Voice Emphasis

Music Performance BM

Program Overview

The Vocal Performance degree at Utah State University provides a robust and comprehensive educational foundation for students wishing to learn artful and healthy techniques of singing in both classical and musical theatre styles. This degree track prepares students for continued graduate study or immediate entrance into the professional world as a voice teacher or performer. USU vocal performance majors receive unparalleled performance opportunities in the primarily undergraduate program ranging from summer internships with Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre, founded by Dr. Michael Ballam, to close collaboration with the college’s Department of Theatre Arts.

In addition to private voice instruction from exceptional pedagogues, Voice Performance majors at Utah State receive innovative classroom instruction in vocal pedagogy, the languages of classical singing, repertoire, and close mentorship from an experienced and professional faculty as they work towards their goals in personal musical excellence. Annual productions of operas, musicals, and scenes programs provide all students with ample performance opportunities where the invaluable skills of acting and stagecraft are taught by knowledgable faculty members and guest directors.

Program Specifics

Voice Performance majors take a combination of core music classes to perfect general musicianship and emphasis courses that teach the specific skills singers need to master the art and technique of singing. Course highlights include a year-long study of vocal pedagogy that concludes in a guided practicum, a three-semester sequence of diction courses on the primary languages of singing, a two-semester sequence of vocal literature including recital programming, and multiple performance opportunities in the two required degree recitals, opera/musical productions, and the weekly masterclass and recital hour. The students’ training is also supplemented by frequent visiting master artists and guest performers/directors.

The most advanced students have the option of being part of the scholarship-receiving Manon Caine Russell Opera Outreach Quartet, providing these promising students additional performance and leadership opportunities.

Although students come from varying backgrounds with different levels of experience, those that have the most success as Voice Performance majors at Utah State are those that are motivated, dedicated, and involved. They exhibit a passion for communicating through song and typically have had some choral or solo vocal training before coming to college. Strong sight-singing and piano skills are also beneficial for all voice performance majors.

For specific information regarding coursework required to earn a Voice emphasis, please refer to the BM Vocal Performance degree map.

Admissions

In addition to applying for admission to the University, all applicants interested in pursuing a music degree must perform an audition on their major instrument to gain admission into the Department of Music. View specific application and audition information on our admissions and auditions page.

An accompanist will be provided, but applicants may bring their own.

In addition to singing your chosen musical selections, the audition may also include a brief sight-singing task and a aural acuity task.

No additional application or audition is required to be considered for a Vocal Talent Scholarship, although such awards will only be given to intended Voice Performance or Choral Education majors.

Ensembles

Additional information on choirs and vocal ensembles at USU is found on our Ensembles Page.

USU Opera Theatre

Utah State’s Opera Theatre is a dramatic musical ensemble that produces annual fully-staged operas/musicals and scenes programs.

USU Choirs

Utah State hosts four different student choirs that perform and record regularly throughout the region.

Choral Scholars

The USU Choral Scholars is Utah State’s student-created and student-led small vocal ensemble.

Highlights

Under the tutelage of experienced and distinguished faculty, graduates of Utah State University’s Vocal Performance program regularly continue on after graduation to achieve their goals, whether that be running a successful private studio or performing professionally on some of the nation’s most influential stages. Utah State Voice Performance majors have been MONC and NATS regional finalists in addition to receiving admission to some of the nation’s finest graduate programs.

Full-Time Faculty

Cindy Dewey - soprano; Music Department Head, Professor of Voice

Thomas Glenn - tenor; Voice Program Coordinator, Assistant Professor of Voice

Dallas Aksoy - Opera Director, Coach/Accompanist, Lecturer

Notable Alumni

Tamara Mumford - critically-acclaimed mezzo-soprano, has sung with the Metropolitan Opera (140+ performances), the New York Philharmonic, the LA Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony, the Berlin Philharmonic (both in Berlin and on tour in Asia), the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Opera Philadelphia, Santa Fee Opera, Glyndebourne Festival, Palm Beach Opera, Castleton Festival. She has Toured with Dudamel and the LA Philharmonic in the U.S. and internationally. She has been a featured artist at many festivals, including Ravinia and Tanglewood.

Belen Moyano - Broadway: Hadestown (Fate, u/s Eurydice) current. Hadestown First National Tour, 2021-2023

Jamilyn Manning-White - soprano; NYU Steinhardt School of Music, Voice Faculty. Graduate of Yale Opera Program, she has performed with Glimmerglass Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Orlando Philharmonic, among others. She has toured in the Broadway promotional cast throughout the U.S. and Canada as Phoebe in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.

Nicole Vander Does - Singing Sergeants of the U.S. Air Force Bands. Stationed in Washington, D.C. This ensemble of 24 singers supports ceremonial and diplomatic functions, education outreach events, and performs concerts throughout Washington, D.C., and the United States.