Paul Klenk | The Official Site

November 12, 2009 – Recently I came across an excellent interview with the legendary operatic singer Leontyne Price. You can watch it below in a new YouTube playlist.

I’ve been a singer since I was very young, but I never became interested in studying voice until high school.  It wasn’t until college that I became serious about studying (when voice usurped piano as my major), and not until 2003 that I found a teacher who truly transformed my voice into what it was meant to be (Michael K. Warren of New York City).

Singing is a passion for many people, but a surprisingly low percentage of teachers know even the first thing about how the voice works, let alone how to pass that knowledge on to a student through training. For this reason, singers often languish in frustration, give up trying, or lower their standards and pronounce their mediocrity as excellence.  Some stumble on a modicum of success purely by accident, or due to innate talent coupled with repeated effort, not because of what they’re being taught.

Listening to Ms. Price reminded me of the majesty of the voice, the importance of setting very high standards, and the pleasure of discovering the beauty of your instrument.

I hope this interview inspires singers everywhere.



This video was produced by the National Endowment of the Arts Opera Honors program.  – p.k.