Gioacchino (Jack) Lauro Li Vigni, is the General Director and Master Voice Chair for Mediterranean Opera Studio and Festival. He is also a voice instructor for Royal Opera House Covent Garden’s Jette Parker Young Artists Program in London. He performed extensively internationally, including at the Metropolitan Opera House in NY. His students include illustrious singers like Joseph Calleja, Michael Fabiano, Giuseppe Filianoti, Tanja Baumgartner, Andrew Owens, and many others.
Tenor Gioacchino Lauro Li Vigni, a native of Brooklyn, was raised in Palermo, Italy. Mr. Li Vigni’s father, the late Salvatore Lauro Li Vigni, was Gioacchino’s first mentor and himself a celebrated tenor.
Jack (Gioacchino) is a fortunate and humble recipient of this knowledge handed down to him by his father and mentor Salvatore. He observed his father in action both as a dramatic tenor and as a teacher.
Gioacchino also coached and studied with many legendary singers and teachers, like Franco Corelli, Carlo Bergonzi, Arrigo Pola, Gianni Raimondi, and most recently with Salvatore Fisichella. Much of his knowledge gathered over his lifetime is bestowed to the public on his Tenor Talk blog.
Internationally renowned star tenor Charles Castronovo says about Jack:
I believe Jack is the ideal person to have been leading the work done by Mediterranean Opera Studio. His love and commitment to the development of young and talented Opera singers is at the highest of levels. Not only his vast wisdom of the voice and all it’s mysteries, but his complete devotion to teaching the newer generations of singers the traditions of the past greats show his enormous love for the art of the classical voice. This is rare and much prized in the singing world to both students of voice and to the lover of voices. Jack’s love and knowledge of this art is a precious commodity!
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As a teacher Gioacchino has a keen ear for hearing vocal issues and explaining their impact. He not only explains why something is wrong, but demonstrates in his singing the incorrect vocal set up and migrates slowly to the correct way, explaining the technical principles involved, and giving the student immediate auditory examples along with technical instructions; and goes through this process for all voice types. He is at home teaching all voice types because of his exposure to pedagogy in action at home, at AVA, and ultimately on international stages. Clearly the adage :”those who can’t do it, teach” does not apply to Mr. Li Vigni. His ability to show why technique works sets him apart from many of today’s instructors, because it helps students to hear their mistakes in someone else’s voice and then receive instructions on how to fix it, and have the process explained and demonstrated.