On March 28, The Schubert Club, a performing arts organization based in St. Paul, Minnesota, announced the results of its virtual 2021 Bruce P. Carlson Scholarship Competition. The winners, who received a combined total exceeding $50,000 in prizes, included Viterbo first-year student Ellyn Werner, who placed second in the Voice Level 1.
Werner, who competed in an age bracket of 18- to 21-year-olds, was a first-time Schubert Club competitor with only two semesters of voice lessons behind her. In her own words, she was “very surprised” when she received the email heralding her victory. “I was not expecting that,” she commented.
Werner had no reason to expect a win, for the competition is known for its famous adjudicators and high level of talent. This year’s Voice Level 1 was adjudicated by New York Times-acclaimed bel canto tenor Lawrence Brownlee and former Eastman School of Music faculty member Kathleen Roland-Silverstein. Winners and honorable mentions in other categories included students from leading American music institutions, including New York’s Julliard School, the San Francisco Conservatory, and Indiana University.
It is interesting to note that, despite the cutthroat competition, Werner is the latest in a number among the V-Hawk flock to be successful at Schubert Club. Her voice teacher, Prof. Emeritus Dan Johnson-Wilmot, attests that he has had a winner in the competition virtually every year that Viterbo has participated during his tenure.
Rather than crediting her placement to a magical win-streak, however, the young soprano credits the instruction of Johnson-Wilmot and her coach-accompanist, long-time faculty instructor Judy Stafslien. When asked about the process of recording for the fully online competition, she remarked, “I’m usually pretty critical of myself; doing recordings can be hard…because I am a perfectionist and I want it to be perfect. Both [of the pieces I performed] were very challenging for me.”
She added that Johnson-Wilmot’s advice to her during recording was, “Think about it as a performance; live in the moment because not everything can be perfect.” Her advice to other students her age looking to participate in vocal competition is, “Just go for it. You never know what is going to happen…just enjoy it.”
If the first-place winner in her category declines, Werner will have the opportunity to sing in the Winner’s Recital, a virtual event that will take place on May 13 or 14, depending on scheduling. Her victory came with a cash award of $1500, which will go toward her educational expenses.
