Eric Strong, baritone, received his Bachelor
of Arts in Musical Theatre from Christopher Newport University in Virginia, ranked as one of the top liberal arts colleges
in the nation by both U.S.News & World Report and the Princeton Review. Eric first entered college with the intention
to play football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, but found his true passion on the stage instead of the gridiron. He signed
up for an acting class, found his way to a private voice teacher, and was soon catapulted into a completely new direction
and a new career.
Eric enjoyed two summers under full
Scholarship at New York's Seagle Music Colony, a breeding ground for budding singers, under the direction of Fort Worth Opera's
Artistic Director, Darin Keith Woods. While there, he performed the roles of Danilo in The Merry Widow, The
Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance, and Conrad Birdie in Bye Bye Birdie. As an apprentice at the
Chautauqua Young Artist Program, Eric played Schaunard in La Boheme and Boatswain HMS Pinafore.
His other roles include Gianni Schicchi in Gianni Schicchi, Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, and Pontius
Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar. He landed operatic and musical theatre roles throughout the years, such as
Curly in Oklahoma! at the highly respected Augusta Opera, and Ettienne Grande in the Operetta, Naughty Marrietta,
at the famous Utah Festival Opera. Eric's NYC debut was performing the starring role of Heathcliff in an Off-Broadway
Musical version of Wuthering Heights.
Eric
studied vocal technique extensively with Sondra Gelb, who has sung with the Metropolitan Opera, NY City Opera & San Francisco
Opera. His classical training and his amazingly versatile voice has served him well in performing operatic and
musical theatre repertoire over the years. He combines that training with his extensive stage experience to offer students
a comprehensive approach to singing that incorporates the acting discipline and vocal technique to bring forth a performance
that is honest, real and powerful. Eric's teaching stresses HEALTHY vocal technique, based on solid breath support and
tension-free sound production, as an extension of the speaking voice. He believes in building voices organically,
guiding students through the process of discovering their own authentic core sound, and then maximizing that potential by
helping them to tap into the emotional center in the music.
