Serdar Ilban, associate professor of voice opera and director of the Lamar Opera Theatre in the Mary Morgan Moore Department of Music at Lamar University has been invited to present workshops and performances in Jiaozuo City, China.

In September 2018, Ilban, who holds the Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, will spend a week at Henan Polytechnic University presenting workshops for teachers, master classes for advanced students, attending cross-cultural recruiting events and performing concerts and recitals featuring music from around the world.

The trip will allow the opportunity to touch an untapped musical market that is full of potential, Ilban said.

“To a certain extent, China still is an untapped market for most performers, teachers and students of Western Music,” said Ilban. “It is still the fastest growing economy in the world with immense human potential. There are also a lot of talented musicians in China that do not necessarily get the opportunities to showcase their talents elsewhere in the world.”

The opportunity will also provide a way to break language barriers and connect with a larger audience through music, said Ilban.

“Each time I travel abroad, whether to present at a conference or to teach or perform, I am always amazed by how universal music is, how easy it is to connect to people utilizing the common language of music regardless of where they live, what language they speak,” said Ilban. “It is discovery and maintenance of that bond I cherish the most as a performing artist. The fact that you can inspire or be inspired by someone on the other side of the planet is just a bonus.”

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Ilban represent Lamar University at the international level,” said Brian Shook, chair of the Mary Morgan Moore Department of Music. “It is important for our students to learn through instruction and also by observing our faculty in performance. Dr. Ilban’s invitation is evidence of his excellent reputation as a teacher and performer, and we are excited for him to share his experiences upon his return with our students in an effort to further enrich their education.”

Ilban has performed with many prestigious opera companies in the United States, Europe and Israel. Equally at home in opera, oratorio and recital repertoire, he has sung with organizations that include the New Israeli World Festival Opera, Symphony of Southeast Texas, Las Cruces Symphony, Henderson Symphony, New York City Opera National Tour,Sarasota Opera, Opera Manhattan, Bronx Opera Company, and Il Piccolo Teatro dell’Opera-New York. Some of his notable roles include Escamillo in Carmen, Silvio in I pagliacci, The Professor in Carl Nielsen.

An internationally active performer and clinician, Ilban has presented his research on practical voice pedagogy and voice psychology at the International Congress of Voice Teachers in Stockholm, Sweden in 2017. A recipient of the 2010 National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Emerging Leaders Award, Ilban is an active member of NATS, European Voice Teachers Association and Pan European Voice Conference.

Ilban joined the faculty at Lamar University in 2011, and currently serves as the vocal area coordinator and director of the Lamar Opera Theatre. Previously, he taught at Southern Utah University, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he was the interim director of the UNLV Opera.