On the surface, Katie Garland is a typical teenager. She enjoys school (her favorite subject is history), socializes with her classmates and aspires to sing professionally.
But Garland isn't looking to make it as the next American Idol; instead, she prefers to follow the footsteps of Maria Callas and pursue the classical art form of opera.
Garland, a Winter Haven resident and senior at Harrison School for the Arts in Lakeland, became versed in opera during her eighth-grade year at Jewett School of the Arts, after her chorus teacher recommended private lessons. With her family's support, Garland sought the services of Ginger Statom, a private voice teacher formerly of Polk County. The moment she heard an aria by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Garland was hooked.
"I was introduced to a whole world of classical music that I didn't even know I was capable of singing," Garland says.
Statom, who classically trained about 25 students before recently moving to Tennessee, says Garland's interest in classical training was genuine from the start.
"Her voice was incredibly developed for her age," Statom says. "She works hard, she listened to recordings outside of what I assigned to her - she just wants to be observing and learning classical musical all the time. It was like having an adult student."
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Katie Garland, a Harrison School of the Arts Student, works with John Thomasson, associate professor of voice and director of the opera theater at Florida Southern College, during a voice lesson in October.
Paul Crate / News Chief |
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Because the voice of a female opera singer typically does not mature until the woman is in her mid- to late 20s, one of the first lessons Statom taught Garland was forming good vocal habits, including proper breathing. Without proper training, some people form such bad habits as developing tension on the vocal apparatus as well as lifting the shoulders and chin to mimic the sounds of more matured voices.
Garland's training with Statom prepared her for instruction at Harrison School for the Arts. Because a school policy mandates that Garland study with a teacher on the school's faculty, her training with Statom came to a halt; however, after not being pleased with how her voice was progressing, Garland received permission to return to her studies with Statom.
Judy McLaurin, the choral director at Harrison School for the Arts, said Garland's voice stood out the first day she stepped foot on the school's campus.
"She had an extraordinary voice for a ninth-grader," McLaurin says. "Usually, ninth-graders' voices are not as rich and pure."
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Using sheet music, high school student Katie Garland trains her voice with the help of voice teacher John Thomasson, not pictured.
Paul Crate / News Chief |
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McLaurin says the programs at Harrison School for the Arts are designed to help vocal students like Garland grow their instrument at a proper pace. Because Garland's voice was advanced for her age, McLaurin says, she required an accelerated program that required her to learn German earlier, among other things.
McLaurin also says it is important to provide Garland with the right musical literature, so she can build the proper muscles and chords. She compares the process to training an athlete for the Olympics, making sure the athlete has properly developed her muscles to excel in her sport.
In 2008, Garland participated in the Bach Festival of Central Florida, directed by Statom's husband, Gabe Statom. Garland was in the festival's chamber choir, which she says consisted of 16 chosen individuals from the festival's chorus, of which she was the youngest member.
Statom says her pupil's commitment to the Bach Festival was impressive, as she was at every practice singing Bach contatas with her fellow chorus members, who were predominantly adult.
"Some teenagers just want to be with other teenagers, but as long as it's music related, she would hang with anyone," Statom adds.
Since Statom's move, Garland studies with Dr. John Thomasson, a vocal professor at Florida Southern College. Garland says she has learned different lessons from each teacher, which she hopes will help her in applying to conservatories for next year. She says Statom taught her how to interpret text and show it in body language without altering her vocal resonance, while Thomasson has trained her in the technical aspects of the operatic sound and how small changes in the way a singer positions the mouth or eyebrows can affect sound.
One of the reasons Garland enjoys opera so much is that it incorporates acting.
"You have to convey emotions while singing," she says. "I can't dance; I can sing and I can act, and opera's got both of those."
Among her many accomplishments, Garland sang with the Lake Wales Chorale at Carnegie Hall in 2008. That year, she participated in the Lake Wales Fine Arts Competition and won first place in the voice division.
Despite her achievements, Garland admits there have been struggles. Whether it's not seeing eye to eye with a teacher or not receiving a role for which she auditioned, Garland says she can become discouraged.
"I've learned to take the good with the bad," she says. "I remember not making it into certain choirs and being devastated, but I can't let that interfere with what I want to do... I think about all the things I have accomplished. If I was such a horrible singer, how could I have accomplished what I've done?"
She adds, "Singing has really given me a focus in my life. I have a long-term goal, and I am determined to reach it."
