My passion....

I am passionate about teaching and guiding all participants to connect with each other and the community through clear communication. Because of this mission, I do my best to model this in my own professional life by seeking both conventional and unconventional ways to apply the knowledge I have gained as a professional musician and educator. As an trainer/facilitator, I believe in maximizing the participant's strengths by creating a strategic approach that facilitates their learning and mastery of the subject, resulting in skills they can utilize beyond the setting of a specific workshop or training. Continuing research centers on interdisciplinary collaboration, and applying processes learned through the arts disciplines as it pertains to leadership roles.

"Learn to think. Learn to speak. Learn to read. It makes you an individual superpower ." -JBP

TRAINER:

Elias Mokole has curated tips and techniques over his 20 years of his professional teaching and singing career. He will help you connect with your authentic vocalism, and to discover the individual vocal imprint that is unique to each of us.

As a professional singer, Elias is equally at home in recital, musical theatre and orchestral concerts, as well as opera. Praised by both Opera News and the Washington Post for his "powerful, rich warm baritone “, Mokole’s performance highlights include: the title role in Verdi’s Rigoletto , Germont in La Traviata, Sharpless in Madame Butterfly, Scarpia in Tosca, Juan Perón in Evita, the title role in Gianni Schicchi, and soloist for the Brahms' Requiem. Mr. Mokole has performed over 800 professional performances as soloist with various opera companies and symphony orchestras throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.

As an educator, Elias was a recent recipient of a certificate presented by the University of Minnesota Vice Provost of Faculty and Academic Affairs Center for Educational Innovation for outstanding teaching and dedication for helping students "Thank a teacher Program, Fall 2019”. He has also been recently recognized by the Director of Disability Resources for creating meaningful access and inclusion at the University of Minnesota Duluth during the 2019-2020 academic year. Mr. Mokole will be performing the role of Germont in La Traviata with State Opera Stara Zagora in Bulgaria in the summer of 2020.

Elias Mokole was designated by the University of Minnesota Duluth as a leader in the areas of LGBTQ and for developing cross-disciplinary connection through the use of one's authentic voice. He presented his workshops in March and April 2020 working with the Women's Action Resource Center as well Access for All. Internationally, Mokole will present “Finding your inner voice as a teacher” at the LEARNINGSHIFT INTERNATIONAL UNCONFERENCE held MAY 2022 in PORTO, PORTUGAL.

In my spare time, I enjoy food and studying languages on Duolingo. I am currently sporting a 1,700 day streak and am using it to keep my French fluency active as well as learning Arabic and Spanish. Because of research projects, I have been travelling to Lisbon and Porto so I also am studying beginning Portuguese as well!