Why Study Lyric Poetry With Me?

Giving Back to the Choral World

One of the greatest joys of my life has been singing in choir. Those words, that music, the fellowship between singers, breathing together and making beauty for others to enjoy... not to mention all the mountaintop experiences I have had, and the lifelong friendships I have made. This special world of poets, composers, and performers has given me so much, and I feel blessed to have been able to contribute in my way by providing the poetry for so many pieces of sublime music. I am a very lucky poet! After decades of experience writing poetry for choral composers I can say with some certainty that these composers are DESPERATE for new poetic voices to set for choir, art songs, or longer works. Only a small percentage of the great poetry out there is crafted specifically with the composer's needs in mind, which is why there are so many settings of just a handful of poems, so many versions of the same old rugged hymns or sacred texts. Composers are yearning to set the poetry of new voices, especially those from BIPOC and Queer communities; and choir directors are eager to program this new music whenever it gets created. 

​

It is my mission, therefore, to bring as much poetry to the attention of choral composers as I can--not just my own, but those new voices especially. YOUR voice. I want to help poets conceive of their craft in a new way, to open themselves and their work up to the world of musical setting, and in so doing, make the world a more musical, more beautiful, more diverse place, and to share with others the blessings I have been given.

​

The Life of a Poet is a Lonely One​

So much poetry is written in academic settings--and it has to be, because unless you are a Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, Mary Oliver, or Rumi, you don't make your living as a poet. You have a day job, usually teaching others to write poetry. You write and write and, if you are lucky, you'll get a poem published in a prestigious journal or literary magazine. If you are exceptionally lucky you'll have a volume of your poetry published by a local, or even national publisher. You might go on a brief tour, give a few readings, and then your book will be shelved along with thousands of others, in the lonely corners of the country's remaining bookstores, and in the vast wasteland of Amazon. There are highly competitive poetry prizes and prestigious residencies to apply for. But even winning the very highest honor that exists for a poet isn't enough to quit your day job. Witness Joseph Epstein's brilliant essay, "Thank You, No" about being Poet Laureate of the United States. Turns out, even this pinnacle of achievement requires a day job (how could one live comfortably in the Washington, D.C. area on a stipend of only $60,000 per year?) The current Poet Laureate, the amazing Ada Limón, has two teaching gigs in addition to her service to a grateful nation. 

​

It Doesn't Have To Be This Way...​

Now imagine if you will, being paid to write poetry; having your poetry performed from the stage at Carnegie Hall to a standing ovation; or having every high school in the state of Texas purchase 80 copies of your poetry; having your poetry memorized by thousands of people all around the world; your poetry engraved on a plaque at the entrance to a high school in Kansas City; your poetry tattooed on people's bodies; jetting off to Japan, all expenses paid, to hear a performance of your poetry; having an international organization constantly cataloguing every public performance of your poetry in the world, and then sending you a check; and finally, having people experience your poetry with custom-made soundtracks created by the world's leading composers...

This is the fabulous and exciting world of the Lyric Poet!

I have been incredibly lucky to have found the special niche I occupy; but there is room here for you, too! If you are a poet:

• who wishes to work collaboratively with other creators,

• who longs for a wider audience for your poetry,

• who wants to actually make a living writing poetry,

then I invite you to work with me to find your lyric voice! I offer hour-long sessions over Zoom in which we discuss the macro elements of lyricism, the business of writing, and how to connect with composers; and the micro workshopping of your own poetry. The workshopping is always one-on-one, but depending on scheduling I may occasionally offer the macro class in a group setting. 

​

FEE: The fee for each one-hour session is $100. For that you are getting one-on-one coaching centered around YOUR poetry, along with useful perspective and experience. If you'd like to explore working with me, please submit the form below!  

​

Some Student Testimonials​

​Tony is willing to share his deep knowledge with incredible generosity of spirit. He meets students where we are, soul-to-soul, leading from the heart, helping us to become better versions of ourselves as lyricists. His kindness, humility and patience create a laboratory for growth and transformation for the serious student. 

(Johanna, California)

​

My first meeting with Tony transformed my understanding of what lyric poetry could be. Not only was he easy to learn from and to banter with, but he is a master of his craft. In the span of five days, I wrote and rewrote five text settings, finally able to see beyond the “looking-glass.” Tony not only helped me refine my poetic voice, but also illuminated the world and business of being a lyricist. We all need to know where we fit in this world, and Tony’s success gives him the expertise to guide lyricists and poets alike toward their most successful arena. I highly recommend studying with Tony at any level of writing.

(Christopher, Georgia)​

​

As a participant in the International Choral Composer Institute, I had the privilege of working one-on-one with Dr. Tony Silvestri. I'd been writing poetry for a while and stumbling upon opportunities to collaborate with choral composers. I started to fall in love with the process, but wasn't sure how to elevate my work in a way that felt more intentional.

I expressed my goals, questions, and concerns to Dr. Silvestri, and we immediately got to work! The level of expertise, wisdom, knowledge, support, and encouragement that I received from him is unmatched! I have learned from many instructors and mentors over time, but this experience was different.

I returned to my hometown feeling as if I grew wings! My desire to write has been immensely strengthened, and the quality and depth of my poetry has ascended. Not only have my writing skills improved, but my perception of the art of writing poetry has shifted. This elevation has also ushered some amazing collaboration opportunities with composers into my life! I am forever grateful for the life changing opportunity to study with Dr. Silvestri!

(Devondra, Texas)

​

I was very impressed by the deep and focused way we worked on my poetry. Tony has a way of listening very deeply and attentively; his proposals and comments made perfect sense to me and showed me that he heard me. He helped me see and appreciate the music that is already in some of my lines. I’ve decided to continue learning to write lyrics with Tony, in addition to composing music,  and I’m looking forward to my next lyric-writing session!

(Eva, Germany)