bird. Put some power into it,” makes her laugh every time. “He really believes I can accomplish things,” Bullinger said. “He gives me challenging pieces and believes I can rise to the occasion. So far, it’s worked because my voice has come a long way.” Belov meets individually with his students, but the real growth occurs when they work on their own. One of the most common mistakes students make, according to Belov, is thinking the voice will mature without practice. “Many simply don’t realize how much work goes into it,” he said. “Practice is always a challenge, but particularly at a liberal arts institution where students are involved in so many other activities in addition to music.” Though not a music major, Gabi Leif ’14, a theatre and anthropology major, works with Belov to develop technique and classical repertoire. She will play Ilse, one of the lead female roles inSpring Awakening, the May performance at Linfield Theatre. “Anton explains very clearly how he wants me to change a certain phrase or a particular note,” said Leif, who is exploring the possibility of pursuing a career in opera. “I didn’t know that I had the ability to sing the way I can now that I have been taking lessons from him.” Belov teaches his students that singing is an athletic experience, with a training regimen targeting certain areas. “It’s training one’s mind, training one’s ear and training a particular muscle group,” he said. “And that training has to be approached with an exercise routine.” But more than providing just instruction, Belov hopes to impart to students a love of music. He explains that in the beginning, singing can be physically uncomfortable. But once a student discovers how to resonate the sound, singing becomes a pleasurable physiological sensation, even physically addicting. “As singers, we are fortunate. We get to experience music from the inside out,” Anton Belov, assistant professor of music, brings real-world experience as a professional opera singer into his said Belov. “And then we are hooked.” Linfield classroom. The Juilliard-trained baritone has been a featured soloist at Carnegie Hall and elsewhere. He performed with the Linfield Chamber Orchestra in December, and will appear in La Traviata with the Tacoma – Laura Davis Opera in March and with the Oregon Symphony in April and May. Hear Belov sing at www.antonbelov.com. Winter 2013 l i n f i e l d m a g a z i n e - 1 5
Linfield Winter 2013
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