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The Vocal Performance program's core mission is to identify dedicated, talented young singers and equip them with a solid grounding in vocal artistry, both in performance and teaching. Our curriculum emphasizes art song and opera training to cultivate a lifelong passion for creative expression and meaningful communication, instilling in students a sense of duty to enrich their communities. Faculty members collaborate closely to transform emerging artists into skilled professionals. By participating in opera productions, scene programs, song festivals, public recitals, masterclasses, and community initiatives, students gain essential experience for successful artistic careers.
Partnerships with opera companies, cross-disciplinary performance forums, and international conservatory collaborations enhance our students' education while helping them establish professional connections before graduation. Students have interacted with renowned figures including sopranos Renee Fleming and Leontyne Price, mezzo-sopranos Joyce DiDonato and Denyce Graves, tenors Jerry Hadley and Anthony Laciura, conductors Willie Anthony Waters and Doris Kosloff, stage director Gina Lapinski, coach Dennis Giauque, composer Jake Heggie, Austin Lyric Opera founder Joseph McClain, New York Times critic Anthony Tommasini, and OPERA America CEO Marc A. Sorca.
On-campus productions, televised performances, and outreach programs further our commitment to making the arts available to wider audiences. These opportunities not only develop students' performance skills but also demonstrate how artistic expression can positively impact people's lives.