Clearly Boldly Unequivocally - The University of Montana Foundation

Singing in celebration of their gifts.
There, Ames learned Italian and German
and attended the International Institute of
Vocal Arts in Chiari.
When the couple returned to the U.S.
in 2006, she began singing lessons
and was accepted to UM’s master’s program.
“That I was awarded the title
role in Puccini’s Suor Angelica, in 2008,
was a leap of faith on the part of the
department. The department recognized
my potential and offered support.”
With a master’s degree in vocal performance
in hand, Ames and her husband
moved to San Francisco, where a new job
awaited him. “I am thankful that the
music faculty understands that not every ­
one comes from the same mold.
Montana gave me a unique, invaluable experience.
I could have paid more for
another education and been just as happy,
but my UM education is worth more
than I can express.”
Emily Carlton,
music education senior, had just
four days to prepare her audition for a
solo performance at the May gala.
“At the last minute, Anne Basinski, my
vocal instructor, encouraged me to try
out,” recalls Carlton.
But a technical glitch caused her audition to
go poorly. A friend stepped in at
the critical point. “He had recorded my
audition on his laptop,” said Carlton,
“I sang on top of it in his living room. We
burned it there, and sent it in.” And the
rest of the story is worthy of fairy­tale status.
True to her Cinderella roots, Carlton
won the heart of 14­time Grammy Award
winner and producer David Foster,
who chose her to sing. At the gala, Foster
accompanied her on the piano on “I
Can Only Imagine,” by Mercy Me, with
backing by professional musicians, some
from The Tonight Show.
Carlton’s focus is on Christian contemporary
music. She not only accompanies
herself on the piano; she writes lyrics and
composes. She has recorded a demo
CD in Bozeman. Amid all the excite ment,
she still keeps her feet planted firmly on
the ground.
What’s next for Carlton? “The picture is
so much bigger now,” she replies. “All
I have to do is sing,” she says, “and everything
falls into place.”