The Boston Wagner Institute

Founded by Jane Eaglen in 2019, BWI aims to educate younger generations of dramatic and Wagnerian voices.

Programming each year has consisted of summer workshops, masterclasses, and performances of scenes and arias. This program is for those interested in singing this dramatic repertoire and wanting to master their craft with experienced Wagnerian teaching artists.
The institute is open for anyone to apply. We do not discriminate on any basis of voice type, race, gender, sexuality, age, religious belief, physical appearance or ability, or any identification of self-expression.

For updates on programming and audition information, feel free to email us at bwi@bostonwagnersociety.org.

2024 BOSTON WAGNER INSTITUTE

HOSTED BY BOSTON CONSERVATORY AT BERKLEE

Thank you for coming!

Hosted by the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, with all classes and performances held at their campus.

Boston Wagner Institute with Artistic Director, Jane Eaglen, is an education-forward program for singers with the potential to sing Wagner. With a career spanning the roles of Wagner’s heroines in opera houses around the world, Ms. Eaglen has first-hand knowledge of what it takes to build vocal stamina and maintain dramatic interest to fill the expansive music and staging of this style. Ms. Eaglen is committed to passing on the benefit of her extensive experience to the Wagner singers of the future. 

Participants will learn the style of Wagner’s music with master pianist coaches, Brett Hodgdon and Robert Mollicone. Aria and scene repertoire for study, which may be included in the final performance, will be assigned based on accepted participants. Boston Wagner Institute will be limited to a small number of participants, enabling the program to offer a daily private session for each participant, rotating between Ms. Eaglen, Brett Hodgdon, and Robert Mollicone. Each participant will be assigned a Wagner opera scene, staged and coached with our dramatic director, Chuck Hudson.

All our events' facilities will be hosted at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, including our final performance. In addition, we will be offering a series of musicology lectures based around Wagner's music and his historical context, taught by Boston-based musicologists from New England Conservatory, Boston University, and Boston Conservatory. 

Recognizing the need for training singers with similar voice types together, Boston Wagner Institute will offer every participant an opportunity to learn from their colleagues in multiple studio and master classes with Ms. Eaglen and other guests, to be announced. There will be daily dramatic sessions and stagings for students’ individual scenes.

Ample time and space for private practice and group socialization will be built into the program to aid the retention of new information and set participants up for their future. We hope you will consider applying to join us this summer.

BWI Recent Projects in the Years

  • Masterclasses with Jay Hunter Morris, Amber Wagner, and Mark Delavan!
    Lectures with Helen Greenwald, Carol Krusemark, and Deborah Burton.
    And don't forget Wagner and Vino to kick off the program!

    Watch the finale scenes concert on YouTube!

    Finale Scenes Repertoire:

    Tannhäuser: Act II Scene 1, “Dich teure Halle” Elisabeth: Sarai Cole | Tannhäuser: Michael Ash | Wolfram: Joel Balzun | Brett Hodgdon, piano

    Tristan und Isolde: Act I Scene 3-4, “O Süsse! Traute!” Isolde: Margaret Branyon-Goodman | Brangäne: Nicole London | Kurvenal: Joel Balzun | Robert Mollicone, piano

    Die Walküre: Act II Scene 3, “Raste nun hier” Sieglinde: Calandra Damouras* | Robert Mollicone, piano *Originally cast as Analía Corpas, with Elias Berezin as Siegmund, who were both sick with COVID.

    ~ Ten-minute intermission ~

    Der fliegende Holländer: Act II Scene 5, “Bleib Senta” Senta: Joely Seitz | Erik: Michael Ash | Samuel Tam, piano | Staged by Olga Melendez Valdes, assistant director

    Das Rheingold: Vorspiel und Erste Szene, & Vierte Szene “Alberich’s Curse” Woglinde: Katerina Skafidas* | Wellgunde: Calandra Damouras | Flosshilde: Hadassah Meneses | Alberich: Joel Balzun | Brett Hodgdon, piano *Originally cast as Lindsay Greene, who was sick with COVID.

    ** Also programmed, but unfortunately canceled due to COVID: Lohengrin: Act III Scene 2, “Das süsser Lied verhallt” Elsa: Stephanie Pfundt | Lohengrin: Elias Berezin | Robert Mollicone, piano

    Full program info.

    Scenes staged by our dramatic director, Chuck Hudson. Assistant director was Olga Melendez Valdes and stage manager was Kyle Seniw, with Kat Skafidas as artistic administrator. Accompanied on piano by Brett Hodgdon, Bob Mollicone, and Samuel Tam. Special thanks to our rehearsal pianist Tristan Leung and ASM Blake Hetherington.
    Overseen by Jane Eaglen, artistic director.

  • This year, we were able to accomplish a two-week professional intensive for our Wagnerian students, culminating with a scenes showcase. We were so glad to finally work with these passionate singers in-person as a tutti cast for the first time in years. We are so proud of their hard work and progress.

    Between July 18-29, masterclasses, lectures, & performances, oh my!

    Presented in conjunction with the Boston Wagner Society and the generosity of Boston Conservatory at Berklee.

    We even managed to accomplish a stellar impromptu Wagner and Vino night on July 18, presented in collaboration with Opera On Tap Boston and The Burren in Somerville.

    All our main events were held at Boston Conservatory 8 Fenway, Boston, MA.

    Ben Heppner Masterclass: July 19
    Robert Mollicone, piano
    Singers:
    Tara Jamshidian
    Sarah Taylor
    Sarai Cole
    Adam Lowe

    Carol Krusemark (MGH Voice) Vocal Health Lecture: July 20

    Jane Eaglen Masterclass: July 21
    Robert Mollicone, piano
    BWI 2023 Singers

    Renée Tatum Masterclass: July 22
    Brett Hodgdon, piano
    Singers:
    Megan Quick
    Claire Perón
    Analía Corpas
    Heidi Skok

    Mark Delavan Masterclass: July 25
    Brett Hodgdon, piano
    Singers:
    Gwenna Fairchild-Taylor
    Elias Berezín
    Jenny Lynn Ribeiro
    Wendy Silvester

    Helen Greenwald Musicology Lecture ‘Wagner in Today’s World:’ July 26

    _______________________________

    FINALE SCENES CONCERT: July 29, Seully Hall

    Die Walküre, Act 1 Scene III, “Ein Schwert”
    Sieglinde: Gwenna Fairchild-Taylor
    Siegmund: Elias Berezin
    Robert Mollicone, piano

    Lohengrin, Act 2 Scene II, “Euch Lüften”
    Elsa: Analía Corpas
    Ortrud: Wendy Silvester
    Brett Hodgdon, piano

    Tristan und Isolde, Act 2 Scene I, “Hörst du wie noch”
    Isolde: Jenny Ribeiro
    Brangäne: Megan Quick
    Robert Mollicone, piano

    Die fliegender Höllander, No. 5, “Bleib Senta”
    Senta: Analía Corpas
    Erik: Adam Lowe
    Robert Mollicone, piano

    -Brief Intermission-

    Götterdämmerung, Vorspiel
    Erste Norn: Heidi Skok
    Zweite Norn: Claire Péron
    Dritte Norn: Saraï Cole
    Brünnhilde: Tara Jamshidian
    Siegfried: Adam Lowe
    Brett Hodgdon & Robert Mollicone, piano

    Götterdämmerung, Act 1 Scene III
    Brünnhilde: Tara Jamshidian
    Waltraute: Sarah Rose Taylor
    Brett Hodgdon, piano

    All scenes staged by Danielle Wright.

    Click to view the full final program here, with biographies and special thanks.

  • This year, we presented a masterclass run by Jane, where a small group of young Wagnerians workshopped scenes from Lohengrin and Der Fliegender Holländer.

    Streamed LIVE on our Facebook, available to watch on-demand.

    Saturday, June 18, 2022, 3pm
    New England Conservatory’s Burnes Hall (255 St. Botolph)

    Jane Eaglen, director & clinician
    Brett Hodgdon, piano

    “Euch Lüften die mein Klagen,” Lohengrin, Act 2, Scene II (1843)
    Callandra Damouras, Elsa
    Maria Bozich, Ortrud

    “Bleib, Senta,” Der Fliegender Holländer, Act 2, Scene V (1850)
    Allyson Bennett, Senta
    Mark Tempesta, Erik

    Read full program here.

  • Director: Jane Eaglen
    Assistant Director: Danielle Wright
    Coach Pianists: Michael Strauss and Robert Mollicone

    This year was done virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was rehearsed and coached entirely remotely through low-latency communication software, SoundJack and Cleanfeed, often in conjunction with Zoom.

    For their final project, each of the singers from their own home filmed and recorded themselves singing arias. It was then compiled and edited into one compilation.

    Click here to watch these singers’ hard work.

    Tara Jamshidian, Soprano - “Dich Teure Halle” from Tannhäuser
    Paulette Penzvalto, Soprano - “Allmächtge Jungfrau” from Tannhäuser
    Megan Quick, Mezzo Soprano - Waltraute’s aria from Götterdämmerung
    Adam Lowe, Tenor - “Ein Schwert” from Die Walküre
    Katherine Goforth, Tenor - “Winterstürme” from Die Walküre
    Tara Gruszkiewicz, Mezzo Soprano - Fricka’s aria from Die Walküre
    Rebecca Carden, Mezzo-Soprano - “Geliebte! Komm!” from Tannhäuser
    Seth Keeton, Baritone - Dutchman monologue from Fliegender Holländer
    Brooke Dircks, Soprano - Senta’s Ballad from Fliegender Holländer
    Rebecca Grady Rucker, Soprano - “Einsam in trüben Tagen” from Lohengrin
    Timothy di Fiore, Tenor - “Mein Liebe Schwann” from Lohengrin

  • Tara Jamshidian, soprano

    “So many young dramatic and Wagnerian voices are lost within the shuffle during our formative years. Many institutions don't know what to do with us, or do not want to put in the time and effort it takes to develop our voices and our craft. In my experience, The Boston Wagner Institute is unlike any other program I have come across, and I feel very fortunate for everything I have learned and gained from taking part in it.”

  • Saraï Cole, soprano

    “It was truly one of the most fulfilling singing experiences I have had. While the coaches, director, and guest masterclasses were knowledgeable, collaborative, and enriching, getting to work and prepare a scene under the tutelage and guidance of Ms. Eaglen was invaluable. I feel both my technique and stage craft have expanded and feel like I have more tools to continue further into this field. Aside from the wonderful learning and music, the atmosphere of the program was one of support, safety to try new things/techniques, and encouragement. I would gladly participate again.”

  • Gwenna Fairchild-Taylor, soprano

    “I had a really amazing time and am super grateful I had the opportunity to attend. I can’t tell you how much I needed it! It was lovely and super validating to connect and work with everybody and have the opportunity to sing this repertoire with other people who also sing it, learning with and from each other. I left with a renewed understanding of this things I’m needing to work on, but moreover I left feeling super inspired to do that work, I can’t thank you enough!”

  • Jenny Ribeiro, soprano

    “Your trust in my voice in turn caused me to find a level of contentment and trust in my own voice. Having a large voice doesn't mean to sing large, and I believe that finally sunk in for me at the Boston Wagner Institute this summer! I'm taking away a renewed energy and excitement and LOVE of singing. Not a lot of training programs can say that they've built up the singers by the end of it. Thank you.”