W. Stephen Smith is Professor of Voice at the Juilliard School of Music and a member of the voice faculty at the Aspen Music Festival and School. He earned acclaim as resident voice instructor of the Houston Grand Opera Studio, and has taught many professional singers in New York City and around the world. Michael Chipman is a freelance writer and professional singer. He was the classical and jazz music critic for The Salt Lake Tribune and studied privately with Smith for five years.