William Trabold holds a Bachelor of Music degree In Vocal Performance fromthe University of Nebraska at Omaha, a Master of Music degree with distinction from California State University, Northridge, and completed his Doctoral studies in Vocal Performance at the University of Southern California where he has lectured and taught vocal performance. Prior to coming to Santa MonicaCollege he also served on the faculties of California State University, Los Angeles; Cerritos College; and Drake University, where he also was the General Director for Drake Opera. He was the co-founderof Opera West Solvang and Opera West Santa Monica and has had a long affiliation with Los Angeles' Golden West Opera Theater where he has served as President of the Boardof Directors. He currently teaches Class Voice, Music Appreciation, and Fundamentals of Music for Santa Monica College.
As a concert artist, Dr. Trabold has been seen throughout Californiain in both concert and recital. Some of his concerts as soloist have included performances with the Bakersfield Symphony in excerpts from Bizet's Carmen;Verdi's Requiem, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, and the world première of Pinkham's Christmas Symphonies with the Santa Monica College Choir. His oratorio repertoirehas included performances of Händel's Messiah with Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra, Mendelssohn's Elijah with the combined U.S.C. Orchestra and Choruses,and Händel's Alexander's Feast with the Antelope Valley Master Chorale.He is currently the tenor soloist with the First United Methodist Churchof Santa Monica, and has also been a frequent soloist and music editor with the Nowakowsky Chorale; a choir sponsored by the David Nowakowsky Foundation, dedicated to the editing, publication, and performance of the great Jewish master's music. He has also lectured on vocal health for the Los AngelesJewish Choral Festival.
Operatically, Dr. Trabold has performed both here in the United States and abroad. His operatic career was highlighted when he performed as a representative of the United States Government to the Shanghai International Arts Festival in China where he performed the role of Rodolfo in Puccini's La Bohème and subsequently performed in a recital of American music at Madame Mao's Theaterin the Imperial Palace in Beijing. He also performed as Dr. Tuein the Twentieth Century premier of Monsigny's "On ne s'avise jamaisde tout" under the auspices of the French Consul in commemoration theFrench Bicentennial.He has performed the title roles in Mozart's "La Clemenza di Tito,"Cavalli's "L'Ormindo," and Offenbach's "Tales of Hoffmann."Other roles have included Mario Cavaradossi, Pinkerton, Pang, Alfredo, Reverend Danforth in Robert Ward's "The Crucible," and the Captain of Police in "Simon Boccanegra" with Long Beach Opera (along side of the long-time Metropolitan Opera star and author Jerome Hines). He also created the role of Phillip in the world première of Canales' "Inside-Out" and one of the three ministers in the Mid-West première of Carlyse Floyd's "Bilby's Doll." Most recently, Dr. Trabold has performedas Don José in the West Coast Opera's production of Bizet's "Carmen."
Dr. Trabold's research into the art of Vocal Pedagogy has led to thecreationof
an extensive and comprehensive series of CD-ROMs of the masterworks ofvocal
training that pre-date 1923.