Musician and Artist
The world of the arts has always been Ira's home. Whether sketching in his younger years while listening to his parents read aloud, painting landscapes based on the vivid terrain of the Pacific Northwest, playing the piano, or singing his favorite arias, Ira understands the importance of the arts in our world. His love for the performing arts was born in middle- and high-school where he participated in many musicals and plays, as well as choirs. This love was nurtured through college and his introduction to the world of opera, and on into grad school as he starred in several productions. Now that he is a part of the community at large, Ira is keenly aware of our culture's need to rediscover its identity through the arts and, specifically, music. Beyond performing, he does this particularly in two different ways:
Music DirectorAs a classically trained lyric baritone, Ira thrives on performing and teaching all kinds of music. Having been assistant director for the University of Montana's production of Avenue Q, Ira has now been music director for a 3rd-6th grade summer camp with Studio East in Kirkland, WA, performing "Olivia!" by Mark Sircom, as well as Sondheim's "Into the Woods" and "Legally Blonde" with Ballyhoo Theatre in Edmonds, WA. Ira hopes to workshop a production of his opera, "Beowulf," this fall.
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Voice TeacherIra has a master's in classical voice performance and was previously the graduate teaching assistant for the voice area at the University of Montana and, as such, taught Singing for Non-Majors, an introductory course in singing, as well as a studio of secondary majors, minors, non-majors, and middle- and high-school students. Ira appreciates the one-on-one time private lessons afford, and enjoys watching his students progress each semester and year.
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Photography courtesy of Becca Takle.