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Most people know Avigail as
a Music theatre performer and Cabaret artist, or as a voice
over artist and session singer, or even as a vocal coach and
Music Director, but not everybody is aware that Avigail has spent
a large part of her career as an educator and passionate advocate
for the training of Music theatre performers.
Since 1989, Avigail has been
associated with the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA)
beginning her time there as a singing tutor. However this position
grew substantially until in 1993, she took over the full time
position and became Head of Music. Whilst in this position Avigail
introduced many new and innovative courses into the school.
The second year actors undertook
a music theatre scenework exercise, working with the likes of
Nancye Hayes, John O'Connell and Tony Knight as well as Avigail.
This exercise fortunately is still part of the second year curriculum,
a legacy of Avigail's time there. She also introduced the following
at NIDA: A course for the Technical Production students on the
history of western music, which provided a chance for the students
to expand their musical knowledge in all forms; a general studies
programme for the post graduate students along similar lines;
and an acappella group made up of students from all courses which
performed professionally.
Avigail was a key element in
raising the profile of music theatre in the school. In the five
years from 1993 to 1997 , whilst Avigail was in the position
of Head of Music, NIDA third year students presented very successful
productions of Guys & Dolls (Tony Knight director,
Nancye Hayes choreographer and Avigail Herman music director)
and The Pajama Game (Tony Knight director, John O'Connell
choreographer, Avigail Herman music director). As well, there
were productions of musical plays such as Oh What a Lovely
War (John Clark director, Avigail Herman music director)
and Ghetto (Ros Horin director, Avigail Herman music director).
At this time also, the NIDA company (professional wing of NIDA)
undertook the workshopping of three new Australian Musicals,
Villain of Flowers and Nathaniel Storm by Anthony
Crowley and Wedding Song by Stephen Rae and Hillary Bell.
Avigail was intrinsically involved with the development of these
pieces.
But it wasn't until Avigail left the full time position that
her dream of creating a holistic music theatre course at NIDA
came to fruition. In 1999, Avigail along with Keith Bain developed
the Singer, Dancer, Actor course. A one year part time Music
Theatre course to train young people in the art of becoming a
triple threat, (someone who can integrate all three skills to
become a believable character in whatever medium). The course
has been an outstanding success, with many graduates finding
a place for themselves within the profession. As such it is a
growing concern and one which Avigail hopes will continue into
a full time course.
Avigail's particular teaching
expertise is in the area of the integration of music and text
or the art of story telling through song. As such, she was invited
as a guest lecturer for a semester at Carnegie Mellon University
in Pittsburgh USA.
Her Masterclasses are in demand
and she has taken workshops for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival,
Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP), NIDA Summer School,
Queensland Performing Arts Trust (QPAT) and the Talent Development
Unit for the NSW Department of Education.
Her other teaching credits
include: setting up the Music Department for David Atkin's one
time performing arts school "Dynamite"; a syllabus
consultant for TAFE's Music Theatre Certificate; teaching score
reading to the Opera House Stage Managers and working with the
third year NIDA students on studio work (ie voice overs etc).
Such is the quality and diversity
of Avigail's teaching that she is in constant and high demand
from institutions and organisations everywhere, particularly
those that specialise in the genre of music theatre.
Download Avigail's CV (PDF)
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