Teaching CURRICULUM VITAE

Overview

2019 - Present — Associate Professor, Vocal Arts, Opera, Musical Theatre, University of Southern California, Thornton School of Music, Los Angeles, CA

2019 - 2021 — Chair, Musical Theatre, University of Southern California/Thornton

2021 - Present — Director, Musical Theatre Minor, Thornton School of Music

2024 — Creator/Director, “In Her Key” Women’s Voices of Broadway Cabaret Showcase, produced by Stagebound, Inc. and NATS-LA, The Ebell of Los Angeles, CA

2012 - 2019 — Full-Time Adjunct Professor of Voice, New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, New Studio on Broadway, New York, New York

2013 - 2019 — Vocal Performance Classes, Summer Program/Vocal Intensive, New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, New Studio on Broadway, New York, NY

2018 — Vocal Coach/Consultant and Creative Team Member for 2018 Presidential Scholars of the Arts at The Kennedy Center, Washington, DC

2017 — Vocal Coach/Consultant and Creative Team Member for Regional YoungArts Winners, Mikhail Baryshnikov Arts Center, New York, New York

2015 - 2017 — Vocal Coach/Consultant for GRAMMY CAMP (East Coast), Converse Rubber Tracks Studio, Brooklyn, New York

2016 - 2019 — Audition Evaluator for Voice (in person and digital), New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, New Studio on Broadway, New York, New York

2013 — Distinguished Teacher Recognition, Presidential Scholars of the Arts, Washington, DC

2012 - Present — Director, Master Artist/Teacher, Stagebound Vocal Intensive, National Opera Center, New York, New York (by audition and evaluation/interview)

2010 - Present — Master Artist, Creative Director, Vocal Consultant and National Panelist in Voice (in person and digital), YoungArts, Miami, Florida, New York City and Washington DC

2002 - Present — CEO, Stagebound, Inc., Workshops, Seminars, Professional Performances, Pre-College Consulting, Private Voice Studio (Studio for Vocal Refinement), Production Company, Nationwide 

2009 - 2012 — Head of Vocal Division, Fine Arts Center, Greenville, South Carolina

2004 - 2008 — Assistant Professor of Voice, Department of Music, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia

2003 - 2004 — Artist In Residence, Department of Music, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia

TEaching Experience

USC, Thornton School of Music

Associate Professor of Practice, 2019 - Present, Los Angeles, California

  • Weekly GE Class MUSC 200mgw: The Broadway Musical: Reflections of American Diversity—enrollment 150 students (4 units)

  • Weekly Musical Theatre Workshop I (Series I of II) MPVA 402 for MT Minors (3 units)

  • Weekly Musical Theatre Workshop II (Series II of II) MPVA 412 for MT Minors (3 units)

  • Weekly Performance Practice of African American Spirituals class MPVA 499 (3 units) *

  • Weekly Private Vocal Instruction MPVA 301 for Classical and Musical Theatre Majors (2 units) 

  • Weekly Private Vocal Instruction MPVA 353 for Classical, Musical Theatre, Jazz, and Pop Non-Majors (2 units)

  • Weekly Vocal Performance/Production Classes MPVA 140, an introductory course for 1st Year Musical Theatre Majors (2 units) * 

  • Weekly Tin Pan Alley Classes MPVA 150, co-taught with Thornton Opera Director (2 units) 

  • Faculty Advisor, Thornton Chamber Opera (TCO)

  • Musical Theatre Coach (in support and collaboration with Thornton Vocal Performance Faculty) 

  • Performance Masterclasses (Musical Theatre, African American Spirituals, and Choral Directors, Classical [studio class])

  • Head of Music in Musical Theatre

  • Director of Musical Theatre Minor 

  • Supervise Musical Theatre Minor auditions

  • Maintain a rotating private roster of potential student recruits and professional private voice and theatre clients

  • Awarded USC/Thornton Dean’s Faculty Award for Excellence in Service, 2023

    *Classes newly conceived and implemented

 

NYU, Tisch School of the Arts, New Studio on Broadway

Adjunct Professor of Voice, 2012 - 2019, New York, New York

  • Weekly Vocal Performance, Graduate Musical Theater Workshop and Performance, and Small Group/Ensemble Classes, of approximately 80 Sophomores, (divided into four classes). The students learn how to bridge the gap between vocal techniques, acting techniques and effective healthy production for successful execution. Interpretation and expression of songs, personalization, moment before, objectives, dramatic action, and environment are also introduced. For Small Group/ Ensemble work, style and character objectives, obstacles and tactics used in a large and small ensemble as well as continued strengthening of music sounds and skills while immersed in the style/character of the ensemble is introduced. When appropriate, movement is also incorporated.

  • Weekly private voice instruction offered for gifted Broadway-bound students of all levels (enrollment of a minimum of 10 students by audition only). Instruction includes a clear understanding of the mechanism and technique of healthy tone production and how it relates to effective expression of song, the acting of group and solo song, body/energy connection, characterization, and interpretation; in addition to technical training in the four basic principles of singing (respiration, phonation, resonance, and articulation). Clear instruction on the discipline of vocal study, breathing techniques, vocal warm-ups and repertoire guideline for Book preparation are also offered. 

  • Performance masterclasses at the end of each semester offer private voice students the opportunity to engage/collaborate with others in the studio and combine singing and expressing/acting in a class setting. Juniors are required to offer an ensemble piece, in accordance with their assigned role. Graduating seniors are required to create a 10-minute Cabaret as their final project.

  • Artistic Evaluator (in person and digital) for voice auditions of potential incoming freshmen and NSB voice faculty

  • Vocal Coach/Consultant for major NYU/NSB productions and departmental projects

Stagebound Vocal Intensive, National Opera Center

Director, Master Teacher, CEO, 2012 - Present, New York, New York

  • Director/Master Teacher, plan, organize and direct an extensive, collaborative curriculum for vocal, acting and movement training, representing all genres of music (including classical, musical theater, jazz, pop, R&B, country, and gospel). A distinguished faculty of professional teachers and musicians hired to collaborate disciplines, offering the highest level of training, expertise, and advice to participants.

  • Professional workshops on breathing techniques, movement for singers, music business, networking, branding, marketing, performance preparation/etiquette, health/body maintenance, appropriate dress and repertoire/Book preparation for audition/performance.

  • "Mock" auditions before a panel of industry professionals with individual consultation and feedback offered. 

  • Interactive Seminars on “Acting a Song,” “What Do I Do With My Hands” and “How To Win It” 

  • Live stream showcase performance culminates the final evening of workshops, masterclasses, and the Stagebound Vocal Intensive

 
 

Classical Voice, YoungArts

National Panelist, Master Artist/Teacher, Vocal Coach/Consultant and Member of Creative Team, Distinguished Teacher recognition, 2010-Present, Miami, Florida, New York City and Washington, DC 

  • Creative Team, Vocal Coach/Consultant for Showcase Performance of the 2018 Presidential Scholars of the Arts at The Kennedy Center, Washington, DC and for the regional showcase performance at the Mikhail Baryshnikov Art Center in New York City.

  • Panelist, Master Artist/Teacher, Vocal Coach/Consultant for YoungArts, an exclusive arts competition recognizing and awarding the most outstanding young, gifted artists (ages 15-18), including vocalists, in the nation, including the honor of nominating and directing the top twenty Presidential Scholars of the Arts.

  • Distinguished Teacher Recognition, Presidential Scholars of the Arts, granted invitation to prestigious medal ceremony, exhibits, events and showcase performance.

  • Created vocal qualification and curriculum for application requirements, participants and consideration as a winner, honorable mention, or merit finalist for the classical voice division. Also collaborated with other national panelists in pop, jazz, and singer songwriter division on their vocal application requirements. Created curriculum for the vocal division.

  • Artistic Evaluator (digital) for classical voice auditions of potential winners, honorable mention, or merit finalists

The Fine Arts Center

Head of Vocal Division, 2009-2012, Greenville, South Carolina 

  • Daily voice instruction for gifted magnet high school students (enrollment by audition only).

  • Created/developed curriculum, including movement for singers, structured vocalises, daily studio classes, weekly performance masterclasses and knowledge of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).

  • Weekly instruction in repertoire and résumé building/refinement, audition techniques and English, Italian and German diction.

  • Two formal public recitals offered each academic year.

  • All seniors presented a senior project and recital.

 
 

Kennesaw State University

Assistant Professor of Voice, 2003-2007, Kennesaw, Georgia 

  • Weekly studio classes as part of the curriculum for Music Majors.

  • A formal public Studio Recital offered every semester.

  • Founded “First Performance Club” for music performance majors.

University of California

Graduate Fellowship/Teaching Assistant, Santa Barbara, California 

  • Taught Voice Class for Non-Music Majors, created elective curriculum course 

  • Music 114 (Pop & Music Culture)

  • Music 11 Fundamentals of Music.

  • Administered workshops for choirs and ensembles.

  • Assigned all voice classes and a private studio.

 
 

University of Texas

Graduate Student, Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy, Austin, Texas 

  • Improved vocal technique and interpretation of male and female Music Majors and Non-Music Majors.

  • Composed and implemented curriculum for singers with vocal damage/nodes, immediately after surgery.

  • Devised breathing and vocal techniques, as well as exercises for singers to resume complete vocal recovery and health.

Membership Organizations

2019 - Present — Member of Actor’s Equity

2012 - Present — Member of Opera America

2003 - Present — College Music Society

2005 - Present — Classical Singer

2005 - Present — National Association of Teachers of Singing

2010 - 2015 — Board of Directors Advisory Council, Greenville Symphony

2009 - 2015 — Presidential Advisory Council, Furman University 

1985 — Phi Kappa Phi, National Academic Honor Society

1981 — Mu Phi Epsilon, Co-Ed Music Fraternity

Education

1995/1996 — Fulbright Scholar, La Scala, Milan, Italy

A double Fulbright Award recipient. Studied seven operatic and orchestral roles exclusively with Maestro Gabriele Pisani at La Scala Opera, emphasizing the bel canto technique and the verismo style of singing.

1988 - 1990 — Merola Opera Program, San Francisco Opera

Selected as one of 3 sopranos out of 16 exceptional and gifted vocalists from 8 vocal categories.

1985 - 1993 — Post Graduate MA/DMA Vocal Performance, University of California, Santa Barbara 

  • Minor:  Vocal Pedagogy

  • Received full tuition academic and merit scholarship for MA/DMA degree

  • Completed 135 credit hours of MA/DMA study (certification pending)

  • Graduate Teaching Assistant recipient

  • Graduate Fellowship/Apprenticeship recipient

1983 - 1985 — MM Vocal Performance, University of Texas at Austin

  • Minor: Vocal Pedagogy

  • Awarded the Dean Gerard Béhague full tuition scholarship for two consecutive years for MM degree

  • Completed 6 credit hours of DMA study prior to completing MM degree

  • Graduate Teaching Assistant recipient

  • Graduate Fellowship recipient

  • Inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, National Academic Honor Society

1979 - 1983 — BM Vocal Performance, Furman University

  • Awarded Most Outstanding Alumni, Furman University

  • Received full tuition academic and merit scholarship for BM degree

  • Inducted into Mu Phi Epsilon, Co-Ed Music Fraternity