Shanul Sharma Tenor
Update from Pesaro, Italy
03/05/17 01:55
Dearest Friends,
I hope this finds you well.
This might be old news to some of you, but I just wanted to share that I spent most of my last week in Pesaro, Italy which is the birthplace of the great 'Bel Canto’ composer Gioachino Rossini. I was there competing in the ‘Canto Lirico’ (singing) category of the annual ‘City of Pesaro’ music competition.
I am happy to announce that I won my category and this automatically qualified me as a finalist for the other major award, the ‘Rossini International’ where I competed alongside another singer, a pianist, a flautist and a mandolinist. In this I was a joint winner with the pianist which made me very happy yet again.
The following day all the winners from their respective categories gave one final performance to compete for the overall ‘Heart of Pesaro’ prize and trophy which I am happy to say, I also won!!
It has been a truly incredible week for me and I wanted to share some of these moments with you.
Thank you yet again for all your support and best wishes; it’s what keeps me going!!
Warmest regards
Shanul
I hope this finds you well.
This might be old news to some of you, but I just wanted to share that I spent most of my last week in Pesaro, Italy which is the birthplace of the great 'Bel Canto’ composer Gioachino Rossini. I was there competing in the ‘Canto Lirico’ (singing) category of the annual ‘City of Pesaro’ music competition.
I am happy to announce that I won my category and this automatically qualified me as a finalist for the other major award, the ‘Rossini International’ where I competed alongside another singer, a pianist, a flautist and a mandolinist. In this I was a joint winner with the pianist which made me very happy yet again.
The following day all the winners from their respective categories gave one final performance to compete for the overall ‘Heart of Pesaro’ prize and trophy which I am happy to say, I also won!!
It has been a truly incredible week for me and I wanted to share some of these moments with you.
Thank you yet again for all your support and best wishes; it’s what keeps me going!!
Warmest regards
Shanul
Hello from Wales 2
28/03/17 06:55
My Dear Friends,
First of all sorry for not being in touch for so long. This term at WIAV has remained quite busy with assessments and my fleeting trips back home have only added to it. But, the good news is that a lot has happened since my last email to you and I am happy to share some of it with you.
I visited Italy for the first time during Christmas time and it was a trip I will never forget. It truly is an amazing part of the world. Florence especially managed to carve it’s way in to my heart and I will remember the Tuscan sunset on Christmas day forever. Another fond memory I have is that of touring La Scala and then watching Madama Butterfly there same night. Very special indeed!
The Italian trip lasted for about 10 days and I was back in Cardiff on the 31st of Dec for a traditional and long running New Year’s Day concert just outside the city in a Welsh village. After the concert I had many people commenting on the presentation and excellent choice of repertoire and that they don’t recall many standing ovations since the inception of this concert 30 years ago! Needless to say I was very proud to have sung there and was joined by my fellow Aussie Nathan Lay and our head of music Jane Samuel.
I initially had plans to come to Australia during mid January for a couple of weeks for a few concerts but had to alter my plans as Mo.Richard Bonynge was arriving in Cardiff from the 16th, 17th and 18th of January which also happened to be the first three days back after the Christmas break. I tried to run several permutations but ultimately decided that I could only make it to ‘Opera in the Alps’ and after working with with Mo.Bonynge on the 16th and 17th, made it to Melbourne on the 19th of January to sing at Beechworth on the 21st and then fly back to Cardiff on the 22nd! It was fun, and I repeated this formula for ‘Opera in the Market’ in February. Amazing that we can go back and forth around the world in such little time! The feedback from both the Australian concerts was great and it was really nice to be back home and catch up with some of you.
Through the academy I have continued to have performance opportunities in London, Swansea and other places around Wales which has kept me busy. I also gave my first ever art song recital and learnt new ways of interpreting music and text.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 6 months to the day since I left Australia to embark on my musical journey and I have learnt much along the way. I am truly lucky to have good people around me who have pushed me to challenge my own limits and I feel like being on a path to the greatest self discovery ever.
In closing I’d like to say thank you once again for your kindness and support. I hope that you and your loved ones are keeping well and in the best of health and spirit. If you’d like to ask me any specific questions or know more about things here please don’t hesitate to ask me anytime.
Warmest regards
Shanul
First of all sorry for not being in touch for so long. This term at WIAV has remained quite busy with assessments and my fleeting trips back home have only added to it. But, the good news is that a lot has happened since my last email to you and I am happy to share some of it with you.
I visited Italy for the first time during Christmas time and it was a trip I will never forget. It truly is an amazing part of the world. Florence especially managed to carve it’s way in to my heart and I will remember the Tuscan sunset on Christmas day forever. Another fond memory I have is that of touring La Scala and then watching Madama Butterfly there same night. Very special indeed!
The Italian trip lasted for about 10 days and I was back in Cardiff on the 31st of Dec for a traditional and long running New Year’s Day concert just outside the city in a Welsh village. After the concert I had many people commenting on the presentation and excellent choice of repertoire and that they don’t recall many standing ovations since the inception of this concert 30 years ago! Needless to say I was very proud to have sung there and was joined by my fellow Aussie Nathan Lay and our head of music Jane Samuel.
I initially had plans to come to Australia during mid January for a couple of weeks for a few concerts but had to alter my plans as Mo.Richard Bonynge was arriving in Cardiff from the 16th, 17th and 18th of January which also happened to be the first three days back after the Christmas break. I tried to run several permutations but ultimately decided that I could only make it to ‘Opera in the Alps’ and after working with with Mo.Bonynge on the 16th and 17th, made it to Melbourne on the 19th of January to sing at Beechworth on the 21st and then fly back to Cardiff on the 22nd! It was fun, and I repeated this formula for ‘Opera in the Market’ in February. Amazing that we can go back and forth around the world in such little time! The feedback from both the Australian concerts was great and it was really nice to be back home and catch up with some of you.
Through the academy I have continued to have performance opportunities in London, Swansea and other places around Wales which has kept me busy. I also gave my first ever art song recital and learnt new ways of interpreting music and text.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 6 months to the day since I left Australia to embark on my musical journey and I have learnt much along the way. I am truly lucky to have good people around me who have pushed me to challenge my own limits and I feel like being on a path to the greatest self discovery ever.
In closing I’d like to say thank you once again for your kindness and support. I hope that you and your loved ones are keeping well and in the best of health and spirit. If you’d like to ask me any specific questions or know more about things here please don’t hesitate to ask me anytime.
Warmest regards
Shanul
Hello from Wales
07/12/16 10:48
Dearest Friends,
I trust this email finds you all really well.
It's now been two whole months since I embarked on my musical journey and I am happy to report that so far so good; things are well and truly going to plan! The feedback on my singing has been very positive and my musicality especially has been highly praised. I have had one on one coachings with several high profile conductors, repetiteurs and language coaches and masterclasses with established artists such as Susan Bullock and Della Jones. One masterclass that I hold dear to me was the one with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa which was about a fortnight ago. She was very encouraging and helped me discover colours in my voice I never thought I had! She is truly an exceptional coach and an artist worthy of her accolades.
My lessons with maestro Dennis O’Neill have set me on a path to discovering my inner and outer voice. He is an amazing human being and vocal technician and can still sing most singers off the stage! The intense focus of his sound and teaching methodology is synonymous with ease. He is a great mentor and is hell bent on helping those who seek his knowledge; which believe me is vast!
I have also been given the opportunity to sing at concerts organised by the academy and have been received well by the public here. I guess being the only tenor this year has it’s benefits!
In closing I would like to add that none of the above would have been possible in the slightest without your generous contribution. I am very fortunate indeed to have all your support and I hope I prove to be a worthy recipient of your generosity.
With the warmest regards and sincerest gratitude.
Shanul
PS I also attach some photos in this email. Any questions/suggestions or if you’d just like to say hello, please drop me a line :)
I trust this email finds you all really well.
It's now been two whole months since I embarked on my musical journey and I am happy to report that so far so good; things are well and truly going to plan! The feedback on my singing has been very positive and my musicality especially has been highly praised. I have had one on one coachings with several high profile conductors, repetiteurs and language coaches and masterclasses with established artists such as Susan Bullock and Della Jones. One masterclass that I hold dear to me was the one with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa which was about a fortnight ago. She was very encouraging and helped me discover colours in my voice I never thought I had! She is truly an exceptional coach and an artist worthy of her accolades.
My lessons with maestro Dennis O’Neill have set me on a path to discovering my inner and outer voice. He is an amazing human being and vocal technician and can still sing most singers off the stage! The intense focus of his sound and teaching methodology is synonymous with ease. He is a great mentor and is hell bent on helping those who seek his knowledge; which believe me is vast!
I have also been given the opportunity to sing at concerts organised by the academy and have been received well by the public here. I guess being the only tenor this year has it’s benefits!
In closing I would like to add that none of the above would have been possible in the slightest without your generous contribution. I am very fortunate indeed to have all your support and I hope I prove to be a worthy recipient of your generosity.
With the warmest regards and sincerest gratitude.
Shanul
PS I also attach some photos in this email. Any questions/suggestions or if you’d just like to say hello, please drop me a line :)