American tenor Kip Wilborn, whose performing career has taken him across North American and Europe, dazzled Island Pacific Academy students and faculty alike during a recent guest visit for the IPA Performance Series.
American tenor Kip Wilborn now resides on Oahu. (photo courtesy www.kipwilborn.com)
Wilborn’s repertoire includes classical opera, concert orchestra performances, and leading roles in popular Broadway stage musicals. As an opera singer engagements have taken him to the San Francisco Opera, Opéra National de Paris, New York City Opera, Seattle Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Cleveland Opera, Cincinnati Opera, San Diego Opera, Volksoper Vienna, Trieste’s Teatro Giuseppe Verdi, Essen’s Aalto Theater, Berlin’s Theater des Westens, Dublin Grand Opera, and Wexford Festival. Favorite roles within his repertoire include Cavaradossi in Tosca, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Calaf in Turandot, Pelléas in Pelleas et Melisande, Don José in Carmen, Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana , and Siegmund in Die Walkure. (source: http://www.kipwilborn.com/site/bio)
Wilborn as Hoffmann in a 2009 production of Les Contes D’Hoffmann. (photo courtesy www.kipwilborn.com)
During the performance session Wilborn was asked what inspired him to pursue a career in music. According to Wilborn, “I came out of the womb singing, made noises in pitch, and began playing piano by ear at the age of five. Music is simply part of who I am.” What he loves most about about music is how it can reach out and enrich the lives of the people in the audience. “Music connects us to our feelings and emotions. Singing the lyrics of a song help tell a story and gives people a moment out of their regular life.” The power of music to move people and affect emotions is, Wilborn admits, “very cool.”
Wilborn as Siegmund in a 2010 production of Die Walkure. (photo courtesy www.kipwilborn.com)
Wilborn had advice for students interested in a pursuing music, especially singing, as a career. “Get a great music teacher. Learn technique. Practice scales and study,” he said. For those thinking of musical theatre he also suggested taking classical acting lessons. “I was a pretty good (okay, great) actor in opera, but when I moved to theatre I had to learn a lot.” As an example of the importance of being a good actor as well as a singer, Wilborn said he thought Hugh Jackman as Jean Beljean in Les Misérables was “a great acting choice” because for that role, “acting talent was more important than vocals.”
Wilborn graciously took photos with some of IPA’s star-struck faculty as well as students.
Wilborn told the IPA audience that one of his dream roles was Otello. “It was such a thrill,” he said. “Playing the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera was a great ride as well.” Asked if he ever got stage fright Wilborn replied, “I’m semi-retired now and when my wife and I moved to Hawaii the decision was ‘no more leading roles.’ Now, on the occasions that I do sing, I’m more nervous than when I was performing on stage.”
Click here to hear samples of Kip Wilborn performing.
Read about other artists who have shared their time and talent with our students through IPA’s Performance Series:
- Ron Artis II and Thunderstorm: Sons of the well-known musician and muralist Ron Artis. Their style includes many genres like blues, soul, rock, jazz, and rap.
- Doug Fitch: Grammy-nominated guitarist, songwriter and singer. His style is that of a fusion artist playing American folk with Hawaiian slack key.
- Pōmaikaʻi Keawe Lyman: listen to the voice of this young woman who resembles a beloved Aunty Genoa Keawe (her tutu) in her younger years.
