Saxon Pounds Attends Juilliard in Switzerland
Saxon Pounds, an 11-year-old soprano and sixth-grader at Cascia Hall, spent July 21 through August 4 in Geneva, Switzerland, studying voice and drama as part of The Juilliard School’s Summer Performing Arts program for gifted performing artists ages 10-18. Saxon was one of only 27 vocalists worldwide to be selected for the competitive program.
Studies included intensive training with world-renowned faculty of top performing arts schools and graduates of The Juilliard School in New York City, including mezzo-soprano Rachel Calloway, Jean-Paul Bjorlin, Richard Dent, Michael Rudko, Mark Olsen and Lynnel Joy Jenkins. To be considered for the program, applicants went through a rigorous audition process that included submitting biographical and artistic background information, a teacher recommendation, a video interview and two solo performances that demonstrate technical and musical ability. For her Juilliard audition, Saxon sang “For Good” from the Broadway musical “Wicked” and “Ave Maria.” The program and a final performance were held at the Collège du Léman, a boarding school near the shores of Lake Geneva.
