As an acting teacher and coach, Curt has worked for more than 10 years with a range of students: from conservatory grads and undergrads to middle and high school students. His philosophy as a teacher is to empower the student to make bold personal choices to create a world in which they can truthfully and humanly respond. The goal is for students to express themselves emotionally– not just to “say” or “sing” the words. No two performances will ever be exactly the same: this is the magic of being truly present to what is happening. When working with actors and singers, his emphasis is on feeling, expressing and responding truthfully to every moment. He encourages students to let their imaginations run wild, to be creative and take risks. People go to the theater to see ordinary people deal with extraordinary circumstances. Curt strive’s to teach and empower students to find and create that on their own.
Curt has been a guest artist at SongFest since 2012 and at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music since 2019. He has also led sessions at the Bucknell University Opera Department, as well as various theater companies and private schools throughout the Bay Area.
In 2012, Curt co-founded Pacific Singers & Actors Workshop (PacSAW) in San Francisco, and recently received a prestigious Jefferson Award for Public Service. Throughout the academic year, they take the 10-week program into public and private schools to help students develop the habits and tools necessary to create a foundation in singing, acting and improvisation. The goal is to empower students to apply the creative process to their personal goals. Whether preparing to audition for a school musical, giving a speech or presentation in class, even running for student government, they help students build the confidence to participate in a group, to listen and respond, to put their best foot forward in a job interview or whatever life may present them.