Voice
William Scott, Chair
Riki Connaughton (R&C)
Laura Schweibacher (R & C)
(C) = Canandaigua, (R & C) = both Rochester and Canandaigua locations. All others teach in Rochester.
Instrument/Department: Voice (soprano)
Joined Hochstein faculty in: 1999 as substitute; 2000 as regular faculty
Hometown: Pensacola, Florida.
Favorite place to travel: Seattle, Washington.
Favorite or most influential teachers were: Professor Roy Delp, Voice Department Chair at Florida State University’s College of Music.
When I’m not at Hochstein, you can find me: working in my vegetable and flower gardens in the company of my pet hens.
People with whom/Places I’ve performed include: Don’t Tell Mama Cabaret in Manhattan; Westminster Choir College Chapel; Merkin Concert Hall in Manhattan.
My favorite book is: anything written by Jasper Fforde and Laurie R. King.
My pets include: a wonderful cat, four hens, and three cockatiels.
Favorite things to do in Rochester are: visit the HUGE variety of one-of-a-kind artisan
shops and studios; this city is filled with amazing artists of all kinds!
People would be surprised to know that I: am really into British sportscars of the 1960’s.
What I most admire about my students is: they love to laugh and it makes them better performers.
My favorite restaurant is: Warfield’s in Clifton Springs, NY.
Find out more on my website: www.sboysen.com and YouTube: DrSBoysen
Doctor of Music in Voice Performance and Master of Music in Voice Performance from Florida State University. Manhattan cabaret debut in 2001 at NYC's Don't Tell Mama Cabaret. Held teaching internship from the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and Artist Fellowship from Bach Aria Festival. Studied/coached with Roy Delp, Carol Webber and Timothy Hoekman. Performed throughout the Philippines and in roles with Mobile Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Pensacola Opera, Opera Rochester and others, as well as on Live from Hochstein. Recitalist throughout U.S. and frequent soloist with Rochester Oratorio Society, the Eastman School of Music, Cornell, and others. Performed world premiere of works by composer Paul Stuart in 2003 and 2007. Former faculty member at Nazareth College.
Instrument/Department: Voice, Mezzo-soprano
Joined Hochstein Faculty in: 1998
Mezzo-soprano Riker Connaughton has extensive opera and oratorio credits. Oratorio repertoire includes Verdi’s Requiem, Mendelsohn’s Elijah, Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s St. Matthew’s Passion, Mass in b minor, Christmas Oratorio as well as numerous Bach Cantatas; Mozart’s Grand Mass, Requiem, as well as several additional Mozart works. Her opera credits include Baba in The Medium, the Mother in Hansel und Gretel, and the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors, as well as lead roles in several world premiers.
Recently Riki has been a guest recitalist in the Rochester Bach Festival and the Fort Collins Colorado Bach Festival. She performed Verdi’s Requiem with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Durufle Requiem at Trinity Church Southport (CT), Handle’s Messiah with the Youngstown Ohio Symphony, and was solo artist in three productions of Music in the Bloomfields NY in conjunction with musicians from the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. She has appeared as soloist and guest artist for many area orchestras, colleges and organizations including the Eastman Philharmonia, Eastman School of Music, Hobart College, State University and Geneseo, Finger Lakes Chorale, Eastman Rochester Chorale, Opera Theater of Rochester, Genessee Valley Orchestra and Chorale, and Cobblestone Arts Center, to name some.
Riki is Alto soloist at Third Presbyterian Church in Rochester. She has participated in several CD recordings, most recently Calm on the Listening Ear of Night, which has been aired on WXXI’s “With Heart and Voice.” She is past Chair of the Friends of Eastman Opera Board and Friends of Eastman Opera’s Annual Voice Competition.
Bachelor of Arts from the University of Rochester. Received vocal training from Tri-Cities Opera in Binghamton and the Eastman School of Music. Has appeared in many opera productions in the Rochester area. Also appeared with the Youngstown, Ohio Symphony and at the Fort Collins, Colorado Bach Festival.
Instrument/Department: Voice
Joined Hochstein Faculty in: 1988
Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music; Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Roberts Wesleyan College. Extensive performance background with such groups as the Rochester Oratorio Society, the Genesee Valley Orchestra and Chorus, the Finger Lakes Chorale and the Penfield Symphony Orchestra. Current faculty member at Roberts Wesleyan College music department.
Instrument/Department: Voice, Soprano
Joined Hochstein Faculty in: 2009
Hometown: Jefferson City, MO.
Favorite place to travel: Europe.
Favorite or most influential teachers were: My college voice teacher was a mentor to me. Her name was Nancy Thompson Jones.
When I’m not at Hochstein, you can find me: I love to explore the Western NY countryside with my family.
People with whom/Places I’ve performed include: Before moving to Rochester to attend Eastman, I performed in a variety of venues in NYC, Northern California, Northern Italy, Illinois, Mississippi and Arkansas. My work includes performing in leading operatic roles, church soloist and cantor positions, cabarets and recitals.
My favorite book is: I prefer to read mostly non-fiction books, including manuals on vocal pedagogy and, most especially, Elizabethan history.
My pets include: I have two pampered cats: Mignon (named after Met mezzo-soprano, Mignon Dunn) and Eliza Doolittle (named for the central character in the musical, My Fair Lady).
Favorite things to do in Rochester are: I love to take my young daughter to local farms to pick fruit or to the carousel at the beach in Charlotte.
People would be surprised to know that I: am a tremendous fan of jazz music as well as classic rock and roll and that I’d like to be reincarnated as a gospel singer or a lead singer in a rock band.
What I most admire about my students is: I admire my students for their willingness to try out new ideas in the studio and to go beyond their “comfort zones.”
Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance and Literature from Eastman School of Music (minor in Opera Stage Production); Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from University of Illinois; Master of Music in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Southern Mississippi; Bachelor of Music from Central Methodist College. Taught voice at University of Rochester and Illinois Wesleyan University. Performed operatic roles with California Music Festival, Eastman Opera Theatre, Harlem Opera Company, Hudson Opera Theatre, Southern Light Opera, and Opera in the Ozarks, among others. Active as a church musician, and serves as Soprano Soloist/Section Leader of the First Baptist Church in Rochester.
Instrument/Department: Voice
Joined Hochstein Faculty in: 1979
Additional position(s) at Hochstein: Chair, Voice Department
Master of Science degree from the University of Buffalo with additional work at the Manhattan School of Music, the University of Missouri and SUNY Brockport; Bachelor of Science degree from SUNY Fredonia. Lifetime member of the Music Educators National Conference and the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA)in which he served on National and State Committees. 2004 recipient of the NYSSMA Distinguished Service Award. Past Urban Chair for NYSSMA and member of the Multicultural Committee and Awards and Recognition Committee of NYSSMA. Certified All-State Vocal Adjudicator for NYSSMA and frequent guest conductor for area All-State choirs and All-County choirs throughout New York State. Public school music educator for over 35 years; adjunct professor of choir, Alfred University.
Instrument/Department: Voice
Joined Hochstein Faculty in: 1992
Master's degree and Performer's Certificate from the Eastman School of Music; Bachelor's degree from Boston University. Appeared as mezzo soloist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Rochester Oratorio Society and the Boston Symphony. Won Audience Prize in CyberSing 2002, a global Internet art song competition. Has performed roles in opera and musical theatre, creating roles in several world premiere operas. Active recitalist and recording artist with two solo CD's produced for SongBurst Records and contemporary works for Albany Records. Longtime church soloist, member of Madrigalia chamber choir, and cofounder of the Rochester Vocal Arts Collaborative in 2001.
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