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ABOUT AUSTIN LARUSSON
Austin Larusson is a baritone originally from Victoria,
British Columbia, Canada, who now makes his home in New York
City. He is a recent graduate of the Manhattan School of
Music, where he completed his Masters degree in Classical
Voice Performance, studying with the renowned soprano and
educator Joan Patenaude-Yarnell. Undergraduate work was
completed at the University of Toronto where Austin was
awarded a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance. Although a
performance major, Austin also studied vocal pedagogy
extensively, and his passion for the science, the learning
process, and the art behind the singing voice is ongoing.
Previous performances include ensemble work in Erewhon with
Pacific Opera Victoria, and Anne of Green Gables: The
Musical with the Victoria Operatic Society. Austin has also
appeared with the Victoria Conservatory of Music Opera
Studio in Opera X-Posed (Papageno) and La Vide Breve
(Manuel). Austin has also performed operatic and musical
theater excerpts with the Victoria Conservatory of Music
Summer Vocal Academy from works such as Sweeny Todd, A
Little Night Music, Into the Woods, and Die Zauberflöte. In
Toronto, Austin appeared with the University of Toronto
Opera Division in The Pirates of Penzance and Semele as a
member of the ensemble. He was delighted to portray Dr.
Cajus in Die Lustige Weiber von Windsor, and Antonio in Le
Nozze di Figaro, also with the Opera Division. Other
previous performances include the premiere of the new work
We Shall Overcome, a vocal quartet written by Faculty of
Music composer Scott Good for the World Aids Day
Presentation at Hart House in December of 2005, as well as
solo recitals.
Austin has won awards from the Greater Victoria Performing
Arts Festival, The Victoria Conservatory of Music, and The
National Association of Teachers of Singing, and he was also
a scholarship recipient from the Manhattan School of Music.
He is also fluent in French, has a working knowledge of
German, and an introduction to Spanish, Czech and Russian
diction. Austin had the privilege of studying the Italian
language at Centro Studi Lirica in Novafeltria, Italy, where
he coached with the renowned Ubaldo Fabbri. In Italy, Austin
also performed operatic excerpts from Don Pasquale (Malatesta),
Le Nozze di Figaro (Figaro), Don Giovanni (Masetto), and La
Boheme (Marcello).
Performances in New York include The Araboolies of Liberty
Street (Popoolie Araboolie) and Griffelkin (Lion I) with the
Manhattan School of Music Opera Studio. Other performances
at the Manhattan School include the role of Junius in
Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia, and the roles of Morales and
Guglielmo in programs of excerpts from Carmen and Cosi fan
tutte, as well as solo recitals. Austin also appeared with
the Manhattan School’s Baroque Ensemble in the role of Elder
II in Handel’s Susannah and excerpts from Semele (Somnus).
Most recently, Austin appeared with the New York Opera
Studio as the title character in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin
at the Shetler Annex Theater in Manhattan.
Austin’s enthusiasm for the stage is equalled by his passion
for teaching, and he enjoys working with students of all
ages and levels. He is also on the faculties of the Woodmere
Academy of Music in Nassau County, and the Cooke Center
Academy in Manhattan. Austin is delighted to be a member of
the faculty at the Belle Arti Center for the Arts.
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OPERATIC
ROLES PERFORMED
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Eugene Onegin, Onegin, Nico and Carol Castel New York Summer
Opera Studio 2008
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Susanna (Handel), Elder II, Manhattan School of Music
Baroque Aria Ensemble 2008
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Carmen, Morales, Manhattan School of Music Mignon Dunn Role
Preparation Class 2007
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Griffelkin (Foss), Lion I, (Cover Performance) Manhattan
School of Music Opera Studio 2007
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The
Rape of Lucretia, Junius, Kenneth Merrill Accompanying
Seminar 2007
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The
Araboolies of Liberty Street, Popoolie Araboolie, MSM Opera
Studio 2007
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Le
Nozze di Figaro, Antonio, University of Toronto Opera
Division 2006
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Die
Lustige Weiber von Windsor, Dr. Cajus, University of Toronto
Opera Division 2005
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La
Vide Breve, Manuel, Victoria Conservatory of Music Opera
Studio 2002
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OPERATIC
EXCERPTS PERFORMED
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Semele, Somnus
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Don
Giovanni, Masetto
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Le
Nozze di Figaro, Figaro
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Die
Zauberflöte, Papageno
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Don
Pasquale, Malatesta
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La
Bohème, Marcello
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Cosi fan tutte, Guglielmo
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ADDITIONAL
PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE
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We Shall Overcome (S.Good), Baritone Soloist, University
of Toronto Hart House 2005
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Semele, Chorus, University of Toronto Opera Division
2005
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The Pirates of Penzance, Chorus, University of Toronto
Opera Division 2004
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Erewhon (L. Applebaum), Chorus, Pacific Opera Victoria
2000
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AWARDS AND
SCHOLARSHIPS
EDUCATION
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Master of Music in Voice Performance, Manhattan School of
Music 2006 - 2008
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Manhattan School of Music Dona Vaughn Opera Workshop 2006 -
2008
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Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance, University of
Toronto 2002 - 2006
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Centro Studi Lirica, Novafeltria, Italy Summer 2006
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Victoria Conservatory of Music
Summer
Vocal Academy 2004 / 2005
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Victoria Conservatory of Music Opera Studio 2001 - 2002
TEACHERS
Joan Patenaude-Yarnell
Lorna MacDonald
Karen Smith
COACHES
Cristina Stanescu
Marianne Barrett
Glenn Morton
DIRECTORS
Gordon Ostrowski
Michael Albano
Tom Diamond
CONDUCTORS
Kenneth Merrill
Sandra Horst
Kenneth Cooper
ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND SKILLS
Dance, Francis Patrelle
Acting, Rhoda Levine
Fluent in English and French
Working knowledge of Italian
Basic knowledge of German
Six years of Piano Studies
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TEACHING EXPERIENCE
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Music Teacher at Cooke Center Academy, a private high school
for students with special needs.
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Instructing students in chorus, singing, keyboard skills and
music theory on a weekly basis.
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Voice, Beginner Piano and Theory teacher at Woodmere Academy
of Music.
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Instructing students ranging from six to seventy five years
in age.
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Toured New York City public schools with Manhattan School of
Music Opera Studio, Educational Outreach Division.
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Lectured students on operatic performance practice and
stagecraft as well as etiquette for the theater and the
process of preparation.
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Performed contemporary children’s opera The Araboolies of
Liberty Street.
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Part of Vocal Pedagogy Course, University of Toronto
(2004-2005)
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Studied the anatomy and physiology of the singing voice in
detail.
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Studied voice studio techniques and philosophies.
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Taught voice student for four months while preparing and
submitting lesson plans and documenting progress.
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Mr. Larusson Teaching
Philosophy
"Learning to sing is a rewarding and exciting process that
requires creativity and dedication. I believe this must take place
in an environment that is comfortable and nurturing, and I strive
to adapt to my students' individual needs and goals."
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Antonio in Le Nozze di
Figaro, |
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