By Western Nebraska Community College
SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. - Western Nebraska Community College Vocal Music Director Dr. Patrick Newell is again leading students and teachers this spring in Italy through the Sweetland Singing Institute, an immersive vocal training program focused on healthy technique, artistry and education.
The institute is in Popiglio, Italy, where participants study and collaborate in a focused environment designed to support musical growth.
For Newell, the program reflects a longtime vision of creating opportunities for singers and educators to develop their skills through intensive study.
“It's a magical experience,” Newell said of a previous session. “To take people to this beautiful, secluded place and immerse them in the Sweetland technique while surrounded by nature created an environment where learning was deeper and more personal.”
The Sweetland technique, developed by Lee and Steve Sweetland, emphasizes acoustic efficiency and vocal health while helping singers perform across multiple styles.
Newell first discovered the method more than 20 years ago and later trained extensively with Steve Sweetland.
“The technique fundamentally changed how I thought about singing,” Newell said.
He later created the Sweetland Singing Institute with the goal of helping train both singers and future voice teachers.
“My ultimate goal is to teach teachers,” he said. “The world needs a new generation of vocal teachers who understand this technique and can pass it on.”
Participants in the institute live and study at Casa Nicola, a converted historic monastery that provides rehearsal and instructional space in the Tuscan countryside.
“Hosting the institute in Italy is about more than teaching singing,” Newell said. “It’s about creating an immersive experience where everyone could focus on music, learning and growth.”
This year’s group includes students, apprentice teachers and junior teachers. Directing all training are the Master Teachers: Newell and his wife Lauren; Jenn Gambatese, a veteran of numerous Broadway productions; and Claudia Heilmeyer, famously known as Germany’s first Sally Bowles in Cabaret.
For WNCC students, opportunities like the institute provide valuable international experiences while allowing them to work directly with faculty who are active leaders in their fields. Several current and former WNCC students are attending this year as students or junior teachers.
Newell said one of the most rewarding parts of the program is watching participants grow together.
“People arrive as individuals and leave as a supportive artistic family,” he said.
As the institute continues to grow, Newell hopes to expand future opportunities while continuing to share the Sweetland method with new generations of singers and educators.
From Western Nebraska to Italy, Newell’s work reflects WNCC’s commitment to excellence, innovation and global learning opportunities.