Oxford – The American Spiritual Ensemble (ASE), at Miami University under the Cromer/Flory Artist-in-Residence Program February 23-25, gave two stunning masterclasses during their stay on the Oxford campus.

Several members of the 30-voice ensemble listened and coached sixteen of MU’s vocal students on Wednesday and Thursday, February 23-24, in each case bringing out particular aspects of each singer’s vocal technique, thought processes, musical approaches, and audience engagement.

In almost every case, the results were stunning and obvious to the listeners in the audience, bringing cheers as well as tears over and over again as each singer seemed to reach the audience with new discoveries of connecting with the music. “It was an amazing experience, said MU trumpet teacher James Olcott. “I sat in on another Cromer/Flory Artist-in-Residence masterclass with mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves in 2002, and it was the first time I had really been moved by what a presenter was able to elicit from a vocal student. This was the same, but more, because student after student seemed to blossom, really blossom.”

High praise for MU vocal students. The sessions also brought out the strength of the vocal department at Miami. The ASE members continually praised the students and the level of talent and teaching. “I am awestruck by the level of talent and technical ability of your students,” said ASE director Everett McCorvey, who was one of the most amazing coaches of the sessions. Hope Koehler, another member of the ASE and professor of voice at West Virginia University, remarked, “This is an absurdly talented and well-prepared group of students.”

The ASE gave a performance of its own in Hall Auditorium on Friday night, itself a stunning display of vocal solo and ensemble artistry. The Miami University Chamber Singers, under the direction of William Bausano was featured in three tunes of their own, then joined with the ASE for two works.

The Cromer/Flory Performing Artist-in-Residence Program, born in 1996, was created to bring distinguished performers to Miami to work with students and offer public performances. The program was made possible by Dick Schiewetz and designed to honor his two sisters, Miami alumnae Betty Schiewetz Cromer and the late Mary Eleanor Schiewetz Flory.

Previous music-related Cromer/Flory artists have included clarinetist Richard Stoltzman (2000), mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves (2002), the Canadian Brass (2004), the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio (2006), and the Bang on a Can All-Stars (2008). J.O.