Gerry Hecht

Gerard Hecht, from Queens, NY, discovered a love of opera while singing in the Metropolitan Opera Children's Chorus for three seasons.  Inspired by his experiences there, he pursued a BA in Music at Yale University, and an MM at Manhattan School of Music, specializing in vocal accompanying and opera coaching.  His piano teachers include Elizabeth Sawyer Parisot and Gaït Sirguey, both experts in chamber music and art song literature. Hecht feels voice instruction is essential for any coach and répétiteur, and has studied with the legendary Lili Chookasian, Maitland Peters, and our own Kaori Sato.  His students sing at the most distinguished venues: Young Artist Programs, the Metropolitan Opera, and numerous European houses.  Hecht is a huge lover of Mozart, Britten, Berg and Sondheim, and teaches graduate seminars in each of them.  Now in his 32nd year at Purchase College, he's been pianist for Brass Studies, chamber music, recitals, and the opera performances, while teaching European and American history for performing artists.