Call Answered: Gregory Gropper Interview: Singing His Heart Out

Gregory Gropper is about to graduate from the University of Michigan. With dreams of being a singer, Gregory is on his way to a successful career!

Having studied under the legendary Marilyn Maye & Ben Vereen, Greogry has already performed at such high profile venues as Don’t Tell Mama NYC, The Metropolitan Room (as Marilyn Maye’s special guest), Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall.

In this interview, Gregory answered my call to reveal:

• What he hopes to contribute to the music industry
• How the pandemic enhanced or affected his career goals
• What it was like working with the legendary Marilyn Maye & Ben Vereen
• Which baseball team he would like to sing the National Anthem for
• So much more

Connect with Gregory: Website

Marilyn Maye and Gregory Gropper at Feinstein’s/54 Below

1. X amount of years from now, when someone thinks of your contributions to music, what do you hope they say? Years from now, I hope people can look and listen to my music and say that they feel the same way about something, and can relate to me. After all, part of the reason I sing is to reveal myself to others and show them a part of me so I can express myself and also give them a reason to open up to themselves about things they go through.

2. You have studied with some of the biggest names in music. First up, is the legendary Marilyn Maye. What have you learned about singing/performing from Marilyn? This entire interview answer could be about my mentor and friend Marilyn. We have been doing private studio work (until covid) for 5 years. She is absolutely aware of every phrase and puts arrangements together like miracles. Her comfort level performing is addictive and singing with her at the missed Metropolitan Room still thrills me.

She was the first to applaud and heard me sing “ You’ll be back “ and suggested I do it when she called me up on stage. She gets it and is young in spirit. When she demands the best from you and then it is delivered, Marilyn is so proud and supportive. She tells me when a song might be too mature for me or when it fits.

Our lessons together have enlightened me about interpreting. They are about finding someone in my audience to share a personal story with. In fact Mr. Vereen has the very same gift when he is asking me to imagine singing “Oh What A Beautiful Morning“ to one student in his master class, rather than to everyone.

3. Another legend you have studied with is Tony Award Winner Ben Vereen. What did you learn from working with him? Ben Vereen is a really great teacher and an even greater person. He’s so down to earth, and gives really personal and deeper critiques of the songs I perform in front of him. He really makes a bond with the singer and from what I’ve seen in master class, everyone opens up to him to discover something new about themselves and their singing. For example when singing “Anthem“ he suggested making it bigger as it encompasses so much.

Marilyn and Ben are very deep and spiritual and their maturity kind of matches a younger need for fulfillment. There could be a spiritual arrangement made by Marilyn with the importance of simplicity from Ben. I’m hopeful, even now after Covid, and so I feel we three might offer an inspiring, interpreted version of “Rainbow Connection“ offering hope.

 

5. You are about to graduate from the University of Michigan. How do you feel the pandemic has either enhanced or affected your career goals/aspirations? One way that the pandemic has helped me is that I had more free time to work with my excellent Professor Caroline Helton (U of Michigan) on my technique, breathing and even singing arias and with a mask! We went over “Genius Child“ by Hughes a lot until it sounded effortless.

 

Covid made me work harder and improve a ton. Since the beginning of Covid, I kept on singing through it all because music is what I do.

 

Gregory Gropper, Prof Caroline Helton (soprano)
and Jascha Nemtsov (pianist) 2019

 

6. As the world is SLOWLY beginning to open up, what is the first thing you want to do that you haven't been able to do during the pandemic? I want to perform in front of crowds again. That is something Covid has curtailed for so many performers. I’ve been dying to get back on stage, so that’s something I’m looking forward to. Maybe more for the Mabel Mercer Foundation or on my own. My first classical instructor, soprano Darynn Zimmer, has moved and suggests singing in Berlin.

 

7. You are an avid animal lover. What are your top 3 favorite animals and why do you love them so much? I love dogs. My family has had two dogs, one Brittany Spaniel named Breaker who we had when I was very young and our 15 year old poodle, Redford. He is kind and active.

 

A second animal, dolphins. I went on a trip to the Bahamas when I was pretty young and my mom and I went to a dolphin rehabilitation center, where we were able to go up to them and interact with them. It was an amazing moment.

 

Another animal I love are swans. Through middle school I’d come home to see swans swimming behind our house. I’d love to see how every year a new couple would raise their baby cygnets and we could observe them get bigger throughout the year till winter when they migrate south. Hopefully we all will do more to sustain clean water where they live.

 

8. In addition to animals, you also love baseball. If you could sing the national anthem for any baseball team, who would you want to open for? My favorite baseball team is the Yankees, so I have to go with them. If we are talking basketball, the Knicks for sure, as I am a die hard Knicks fan.

 

9. Rapid Fire Questions:

• Favorite TV show? 3% It’s a Brazilian TV show about a dystopian society where only 3% of people who are the smartest can gain access to a high class society.Its somewhat of a commentary on class struggle in Brazil.
• Favorite Movie? Star Wars. Always loved it since I was a kid. I’m always looking forward to what new Star Wars shows and movies Disney puts out.
• Favorite Musical? I love the mythical stories expressed through musical legends. Man of La Mancha‘s deeper meaning. I’m hoping to learn the role of “Don Quixote” for the opera when I’m a bit older. Camelot is another favorite. “King Arthur“ is another hero. Marilyn Maye gave me a terrific jazz version of “My Favorite Things” from the Sound of Music.
• Favorite Play? The Ferryman by Jez Butterworth. I saw it on Broadway a few years ago and haven’t felt as moved by a play since.
• Favorite cereal? Fruit Loops, though I don’t eat them as much as I used to.
• Favorite comfort food? A good Margarita Pizza.
• Favorite Game Show? Deal or No Deal. It was the only game show I watched when I was younger, so I’d have to pick that.
• Favorite Board Game? Catan, love that game in college.
• Go to Karaoke song? There isn’t a song that comes to mind particularly, but I’d usually start it off with something from the Golden Age of musicals so I could use some operatic technique here and there to surprise people.
• Go to Emoji when texting? Laughing or crying hands down 🤣

10. What is something we didn't get to cover that you'd like my readers to know about you? Something that people don’t know about me is that I compose original music and lyrics. Mike Errico encouraged me during a summer at NYU. I wrote “Julianne,“ “In the Rain,“ and “She’s There“ on keyboard and joined ASCAP which he suggested. The energy and selflessness from mentors is so igniting. It is about how we connect to each other. Music is my connection.