“CLA France gave me far more than musical growth, it reminded me of why I fell in love with singing in the first place, and that sometimes the most meaningful growth happens when you allow yourself to slow down and simply experience the journey.” - Jeanete Gonzalez, CLA France 2026.
Jeanete Gonzalez
Our days during the program began early and followed a structured routine designed to develop every aspect of our musicianship. Each morning consisted of coachings with Glenn Morton, Gaspard Brécourt, and Hélène Blanic, where we worked on refining our technique, musical interpretation, and performance skills. Alongside these sessions, we also had French lessons with Raphaël Treiner, who helped us build confidence in the language through engaging and accessible teaching methods.
Every faculty member at CLA France left a lasting impression on me. Their care, generosity, and genuine investment in each student created an environment where everyone felt seen and supported. My coachings with Glenn taught me to stay relaxed, aligned, and to trust that singing is something deeply natural to the human body. Another insight I gained while coaching with Glenn was understanding how important it is to play with the sense of release and tension between a consonant and a vowel. The tension created by a consonant prepares the vocal gesture for the vowel. The consonant provides a sense of energy and anticipation, which is then released into the vowel, allowing it to resonate freely and clearly. Rather than holding tension through the vowel, the consonant acts as a springboard, making the vowel feel more open, connected, and expressive.
2026 CLA France Artists & Faculty
Hélène encouraged me to discover new possibilities of shaping and expressing a musical phrase. For example, she encouraged me to think beyond the notes of a cadenza and consider the character's thoughts, emotions, and intentions throughout the passage. By focusing on facial expression, body language, and musical phrasing, she helped me tell a story using only the music. Her guidance enabled me to shape the cadenza with purpose, creating moments of tension and release that made the performance more expressive and engaging.
Working with Gaspard challenged me to move forward with greater confidence in myself as an artist. He listened carefully, provided constructive feedback, and encouraged me to strive for technical accuracy without sacrificing the freedom and fluidity of the music. Rather than letting technique become rigid or mechanical, he taught me to remain relaxed and musical so that every passage felt effortless and expressive.
2026 CLA France Artists with Glenn Morton post-concert
Raphaël made the French language feel approachable, engaging, and enjoyable to learn. Rather than focusing only on grammar and pronunciation, he used creative teaching methods, such as fun analogies and listening to the diction of native French pop singers, to help us understand the language's natural rhythm, pronunciation, and expression. These techniques made learning feel practical and memorable while building my confidence. Together, the faculty created more than a learning environment—they created a family, and that was one of the greatest gifts of the program.
One of the most unexpected gifts of CLA France was the peace I found in the countryside of Lougratte, France, where La Ferme d’Hermance is located. Sunset walks, sitting beneath the star-filled sky, birdwatching, petting the horses, and spending time with our beloved “Kevinta,” the cat, brought a sense of calm I didn't realize I needed. That environment helped quiet so much of the anxiety I carried about my musicianship. It reminded me that growth doesn't come from chasing perfection—it comes from allowing yourself the space to breathe, trust the process, and simply be.
Mina Brooks-Schmidt & Jeanete Gonzalez
With the guidance and knowledge of the faculty, along with the peaceful inspiration of the French countryside, I was able to bring a deeper sense of reflection and expression into each of our concerts. Performing in beautiful venues such as l’église Saint Éloi, l’église Saint Dominique, Monpazier, l’église de Belvès, and l’église Saint Sylvain allowed me to apply everything I had learned and continue growing with each performance.
Just as meaningful were the friendships I formed along the way. The unwavering support everyone showed one another was incredibly refreshing, especially after difficult experiences I've had in other musical spaces. Whether we were taking evening swims in the pool, playing ping pong and badminton, wandering through the countryside at sunset, or lying beneath the night sky pointing out constellations, those moments of laughter and connection with my colleagues became just as memorable as the music itself.
CLA France gave me far more than musical growth, it gave me confidence, lifelong friendships, and memories I'll carry with me forever. It reminded me of why I fell in love with singing in the first place, and that sometimes the most meaningful growth happens when you allow yourself to slow down and simply experience the journey.