In 2001, as head of the Opera Studio at Düsseldorf's prestigious Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Laurence Dale was confronted by the necessity of formalizing his coaching and teaching process. With twelve young student singers soon to be put on stage next to seasoned and highly experienced professionals, these young artists needed help. Urgently.
Rapidly, Laurence Dale formalized all he had gleaned from the many teachers with whom he has studied, colleagues with whom he had sung throughout his professional career, and allied with his own experiences, developed an efficient and effective way of helping singers develop an understanding of their techniques, rapidly allowing them to develop their own personalities and individuality through their voices.
The most important requirement for him was to give them confidence, assurance and independence through their training ...
and understand that essentially, singing is simple!
Laurence Dale's training started in as a schoolboy in Brighton having been introduced to the Garcia technique through local teacher John Freestone. He was aided by Dame Eva Turner from the age of 16 years and studied at London's Guildhall School of Music (where he was the only student awarded a diploma with distinction).His voice teacher there was Rudolf Piernay.
Meanwhile he furthered his studies with Richard Miller from the prestigious Oberlin University, in Salzburg and Paris and then in Los Angeles, he studied alongside Michael Jackson and Madonna with the celebrated Seth Riggs.
Apart from his numerous experiences with many of the world's finest conductors, be it in the baroque or classic spheres of repertoire, he gleaned vast knowledge from his relationships and work with Peter Pears, Ernst Haefliger, José van Dam, René Jacobs and Ernesto Palacio.
He has given masterclasses in France and Holland, both North and South America and during three years in South Africa, earning the reputation of a "Voice Doctor", through his ability to help artists resolve problems and set them rapidly back on the tracks of a successful career!
In 2013, at short notice he replaced star soprano Sylvia Sass in masterclasses for Art'scenes, Nantes https://www.facebook.com/Lesartscenes which were such a success that he is reinvited for 2014 too.
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Also in 2013, he gave masterclasses in Haydn and Mozart with David Stern and Jay Bernfeld with Opera Fuoco at the Mona Bismarck American Arts Center, Paris.
He has also collaborated with Co-Opera Company in artist coaching for their production of La Bohème.
He believes that coaching is not merely based on interpretation and technique.
Laurence Dale also believes in "professional coaching", as a means to a successful professional career.
He teaches in Paris, Rome or on tour, and whilst he works with all vocal types and styles from baroque to verismo, he is particularly sought after by tenors wishing to learn more of the technique of 19th century French repertoire of which he is regarded a specialist.
