Master Class with Steven Lutvak

Ucross Foundation, along with Sheridan College, hosted a musical Master Class with award-winning composer Steven Lutvak on Friday, Dec. 3, at Sheridan College.

Lutvek talked about his association with the Ucross Foundation.

Lutvak is based in New York City, and he composed the music for A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, which won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2014. Lutvak has been to the Ucross Foundation many times.

He spoke about the work that went into A Gentleman’s Guide, some of the problems they had and how long it took to finish it. He is currently working on two new musicals headed for Broadway and the movie adaptation of A Gentleman’s Guide.

During his class, two Sheridan College music students, Zac Allen and Madisyn Danforth, sang for Lutvak and he critiqued their performance and showed them how to improve. Allen sang a portion of the song, Santa Fe.

His advice to Allen was for him to ‘sing for someone.’ “Always be engaged with someone even when singing. Sing for someone.” He also told Allen to make sure to enunciation the words clearly. He told both students they must, ‘make the songs their own.’

He told Danforth that the singer has to know who they are, and some songs are right for the singer and some are not. He added, “You have to do songs that get inside you.”

Lutvak told more stories about his music and his writing; about his college experience and his teachers.

He played some music; shared secrets of the trade; and offered tips to the music students in attendance. He stressed persistence, creativity, and being able to dedicate the time needed. “I sometimes think about things forever.” He said.