Northern Michigan University musical theater major Liam Fisher was one of only 12 performers nationwide selected to participate in a master class centered on the Broadway singing voice with Tony Award–winning composer and lyricist Adam Guettel. His selection came through a juried audition process organized by the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS).
At the recommendation of his NMU voice instructor, Donna Poirier, who became aware of the opportunity through her involvement in NATS, Fisher submitted a video audition of three songs showcasing his vocal range and acting ability. He said he was surprised yet thrilled to learn he was among the dozen students selected for the opportunity. The class took place Oct. 13 in Guettel's studio before a live audience.
“It was more glamorous than I thought it would be,” Fisher said. “I wasn't expecting to walk into like a million-dollar flat in the middle of Manhattan with marble walls and beautiful floors. There were a lot of chairs surrounding one piano, which I didn't give much thought to at first. Then about halfway through, Adam randomly dropped this bomb on all of us that it was the same piano his grandfather, the legendary Richard Rodgers, composed all of his musicals on. Everyone's jaw dropped when he said that. The whole experience was surreal, but amazing and inspiring.”
Fisher said the class began unconventionally, with students in suits and dresses doing planks and squats in the middle of the studio, because Guettel wanted everyone to loosen up. Each artist then performed two songs of their choice. Fisher picked “You've Got to Die Sometime” from Falsettos and “Were Thine That Special Face” from Kiss Me, Kate, to showcase both modern and classic musical theater styles. He said Guettel's feedback was detailed and insightful.
“He talked a lot about stage presence, about activating your whole body even when you're standing still, and about finding the character's intention in every phrase,” Fisher explained. “He also taught me something new about my voice: how to ‘spin the note,' keeping energy in the sound instead of letting it sit flat. It was the kind of advice that sticks with you.”
Guettel won Tony Awards for best score and orchestrations for The Light in the Piazza, which premiered in 2005. He was most recently represented on Broadway with Lincoln Center Theater's 2025 Tony-nominated revival of his musical Floyd Collins.
Poirier, who accompanied Fisher to New York City, said watching her student work directly with a celebrated composer was deeply rewarding.
“Liam has always been a taskmaster,” Poirier added. “He keeps a little notebook and is constantly jotting down ways to improve. Not everyone has that discipline. Liam's success reflects his work ethic and commitment. To see my student in that studio, having his work critiqued by Adam Guettel, was incredible. It was also a rare opportunity for me to gain an understanding of how a composer views his own material.”
Fisher said NMU's hands-on theater program has been crucial to his development.
“We do 15 shows a year, so we're always working and learning through experience,” he said. “That's the best way to grow as a performer. It also builds your confidence and gives you the tools to succeed when opportunities like this master class come along. If you had told me at the start that I'd be singing for a Tony Award winner in New York City, I never would've believed you. It's something I'll remember for the rest of my life.”
Fisher will make his final appearance at NMU in the Senior Showcase before shifting his focus to national auditions and planning his next career steps.
