Vocal coach looking for students

WANTAGE — Vocal coach Armen Boyjian has opened a studio in Wantage.

He will accept students who audition for him, and show potenial for opera, recital and oratorio.

According to a news release, Boyajian is one of the foremost coaches in the world and has been a concert pianist, accompanist and conductor.

After a short period of study at Juilliard, he went on to receive a teaching degree from Montclair State College. He continued with his studies with pianist Grace Castagnett, and made his professional debut with the North Jersey Philharmonic in 1954, performing the Khatchaturian Piano Concerto, and subsequently the Rachmaninoff Second Piano Concerto, and the Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin.

During this time, he was attending performances at the Metropolitan Opera House, and worked as an accompanist in the major vocal studios in New York City. in 1958, feeling the need to create a proving ground for talented young singers, he founded the Paterson Lyric Opera Theatre. During its 15-year existence, the workshop became an important stepping stone to major careers for many singers, such as Paul Plishka and Samuel Ramey, performing at the Metropolitan, La Scala, and other presigious international opera companies. As he developed further as a vocal coach and teacher, his services were sought by many other leading opera artists. He has been a vocal coach to well-known artists such as Mignon Dunn, rosaland Elias, Lili Ghookasian, Giorgio Tozzi, John Relyea and Eric Owens.

He also had a long career as a recital accompanist, starting with the young Beverly Sills, and international tours with many others.

He has since settled in Wantage. He can be reached at 973-875-8984.