The Power of Voice Takes Student to Center Stage

Colin Covington’s joy for music stems from singing country western songs with his grandfather, Pop-pop. In high school in Delran, New Jersey, he continued to sing, performing in musical theater and the choir. Still, when it came time to apply for college, he didn’t consider majoring in voice an option.

Covington initially applied to the College of Charleston as a meteorology major, but music kept calling. He decided to send an audition reel to the music department, just in case.

When he was awarded the Edwina Eustis Dick Endowed Scholarship, the Janice Meredith Clark Endowed/Annual Memorial Scholarship in Performance and the Lee Harwood Scholarship Fund-Music – all of which went a long way toward offsetting his out-of-state tuition – Covington started considering music as a career path. It was a sample voice lesson with David Templeton, associate professor of voice, however, that was the deciding factor.

“Professor Templeton’s sample lesson was eye-opening,” says Covington. “He showed me what I could do with my voice. I learned more in that hour-long lesson than I had in high school. I’m truly grateful that Professor Templeton saw my potential as a singer.”

After the lesson, Templeton kept in touch with Covington and his parents. He asked about Covington’s performances and kept the family up to date about what was happening in opera at the College.

“It’s like recruiting for a basketball team,” laughs Templeton, who noted that Covington had an innate musicianship that is difficult to teach. “We have to develop a relationship and show what we have to offer.”

Voicing a Career Choice

Staying in contact made Covington feel wanted and sealed his decision to attend CofC. Once here, Covington considered Templeton his “school dad.”

Then he heard Templeton and the other voice faculty at their annual performance for the students, and he realized the caliber of his mentor.

“Hearing Professor Templeton’s powerful baritone and the other faculty was like my Super Bowl,” says the music major and international studies minor. “It was really impressive to see them in action; they practice what they preach!

“I also learned how skills in the arts are transferrable to other realms,” he adds. “With music, it’s all about how you prepare and sing. You can’t fake it. It’s a tell-all major, which keeps you honest.”

Adds Templeton, “Music is a very demanding major and career choice; it takes more than it gives. But if you truly love it, you have to go for it.”

Covington is going for it, and he has the tenacity to succeed. Because he hadn’t studied opera before coming to the College, he hadn’t formed any bad habits, so he just needed to add to his musical knowledge.

Letting his Voice be Heard

“Colin has been a pleasure to teach; he is consistently one of the hardest workers in the department,” says Templeton. “Now in his junior year, he is at a time when things start happening – when he becomes more of an artist than an artisan.”

One thing that’s happening is Covington is going to Boston in March to perform as a featured soloist in the Symphony Hall as part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. He will sing the title role in “Make Our Garden Grow,” composed by Leonard Bernstein.

Not only will it be Covington’s first time in Boston, but it will be his first time as a featured soloist. He attributes this opportunity to the strong foundation he has developed since studying voice at the College.

“I feel good about where I am, and going to Boston gives me something to show for it,” says Covington. “I never thought I would be in this position.”

The opportunity came about thanks to Yuriy Bekker, conductor of the CofC Orchestra and violin instructor, who offered to have CofC Opera join the orchestra in Boston.

“The opportunity for the opera students to perform with the College of Charleston Orchestra at Boston Symphony Hall will be transformative,” says Saundra DeAthos-Meers, director of opera and associate professor of voice. “My experience of traveling and performing in my college years is burned into my memory. It’s an experience of a lifetime.

“Colin’s voice has developed incredibly,” adds DeAthos-Meers. “He has come a long way vocally, and we’ll get to hear his progress featured in Boston.”

Boston is a big step for Covington as an artist. Next year, Covington will start working on his audition package to demonstrate his range as a singer and performer for his applications to graduate schools and/or young artist programs. Without question, he is going to give his all to his career of choice.