Award-winning theater director and esteemed vocal coach Mary Jo DuPrey presented a lecture Tuesday at the Memorial Union addressing the ins and outs of vocal training and her career journey thus far.
DuPrey has had the chance to work with renowned names, including working as the private touring vocal coach for rockstar Jon Bon Jovi as well as training actor and vocalist Daveed Diggs, known for his Tony Award-winning performance as Thomas Jefferson/Marquis de Lafayette in the Broadway musical “Hamilton”. In addition, she served as a faculty member for the Ray Bolger Musical Theater Program at the University of California, Los Angeles, helping mold countless students into Broadway performers touring national stages through her rock musical theater class.
During the Q&A lecture, DuPrey shared her knowledge and experience in vocal coaching and techniques, detailing the life of a vocal trainer, the philosophy of vocalists and how best to approach music and singing as an art form.
“Being an actor and a singer is a lifelong journey,” DuPrey said. “Being a performer is a journey on many levels. There’s your craft, but there’s your health, and there’s your mental health, your spiritual life, your intellectual life… you have to focus on the other parts of your being. It’s important to take care of yourself and develop all the different aspects of your being because you’ll be a better artist.”
The lecture was an opportunity to begin building connections within the industry and gain valuable insight into the world of vocal training, an uncommon profession. It aimed to motivate and empower aspiring singers and actors and give them helpful insider advice as they navigate their careers.
“Think of it athletically, because you’re an athlete. A singer is an athlete… your voice is a muscle,” DuPrey said.
She explained that as a vocal coach, she often focuses on not only the voice of her students but also developing their stage presence. To demonstrate a typical coaching session and the critiquing and training process, DuPrey simulated a mock lesson.
Moderator and chair of the Department of Music and Theater, Brad Dell, performed “If I Were a Rich Man” from the Broadway musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” acappella for the audience. Afterward, DuPrey discussed the piece with Dell and worked with him to refine it, encouraging him to dig into the deeper context behind the song and let that lead his performance.
Her feedback and perspective gave the audience a look into what a typical vocal lesson with her is like, and how she can guide and heighten a performer’s skills with a special focus on vocal strength, operatic technique, stamina, and recovery.
The recording of this event can be accessed here.