Music workshop to teach correct vocal technique, build confidence in singing for participants throughout diocese

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Melanie Malinka

SALT LAKE CITY — An upcoming music workshop at St. Ambrose Parish sponsored by the diocesan liturgical music committee is expected to be a tremendous training opportunity for singers, cantors, music directors and anyone who serves in the music ministry.

 “I guarantee anyone who attends will learn a lot and it will be time very well spent,” Committee Chair Chris Huntzinger said of the workshop.

The guest presenter for the annual fall workshop is Melanie Malinka.

Malinka has served as director of music at The Madeleine Choir School since 2001.  A native of Stuttgart, Germany, she received a Bachelor of Music in voice performance from Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, N.J. and a Master of Music in choral conducting from the University of Utah, where she studied with Dr. Barlow Bradford.

 In her position Malinka oversees the school’s choral program and prepares the choristers for their extensive concert season, regular service commitments, international tours and engagements with leading local arts organizations including Utah Symphony|Utah Opera. She regularly conducts the Cathedral of the Madeline choir and has served as interim chorus master for several opera productions of the Utah Opera. She also serves as guest conductor and clinician at choral festivals and workshops around the country.

For the diocesan workshop Malinka will focus on helping participants use their voices correctly and in building their confidence as singers, she said. During the workshop, they will sing through some hymns together and Malinka will work with them to help them develop healthy vocal technique.

“A lot of the time I see people who are not confident in their singing, who won’t sing in church because they’re not good enough,” Malinka said. “Most people can sing; they just don’t have the confidence to do so. I hope to change their minds.”

Malinka will also work with choir directors and those tasked with putting together choirs or music groups in their parishes on how to teach other adults and instill in them confidence in their singing ability.

“It gives me a lot of joy to be able to use my talents like this to help other people,” she said.

Patti O’Conner, a member of the committee and a choir director at St. Ann Parish, has attended all of the workshops the committee has sponsored, including a previous workshop with Malinka, and said they are very helpful.

“From a director’s point of view, Melanie teaches about warm ups, care of your voice, helping people to be able to sing with better posture,” O’Conner said. “She stresses using your voice correctly, not straining, making good music and how to use what you’ve got effectively.”

O’Conner said the workshops have also been a great resource to meet and talk with people from other parishes “so you don’t feel so much out there all alone trying to figure it out. ... The networking is invaluable,” she said.

Most people in the diocese are not formally trained in music ministry, so the workshops are a great opportunity to tap into good practice, said Ruth Dillon, director of the diocesan Office of Liturgy.

The fall workshops are generally well attended with about 50 to 60 participants.

The liturgical committee works to help all people in the diocese with their liturgical needs. It sponsors workshops in the fall and the annual Music Festival in the spring.

WHAT: Fall Music Workshop

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 20, 9 a.m. to noon (Registration is at 8:30 a.m.)

WHERE: St. Ambrose Parish, 1975 South 2300 East

The cost for this workshop is $15. For information, contact Ruth Dillon, 801-328-8641, ext. 363.