About
Education:
Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance
from Samford University (2009)
Master of Music Education
from Samford University (2010)
Master of Music in Voice and Opera
from Northwestern University (2013)
Doctorate of Musical Arts
from The University of Alabama (2015)
I began singing in public at age 10 at a Methodist church near where I grew up in Largo, Florida. I participated in my high school marching band (flute and alto saxophone) and choir. I performed in my high school musicals (The Reverend Mother in The Sound of Music and Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady), and went on to major in vocal performance at Samford University.
Undergraduate studies:
At Samford University, I sang in the A Cappella Choir and toured the Southeastern U.S. and the world, singing in some of the finest cathedrals and churches including Notre Dame, Southwark, Ely, Chartres, St. Peter's in Rome, and at the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing, China. I have given many recitals, performed in operas, and have won singing competitions throughout the state of Alabama. I participated in the chorus of several of Opera Birmingham's shows and have also sung for master classes with visiting professional singers.
Graduate Studies:
After auditioning at the Curtis Institute and the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, Indiana University, the Manhattan School of Music, and Northwestern University for further grad school training, I chose Northwestern University for my operatic master's degree. I sang in operas including living composer John Musto's Bastianello and Ricky Ian Gordon's The Grapes of Wrath. While in Chicago I was a professional chorister in the St. James Episcopal Cathedral Choir.
Summer programs are an important part of every serious classical/opera student's development, and I participated in the Aspen Festival Opera Theater Center at the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado. I met with coaches and teachers from New York, and was the Second Spirit in The Magic Flute, and was in the chorus of John Harbison's The Great Gatsby with the composer in attendance.
Terminal Degree:
In order to achieve my goal of being able to teacher in a higher learning institution, I immediately went on to The University of Alabama to obtain a doctorate. I gave three one-hour collaborative recitals and completed a document analyzing Dominick Argento's song cycle for voice, clarinet and piano entitled To Be Sung Upon the Water.
Professional Life:
I live in Birmingham, Alabama where I sing for a major religious television network, and perform in recitals and concerts.
I was formerly Assistant Professor of Music at Judson College, where I taught voice majors and minors and helped them prepare for recitals. I also taught the following courses:
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Vocal Pedagogy
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Music History I
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Music History II
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Opera Workshop
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Vocal Literature
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Diction for Singers I (English, Liturgical Latin, Italian)
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Diction for Singers II (German, French)
I currently am a Lecturer in the School of the Arts and with the Division of Music at Samford University, my alma mater.
I am well versed in and happy to help students to learn to master in the pronunciation and diction rules of the following languages for singing:
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English
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Liturgical Latin
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Italian
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German
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French
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Russian
I gave my Carnegie Hall debut in March 2017. Dr. Terre Johnson, Alabama composer with whom I have worked closely for years, graciously asked me to be the soloist for the world premiere of his work for soprano soloist, choir and orchestra entitled Song of the Captive.
I sing for various cathedrals and churches in Birmingham, and have been a featured soloist with The Alabama Symphony, Over the Mountain Festivals, the [Catholic] Diocesan Choir of Birmingham and other local entities.
