Soprano Sarah Wofford ’17, ’20, participated in the first Inner Mongolia International Classical Music Festival from Jan. 18, through Jan. 20. The event was coordinated by Jian Song ’19, and took place in Tongliao, Inner Mongolia, China. Competitors were from China and Italy, and Wofford was the only American and singer competing. Wofford — accompanied by her fiancé and pianist Richard Jeric ’18 — won first place.
In addition to competing and performing, Wofford also taught 15 voice students nuances of Western Classical music through the Tongliao National School of Song and Dance. All students were between the ages of 23 and 40, and most have worked as professional singers through the Tongliao Opera.
Wofford received a Master of Music in Performance (Voice) and is a Doctor of Musical Arts Candidate in Performance (Voice) who studied with Opera Producing Director and Adjunct Artist-in-Residence of Voice (Soprano) Nancy Gustafson, M.M. Jeric received a Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance (Piano) and studied with Distinguished Artist-in-Residence, Chair of Keyboard Division and Professor of Piano John O’Conor, Mus.D. Song received a Master of Music in Performance (Violin) and studied with Victor Brown Endowed Chair in Violin and Associate Professor of Violin Akemi Takayama, M.M.