Ronald W. Hedlund

Professor Emeritus of Voice

B.A., Hamline University; M.M., Indiana University

“A singing actor of epic abilities ... Brings gusto to the role and quickly wins the audience” — The Washington Post; “A monumentally authoritative, quicksilver performer” — Opera Magazine; “rich bass-baritone and incisive pronunciation are an added bonus to his many splendored characterization” — Sarasota Herald Tribune.

Following his Metropolitan Opera National Company debut, Ronald Hedlund has sung leading baritone roles with the opera companies of San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Washington, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, Houston, Miami, Dallas, St. Louis, and Vancouver. Hailed for his interpretation of the traditional repertoire, Professor Hedlund is equally known for his versatility in contemporary works, musical theater, recital, and master classes. His repertoire includes more than 70 operatic roles and 30 orchestral, oratorio, and chamber works. Festival appearances include Aspen, Spoleto (Italy), Edinburgh (Scotland), Classical Music Festival in Eisenstadt/Vienna (Austria), Santa Fe, and Lake George. Professor Hedlund is a singing voice consultant for the Carle Clinic and a co-editor of the Virtuoso Obbligato Aria Collection. He is also listed in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in Entertainment.

While the principles of good voice production are well established, the actual teaching of those principles remains highly individual and dependent upon the particular needs of each student. Each voice is as unique as the personality of the student who possesses it. One method of teaching cannot simply be applied to all students. Learning how to sing is a process of awareness and self-discovery and I direct and encourage each student to make those discoveries for themselves. I assess the level of each student and determine that particular student’s needs. This assessment demands extra time for thought and research outside the regular lesson time. An individual course of technical instruction for the voice and a repertoire program is developed and monitored based on this assessment. This method of teaching requires me to be consistently creative and inspirational in each lesson for each student.