Dr. Ken Querns-Langley, FRSM, VHP
- Founder & Principle Vocal Instructor
Dr. Querns-Langley is a Bel Canto specialist tenor with 20 roles including: Don Ottavio, Belmonte, Tamino, Almaviva, Idreno, title roles Roberto Devereux, La Clemenza di Tito & Otello (Rossini), roles in restored keys: Elvino Sonnambula & Percy Anna Bolena and adding Maria Stuarda, Mose, Elisabetta & Guillaume Tell. He is currently master teacher and the head of the Vocal Development programme at Olimpia College in Italy. He has a PhD in classical vocal pedagogy, bel canto historical performance practice and the reconstruction of historical singing practice. He has performed over 30 productions of opera & musical theatre, 20 master classes, recitals and concerts. He created the role of Bartholomew in the world premiere of Copernicus and Curley in the regional premiere of Carlisle Floyd’s Of Mice and Men. Ken received academic and vocal prizes totally over $60k. He served as voice department chair, music director & professor of acting at the Pennsylvania School of the Performing Arts, and has 15 years teaching experience at his International Bel Canto Vocal Studio with students in Japan, Denmark, Lebanon, India, the UK and America. Ken is the founder and General Director of the London Bel Canto Festival.
Ken holds a PhD in musicology from the Royal College of Music London where he was a doctoral research scholar. His PhD can be downloaded here. He researched bel canto historical performance practice successfully reconstructed the historical pedagogy of the early 19th century tenors. The book based on his PhD 'The Pharyngeal Voice: a Practical Resource' will be forthcoming. In August 2015 Ken attended the Pan-European Voice Conference (PEVOC) in Florence Italy with the preeminent researchers and voice scientists where he presented a poster discussing his research on the voce faringea. He also attended PEVOC 2013 in Prague.
Biography
At the age of 8, Ken began singing with school and church choirs as a boy soprano, however peculiarly, he had vibrato and began performing as soloist. He continued singing throughout high school into university, where in 1992 he began formal vocal tuition with Spinto Soprano Suzan Munzer. Ms. Munzer studied with Madame Gregory, a voice teacher at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, who was in the tradition of Marcella Sembrich and Lamperti.
At university, Ken won the Presidential Scholar, Distinguished Scholar & Achievement Scholarships and was made an Honors Scholar. He was the only student to receive all four honors in his class, and received the W. W. Smith Foundation Scholarship and he went on to graduate with both a Master's and Bachelor's degree. As an undergraduate: in 1994 Ken originated the role of Bartholomew in the World Premier musical "Copernicus," in 1996 recorded a CD of Early Music as part of the Choir of St. Luke's of the Epiphany, sang as soloist in nearly 25 concerts and master classes, and performed lead roles in 5 musicals and theatrical performances.
In 1997, Ken changed voice teachers, and began vocal tuition with another Lyrico Spinto Dramatico Soprano, Georgyn Geetlein from the Metropolitan Opera. Ms. Geetlein taught him how to bridge his passagio, and within a week was singing full-voiced 'Bb,' and soon thereafter the voice opened to a top ‘D.’ Ms. Geetlein studied with Madame Gregory at the Curtis Institute, then with the famed MET soprano Rose Bampton, who was trained by Queena Mario at The Curtis Institute of Music (who studied with Sembrich), then by Francis Alda and Lotte Lehmann, each in the tradition of Mathilde Marchesi (trained in the antique Spanish Manuel Garcia tradition).
Before completing his MAH, in 2000 Ken travel to Vevey Switzerland to for two months to study French. After receiving his MAH in 2001, Ken moved to London to continue his post-masters academic pursuits, and his operatic training. Ken continued voice lessons in London and remained in there, training with varous teachers and coaches from the National Opera Studio and English National Opera. Also while in London, he covered the role of Rodolfo in La Boheme at New London Opera and covered Alfred, played Frosch and sang chorus in Die Fledermaus with the European Chamber Opera. At that time, he also traveled to Spain as a musical consultant for a major label album, and worked as a screen writer for a feature film with PVK Pictures, Ltd.
After his time in London, Ken spent nearly two years in Modena, Italy where, for obvious reasons, he became fluent in Italian. During his time there he had the opportunity to spend two months in Venezia where he began to study with renowned voice teacher, Sherman Lowe, who is purported to be the "greatest teacher currently in Italy", and with whom Ken periodically continues to study. Also in Venezia Ken became good friends and subsequently coached with, a pianist Roberto Bertuzzi from La Scala di Milano and La Fenice opera houses.
Returning to Philadelphia brought Ken the opportunity to study with new teachers and coaches, and to sing at Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the role of Curley in the Regional Premier of "Of Mice and Men," by Carlisle Floyd with Center City Opera. Also, with the same company at the Kimmel Center, he covered the Role of Rodolfo in La Boheme, and sang roles and chorus in Il Trovatore, Il Barbiere of Siviglia, Romeo & Juliet. He has also been on the Opera Company of Philadelphia stage in The Pearl Fishers, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Le Nozze di Figaro, Falstaff, Norma, Fidelio & L'Italiana in Algeri. Ken is now teaching in London and Copenhagen, but also teaches internationally online.
Bruce Ford - Tenor
Dr. Querns' deep insight into the mechanics of building an operatic voice is invaluable to budding vocalists and prepares them for the difficult rigors of performing the great music of that time. His festival is truly a mecca for young singers!" - Bruce Ford
Why me?
As a voice teacher, I explain the use of legato, sostenuto (support) / appoggio, aggiustamento vocal acoustics and projection through demonstration and technical / physiological / anatomical explanations. This allows the student to produce a free and clear tone, projected correctly with proper space and ring for proper tone projection and teaches correct breath usage / control, without forcing or 'pushing'.
See what students say on the testimonials page.
Repertoire
Mozart
Mitridate/Marzio
Don Ottavio
Titus
Belmonte
Tamino
Mitridate
Don Giovanni
La Clemenza di Tito
Die Entfuhrung
Die Zauberflöte
Rossini
Otello/Rodrigo
Idreno
Otello (In Prep)
Semiramide
Bellini
Elvino
Pollione
Arturo
La Sonnambula
Norma
I Puritani
Donizetti
Tonio
Percy
Edgardo
La Fille du Regiment
Anna Bolena
Lucia
Gounod
Faust
Faust
Bizet
Nadir
Pearl Fishers
Puccini
Rodolfo
La Boheme
Floyd
Curley
Of Mice and Men
Ken is currently expanding his repertoire to include: Roberto Devereaux & Maria Stuarda by Donizetti, as well as the Rossini operas: 'Mose', 'Elisabetta, Regina d'Inghilterra' & 'Otello.'
He has also prepared many Baritone & Tenor arias, songs and oratorio from: Handel, Haydn (Lord Nelson Masse), Von Flotow (Martha), Carissini, Donaudy, Giordani, Stradella, Scarlatti, Malotte, Rossini, Bellini (Bianca e Fernando), Donizetti (Don Pasquale & La Favorita), Verdi (Luisa Miller), Puccini (Turandot), Cilea (L’Arlesianna & Adriana Lecouveur), Giordano (Fedora), Faure, Bizet (Carmen), Massenet (Herodiade, Le Cid & Manon), Strauss, Britten (Serenade for Tenor Horn & Strings), Barber, Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky (Rake’s Progress) and Weill (Street Scene).