Soprano Clara Rottsolk has been lauded by The New York Times for her “clear, appealing voice and expressive conviction” and by The Philadelphia Inquirer for the “opulent tone [with which] every phrase has such a communicative emotional presence.” In a repertoire extending from the Renaissance to the contemporary, her solo appearances have taken her across the United States, the Middle East, Japan, and South America.
PHOTO: 2020 Finalists. Left to right. Dr Thomas Lloyd (Artistic Director, BCCS), Ellie Kuhnle, Chloe Thum, Grant Nalty, Sierra Safran, and Clara Rottsolk (guest clinician).
Choral Society Announces Winners of 2020 Voices of the Future Competition
Doylestown, PA- The Bucks County Choral Society is pleased to announce the winners of Voices of the Future, a classical singing competition for students in grades 10-12 who live in or attend school in Bucks County. Sierra Safran (Central Bucks West), won the grand prize of $1,000 at the conclusion of a master class on March 1, 2020 at The Conservatory in Doylestown. The master class was conducted by renowned soprano soloist and voice teacher Clara Rottsolk. A native of Seattle, Ms. Rottsolk earned her music degrees at Rice University and Westminster Choir College, and was awarded for musical excellence by the Metropolitan Opera National Council (Northwest Region). Currently she is based in Philadelphia and teaches voice at Swarthmore, Haverford and Bryn Mawr Colleges.
Three additional finalists, Ellie Kuhnle (Central Bucks West), Grant (Nalty (Central Bucks West), and Chloe Thum (Gwynedd Mercy Academy H.S.), each received a prize of $500. All four finalists were accompanied by Roburt Gajdos.
Through the Voices of the Future program, the Choral Society seeks to kindle a passion for choral music in high school students, foster high standards of musicianship, support the professional development of outstanding young singers, and promote choral excellence while inspiring personal development.
Several Voices of the Future finalists performed at the annual fundraising gala for the Choral Society on March 7, 2020 at Barley Sheaf Farm in Holicong, PA. All four of the finalists were scheduled to perform at the final concert of the Choral Society’s 2019-2020 season, Bucks County’s Own: Hammerstein & Sondheim, at 4:00 pm on May 17, 2020 at Central Bucks West High School in Doylestown.