Background
Peter Sicilian began his career as a vocal coach/accompanist with special studies under the renowned Boris Goldovsky and Arthur Lessac. He then pursued vocal studies with Carmen Savoca, Peyton Hibbitt, Duane Skrabalak, and Armen Boyajian. He performed leading roles from opera to Broadway with a repertory that includes over 40 roles in five languages. His performance experience included roles with Tri-Cities Opera, Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh, Syracuse Opera, Opera Theatre of Rochester, Ithaca Opera Association, Sarasota Opera and Rome Opera Festival in Italy. He also appeared in the American premiere of Carl Nielsen’s Maskarade, performed in its original Danish with Sarasota Opera in Florida. In 1984 he joined the Tri-Cities Opera Company as Stage Director of their outreach program, Opera-Go-Round, and for the following decade held the position of Artistic Director/Stage Director of the company, as well as the head of its Resident Artist Training Program.
As a stage director, Mr. Sicilian has produced theatrically vivid and musically inspiring operas that have enhanced and broadened the appeal of a musical arts experience on the national opera scene. He has received accolades for his direction of The Magic Flute, Madama Butterfly, Faust, Don Giovanni, The Barber of Seville, Carmen, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Hansel and Gretel, The Elixir of Love and La Boheme with Tri-Cities Opera. He has directed over sixty theatrical productions. Sicilian’s directing has been described as “inventive but unobtrusively natural,” and his approach to lesser-performed works such as Dido and Aeneas and The Medium proved “a striking demonstration of the company’s versatility.” Mr. Sicilian also received critical acclaim for his direction of the 2003 National Opera Association Award winning production of Rigoletto.
Mr. Sicilian is committed to nurturing the careers of young singers through his work as a voice teacher and dramatic coach, focusing on developing healthy vocal technique through breathing, body awareness, communication, and stagecraft. His vast stage and directorial experience inform and influence his present teaching style.
Mr. Sicilian has also developed a program titled Speaking for Success – “Is Your Message Being Heard?” where he conducts seminars and workshops designed to help teachers and public presenters use their speaking voice more effectively. He currently serves on the faculty of Binghamton University and SUNY Broome Community College. He also serves as Music Director and organist at the Church of the Holy Family in Endwell, New York and has maintained a private voice studio since 1980. His students have gone on to sing professionally throughout the United States and Europe.
Education
- BA in Music from Syracuse University
- MM with Opera Specialization from Binghamton University
