that fostered significant personal growth.
“The NYC Intensive was the highlight of my summer,” said Noack. “I haven’t felt that connected to my body as a singer or the performance process in so long. The experience was rejoicing and rejuvenating. Since the trip, I have been incredibly motivated and inspired to continue to pursue my passions in performance.”
“NYC was a lightbulb moment," said Cabote. "I've referred to the session notes I took multiple times since we've been home. Each coach gave us advice that applies to art and performance and is also relevant to life. Patrick Page taught us about the song interpretation process—he emphasized textual analysis, saying ‘Know the words, know what they mean, and mean them when you say them.’ This has been invaluable to me professionally and personally. It’s a statement about the importance of honesty and authenticity. It’s pertinent to artistry and the way one conducts oneself in daily life. I also realized the importance of endurance—the level of commitment required to excel at your craft, to push through setbacks, and ultimately persevere to create meaningful art.”
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