Vocal Studies
FACULTY
- Dr. Katharine DeBoer, Soprano, Director of Vocal Studies
- Mr. Gary Aldrich, Bass-Baritone
- Mr. Stuart Duke, Baritone
- Mr. Jon Fay, Tenor
- Mr. Eric Gault, Tenor
- Ms. Denell Hull, Soprano
- Ms. Helen Lee, Soprano
- Ms. Judy Monson, Soprano
- Ms. Jennifer TIbben-Lembke, Soprano
The voice faculty are all successful performing artists, with regional, national, and international venues to their credit. Dr. DeBoer has appeared at the Casals Festival in Puerto Rico and is Artist-Faculty of the International Music Festival in Pitten, Austria. Mr. Aldrich is a veteran of regional theatres throughout New York and New England, including performances at Lincoln Center. Ms. Lee has been a featured guest artist in Taiwan, while Mr. Duke, Mr. Fay, and Ms. Tibben-Lembke are noted for appearances with regional orchestras and opera. Ms. Hull, Ms. Monson, and Ms. Tibben-Lembke are directors of area choral ensembles. Mr. Gault is Director of Music of Sage Ridge School.
DEGREES
- Bachelor of Music - Applied Voice
- Master of Music- Performance
In addition to university and departmental core requirements the curricula in Applied Voice include the following courses:
B.M.: Foreign Language Diction I and II, Solo Song Literature II, Vocal Pedagogy, Solo Repertoire from Choral Masterworks, and four semesters of foreign language.
M.M.: Advanced Repertoire Coaching, Solo Repertoire from Choral Masterworks, Vocal Pedagogy, and additional study in foreign language.
PRIVATE VOCAL STUDYWeekly private lessons and studio classes with one of nine performer-teachers provide a nurturing instructional experience. Entrance auditions, end-of-semester juries, and upper division barrier auditions enable the voice faculty team to track the progress of each voice major and to make recommendations for further study and coaching.
PERFORMANCE AND COMPETITION OPPORTUNITIESUNR's Nevada Chamber Opera is the ensemble focus of most vocal performance students. Major productions are mounted each semester in our beautiful 615-seat Nightingale Concert Hall. Additional workshops or tours are planned each year in late spring.
Nevada Opera Association: The liaison of our UNR Opera program with our excellent regional opera company, Nevada Opera, is of enormous benefit to our students, some of whom are featured in professional productions as chorus section leaders and in comprimario roles. They also receive private coaching with Robin Stamper, Artistic Director of Nevada Opera, and masterclasses with guest conductors.
Departmental and Voice Area Recitals provide all applied students with opportunities to perform for their peers and faculty.
Northern Nevada chapters of MTNA and NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) sponsor annual and semi-annual competitions and study awards. Students are encouraged to enter competitions, and are coached by our faculty team for auditions. One of our voice majors recently won first place in a national voice competition, while two placed third in the National MTNA competition. Celebrated former graduates who have "made it to the Met" include mezzo-soprano Dolora Zajic, and soprano Evelyn de la Rosa.
