
Thomas Potter
- Director of Opera
- Associate Professor
tpotter@ucf.edu
407 823 4680
Office Hours: by appointment
Campus Location: PACM113
View Personal Web site
With an undergraduate degree in Music Education and a Masters in Vocal Performance from Indiana University, baritone Thomas Potter credits his years of performance experience on opera stages throughout much of Europe as well as in the USA as his most valuable training.
Thomas' operatic repertoire centered around roles such as: Renato in UN BALLO IN MASCHERA, Giorgio Germont in LA TRAVIATA, Conte di Luna in IL TROVATORE, MACBETH - title role, RIGOLETTO - title role, Baron Scarpia in TOSCA, Jochanaan in Strauss' SALOME, and Tonio in Leoncavallo's I PAGLIACCI.
One of the most substantial parts of his training consisted of four years in San Francisco (participating in the Merola, Western Opera Theater, and Adler Fellowship programs there). It was during this period that Thomas was a winner of the Luciano Pavarotti International Vocal Competition in Philadelphia, and as such, was awarded the opportunity to sing alongside Mr. Pavarotti in the resulting production of Verdi’s opera UN BALLO IN MASCHERA. During his residence in San Francisco, he was honored to sing and rehearse with Mr. Pavarotti on two other occasions [Puccini's LA BOHÈME and Verdi's LA TRAVIATA].
Potter has sung leading roles in numerous International music festivals, including the Bregenzer (Austria) Festspiele [NABUCCO], the Ravenna (Italy) Music Festival [ATTILA], the Festival de Inverno - Campos do Jordão [William Walton's BELSHAZZAR'S FEAST] in Brazil, the La Biennale Festival [Ivan Vandor's APPARITIONS] in Venice, Italy, and the Spoleto Music Festival in both Italy and the USA venues [Philip Glass' opera HYDROGEN JUKEBOX]
A few of the opera companies with which Potter has performed include the Teatro Comunale 'Giuseppe Verdi' in Trieste, Italy [DON CARLO], Palm Beach Opera [SALOME, RIGOLETTO, & CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI], Nashville Opera [TURANDOT], Opera Cordoba (Spain) [TOSCA], Opera São Paulo (Brazil) [CARMEN & NABUCCO], Opéra du Rhin in Strasbourg, France [DON CARLO], Badisches Staatstheater in Karlsruhe, Germany [ATTILA], Atlanta Opera [RIGOLETTO & UN BALLO IN MASCHERA], Utah Opera [SAMSON ET DALILA], Orlando Opera [MADAMA BUTTERFLY & IL TROVATORE], and Indianapolis Opera [LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR, HÄNSEL UND GRETEL, MACBETH, IL TROVATORE, SAMSON ET DALILA, TURANDOT, LA BOHÈME, THE CRUCIBLE, and FALSTAFF].
From 1994 to 2000, Mr. Potter was engaged by the Stadttheater St. Gallen in Switzerland, singing the roles of Scarpia in TOSCA, Jochanaan in SALOME, Alfio in CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA, Ezio in ATTILA, Amonasro in AIDA, and Giorgio Germont in LA TRAVIATA, among others. Shortly following the birth of their son, Colton, Thomas and his wife, Kimberly, decided to return to live in the USA, and that’s when he started formally teaching. They finally moved to Orlando in 2005, where Thomas teaches undergraduate and graduate level voice, an International Phonetic Alphabet course, and directs the UCF Opera. Read more about his teaching philosophy and hear clips of his singing on his website at www.ThomasPotterOnline.com
Courses
No courses found for Summer 2021.
Course Number | Course | Title | Mode | Date and Time | Syllabus |
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10261 | MUO3503L | Opera Workshop | Face to Face Instruction (P) | F 03:00 PM - 05:00 PM | Available |
No Description Available | |||||
16737 | MUO5505L | Graduate Opera Workshop | Face to Face Instruction (P) | F 03:00 PM - 05:00 PM | Available |
No Description Available | |||||
10387 | MVV1411 | Voice Ⅰ | Face to Face Instruction (P) | W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Available |
This course is restricted to Music Majors - see the Music Department website for information about auditions into the major, if interested... Depending on your degree path (and in some cases the seriousness with which you apply yourself to your study), you may be eligible for two, four, six, or eight semesters of applied voice lessons. In every case, we have precious little time to prepare you for the next step in your vocal future. It is my goal to help you achieve your highest potential during this brief time period. That is the concept which drives the ever-more-regimented program instituted in this studio. Each student must attend our voice studio class from 11:30-12:20 each and every Wednesday, and will be assigned one 50-minute individual lesson per week. See the course syllabus for more information. |
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10237 | MVV1873 | Secondary Voice | Face to Face Instruction (P) | W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Available |
No Description Available | |||||
10391 | MVV2421 | Voice Ⅱ | Face to Face Instruction (P) | W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Available |
This course is restricted to Music Majors - see the Music Department website for information about auditions into the major, if interested... Depending on your degree path (and in some cases the seriousness with which you apply yourself to your study), you may be eligible for two, four, six, or eight semesters of applied voice lessons. In every case, we have precious little time to prepare you for the next step in your vocal future. It is my goal to help you achieve your highest potential during this brief time period. That is the concept which drives the ever-more-regimented program instituted in this studio. Each student must attend our voice studio class from 11:30-12:20 each and every Wednesday, and will be assigned one 50-minute individual lesson per week. See the course syllabus for more information. |
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10395 | MVV3431 | Voice Ⅲ | Face to Face Instruction (P) | W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Available |
This course is restricted to Music Majors - see the Music Department website for information about auditions into the major, if interested... Depending on your degree path (and in some cases the seriousness with which you apply yourself to your study), you may be eligible for two, four, six, or eight semesters of applied voice lessons. In every case, we have precious little time to prepare you for the next step in your vocal future. It is my goal to help you achieve your highest potential during this brief time period. That is the concept which drives the ever-more-regimented program instituted in this studio. Each student must attend our voice studio class from 11:30-12:20 each and every Wednesday, and will be assigned one 50-minute individual lesson per week. See the course syllabus for more information. |
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10561 | MVV3431 | Voice Ⅲ | Face to Face Instruction (P) | W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Available |
This course is restricted to Music Majors - see the Music Department website for information about auditions into the major, if interested... Depending on your degree path (and in some cases the seriousness with which you apply yourself to your study), you may be eligible for two, four, six, or eight semesters of applied voice lessons. In every case, we have precious little time to prepare you for the next step in your vocal future. It is my goal to help you achieve your highest potential during this brief time period. That is the concept which drives the ever-more-regimented program instituted in this studio. Each student must attend our voice studio class from 11:30-12:20 each and every Wednesday, and will be assigned one 50-minute individual lesson per week. See the course syllabus for more information. |
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10398 | MVV4441 | Voice Ⅳ | Face to Face Instruction (P) | W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Available |
This course is restricted to Music Majors - see the Music Department website for information about auditions into the major, if interested... Depending on your degree path (and in some cases the seriousness with which you apply yourself to your study), you may be eligible for two, four, six, or eight semesters of applied voice lessons. In every case, we have precious little time to prepare you for the next step in your vocal future. It is my goal to help you achieve your highest potential during this brief time period. That is the concept which drives the ever-more-regimented program instituted in this studio. Each student must attend our voice studio class from 11:30-12:20 each and every Wednesday, and will be assigned one 50-minute individual lesson per week. See the course syllabus for more information. |
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16691 | MVV5451 | Voice Ⅴ | Face to Face Instruction (P) | W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Available |
This course is restricted to Music Majors - see the Music Department website for information about auditions into the major, if interested... Depending on your degree path (and in some cases the seriousness with which you apply yourself to your study), you may be eligible for two, four, six, or eight semesters of applied voice lessons. In every case, we have precious little time to prepare you for the next step in your vocal future. It is my goal to help you achieve your highest potential during this brief time period. That is the concept which drives the ever-more-regimented program instituted in this studio. Each student must attend our voice studio class from 11:30-12:20 each and every Wednesday, and will be assigned one 50-minute individual lesson per week. See the course syllabus for more information. |
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16731 | MVV6452 | Voice Ⅵ | Face to Face Instruction (P) | W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Available |
This course is restricted to Music Majors - see the Music Department website for information about auditions into the major, if interested... Depending on your degree path (and in some cases the seriousness with which you apply yourself to your study), you may be eligible for two, four, six, or eight semesters of applied voice lessons. In every case, we have precious little time to prepare you for the next step in your vocal future. It is my goal to help you achieve your highest potential during this brief time period. That is the concept which drives the ever-more-regimented program instituted in this studio. Each student must attend our voice studio class from 11:30-12:20 each and every Wednesday, and will be assigned one 50-minute individual lesson per week. See the course syllabus for more information. |
Course Number | Course | Title | Mode | Date and Time | Syllabus |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
81036 | MUO3503L | Opera Workshop | Video Strmng (V) COVID DL exmp | M 03:30 PM - 04:20 PM | Available |
Due to the Covid19 pandemic, Opera Workshop [MUO 3503L & MUO 5505L] for the Fall semester of 2020 will not be a performing ensemble, but rather an online course studying David Ostwald book “Acting for Singers: Creating Believable Singing Characters”. As such, there are no auditions for entrance into the class for this semester. The course is open to any UCF student. Plans regarding the Spring 2021 semester will be announced when possible – probably not before late November, unless a vaccine is developed and distributed by then. |
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81037 | MUO5505L | Graduate Opera Workshop | Video Strmng (V) COVID DL exmp | Available | |
Due to the Covid19 pandemic, Opera Workshop [MUO 3503L & MUO 5505L] for the Fall semester of 2020 will not be a performing ensemble, but rather an online course studying David Ostwald book “Acting for Singers: Creating Believable Singing Characters”. As such, there are no auditions for entrance into the class for this semester. The course is open to any UCF student. Plans regarding the Spring 2021 semester will be announced when possible – probably not before late November, unless a vaccine is developed and distributed by then. |
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81222 | MUS1250 | Ipa for Singers | Video Strmng (V) COVID DL exmp | Available | |
IPA for Singers is not restricted to music majors, but any non-music-majors wishing to take the course must contact Professor Potter no later than Thursday, August 27 to obtain the Prerequisite "C.I." (Consent of Instructor) for the course. Due to the Covid-19 problem, IPA has been moved to an online format. There will be no full class meetings for the course (neither in person nor through Zoom). Much of the course requirements will be met through a series of modules set up within the class' Webcourse. Some assessments will be taken online as well - others will be arranged as Zoom meetings with the instructor. The fundamental purpose of this course is developing a familiarity and proficiency with the pronunciation, enunciation and cadence of English, French, German and Italian, especially as pertains to the singing of art songs and arias, facilitated through a study of the International Phonetic Language (IPA), a system for transcribing the speech sounds of any language. The course will include the study of IPA symbols and the proper execution of their sounds. Assessment may consist of reading, written, and listening assignments, aural dictation, quizzes, and oral and written exams. |
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80588 | MVV1411 | Voice Ⅰ | Video Strmng (V) COVID DL exmp | W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Available |
This course is restricted to Music Majors - see the Music Department website for information about auditions into the major, if interested... |
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80394 | MVV1873 | Secondary Voice | Video Strmng (V) COVID DL exmp | W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Available |
MVV 1873-0001 [“Secondary Voice Lessons” with Professor Potter] is not currently offered. Within the voice area, Bachelor of Arts in Music majors are generally encouraged to enroll in MVV 1411 for two semesters, rather than four semesters of these MVV 1873 [half-hour per week] lessons. |
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80591 | MVV2421 | Voice Ⅱ | Video Strmng (V) COVID DL exmp | W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Available |
This course is restricted to Music Majors - see the Music Department website for information about auditions into the major, if interested... |
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80594 | MVV3431 | Voice Ⅲ | Video Strmng (V) COVID DL exmp | W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Available |
This course is restricted to Music Majors - see the Music Department website for information about auditions into the major, if interested... |
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80801 | MVV3431 | Voice Ⅲ | Video Strmng (V) COVID DL exmp | W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Available |
This course is restricted to Music Majors - see the Music Department website for information about auditions into the major, if interested... |
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80597 | MVV4441 | Voice Ⅳ | Video Strmng (V) COVID DL exmp | W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Available |
This course is restricted to Music Majors - see the Music Department website for information about auditions into the major, if interested... |
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81011 | MVV5451 | Voice Ⅴ | Video Strmng (V) COVID DL exmp | W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Available |
This course is restricted to Music Majors - see the Music Department website for information about auditions into the major, if interested... |
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80838 | MVV6452 | Voice Ⅵ | Video Strmng (V) COVID DL exmp | W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Available |
This course is restricted to Music Majors - see the Music Department website for information about auditions into the major, if interested... |
Course Number | Course | Title | Mode | Session | Date and Time | Syllabus |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
51310 | MUL2010 | Enjoyment of Music | Face to Face Instruction (P) | B | Available | |
This course is open to non-music majors only. It is designed for the music amateur; no prior music background is required. What is required of you is a desire to understand how music is put together and how it reflects the society and time from which it was produced. This course takes the position that although one cannot teach the enjoyment of music, per se, one's ability to enjoy music can be greatly enhanced by increased knowledge and understanding. The focus of the course is on listening to music through the ages, as well as on the terms, methodologies and historical perspectives which will increase your knowledge and understanding of music. Due to
the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, this course has been shifted into an online
mode. |
Course Number | Course | Title | Mode | Date and Time | Syllabus |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
17004 | MUO3503L | Opera Workshop | Face to Face Instruction (P) | F 03:00 PM - 05:00 PM | Available |
Open to any UCF student (not restricted to music majors), this ensemble course does require an audition for first-timers...Our principal project for Spring 2020 is the performance of:L'italiana in Algeri by Gioachino Rossini[The opera has already been cast.] Students interested in auditioning for the course in the Fall 2020 semester should send an email to opera@ucf.edu for details. The course meets from 3-5pm on Mondays and Fridays. |
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17467 | MUO5505L | Graduate Opera Workshop | Face to Face Instruction (P) | F 03:00 PM - 05:00 PM | Available |
Open to any UCF student (not restricted to music majors), this ensemble course does require an audition for first-timers...Our principal project for Spring 2020 is the performance of:L'italiana in Algeri by Gioachino Rossini[The opera has already been cast.] Students interested in auditioning for the course in the Fall 2020 semester should send an email to opera@ucf.edu for details. The course meets from 3-5pm on Mondays and Fridays. |
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17148 | MVV1411 | Voice Ⅰ | Face to Face Instruction (P) | W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Available |
This course is restricted to Music Majors - see the Music Department website for information about auditions into the major, if interested... |
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16972 | MVV1873 | Secondary Voice | Face to Face Instruction (P) | W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Available |
MVV 1873-0002 [“Secondary Voice Lessons” with Professor Potter] is not currently offered. Within the voice area, Bachelor of Arts in Music majors are generally encouraged to enroll in MVV 1411 for two semesters, rather than four semesters of these MVV 1873 [half-hour per week] lessons. |
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17152 | MVV2421 | Voice Ⅱ | Face to Face Instruction (P) | W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Available |
This course is restricted to Music Majors - see the Music Department website for information about auditions into the major, if interested... |
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17156 | MVV3431 | Voice Ⅲ | Face to Face Instruction (P) | W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Available |
This course is restricted to Music Majors - see the Music Department website for information about auditions into the major, if interested... |
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17370 | MVV3431 | Voice Ⅲ | Face to Face Instruction (P) | W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Available |
This course is restricted to Music Majors - see the Music Department website for information about auditions into the major, if interested... |
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17159 | MVV4441 | Voice Ⅳ | Face to Face Instruction (P) | W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Available |
This course is restricted to Music Majors - see the Music Department website for information about auditions into the major, if interested... |
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17162 | MVV5451 | Voice Ⅴ | Face to Face Instruction (P) | W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Available |
This course is restricted to Master of Arts [Music] degree students who have auditioned and been accepted into that major as voice principals - see the Music Department website for information about auditions into the major, if interested... |
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17439 | MVV6452 | Voice Ⅵ | Face to Face Instruction (P) | W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Available |
This course is restricted to Master of Arts [Music] degree students who have auditioned and been accepted into that major as voice principals - see the Music Department website for information about auditions into the major, if interested... |
Updated: Jan 7, 2021