Spartan Profiles: Janet Williams-Berndt

FROM SOPRANO TO AUTHOR

            After a tremendous, critically-acclaimed career in opera and classical music in the U.S. and Europe, during which she performed in just about every major opera venue with conductors like Daniel Barenboim, Sir Neville Marriner, Zubin Mehta and Michael Tilson Thomas, Janet M. Williams-Berndt, BMUS ’82, EDD ’82, of Berlin, Germany, is focusing on music performance education.

            In her latest book, Nail Your Next Audition: The Ultimate 30-Day Guide For Singers (2006), Williams-Berndt offers a step by step guide to help classical singers conquer nerves and win auditions, complete with exercises and worksheets that can be incorporated into one's daily practice routine.  “I was invited to present workshops based on the book in Paris, London, and Berlin,” says Janet, who has degrees in voice and music education.  “I seem to have come full circle and really love the teaching aspect of my career.” 

            A native of Detroit, Janet attended Cass Tech and chose MSU for its double major in performance and education.  “I loved MSU!” says Janet. “I was very active in campus and dorm life. Through my sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, I was active in community public service.”  She touts voice teacher Harlan Jennings for “helping me to believe in my vocal talent.”

            At MSU she discovered opera.  After seeing a performance of Carmen, she recalls, “I was hooked.” She has since enjoyed leading roles in North America, Europe, Israel, and Japan, and recorded with some of the world’s most renowned orchestras.  In 1990, she made her European debut with L’Opera de Lyon, France, after finishing her Adler Fellowship with the San Francisco Opera.  She then auditioned for Daniel Barenboim at the Berlin Staatsoper and won the role of Cleopatra.  There she met stage director Fred Berndt and they have been married for 14 years. 

            She has started a company, Performance Enhancement by Design, and started on a second book.