Education
Doctor of Musical Arts, Vocal Performance, December 2010
The University of Kansas, Principal Teacher: Joyce Castle
Master of Music, Vocal Performance, May 1998
Conservatory of Music, University of Missouri–Kansas City, Principal Teacher: Inci Bashar
Bachelor of Arts in Music and Theater, May 1994 magna cum laude
Skidmore College, Principal Teacher: Anne Turner
Additional Training
The LoVetri Institute for Somatic Voicework, July 2019
- Certified in Level 1 of Somatic Voicework
- Training program for Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) styles based upon body awareness.
National Association of Teachers of Singing, Intern Program, June 2015
- 9-day program that paired twelve selected teachers with Donald Simonson, Marilyn Mims, Craig Tompkins, and Mary Ann Hart, to encourage pedagogical discussion and development through one-on-one teaching observations, demonstrations, and master classes.
Experience
Artist-in-Residence in Voice, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York, August 2014-Present
- Teach private voice lessons for majors and non-majors
- Instruct weekly private lessons. Attend to all areas of vocal development including technique, diction, repertoire and interpretation. Performance focus on biannual jury performances as well as themed studio recitals, opera/musical theatre scenes, vocal competitions and graduate school auditions.
- Advise undergraduate music majors (BA)
- Facilitate performance classes
- Coordinate and facilitate fall semester weekly performance classes for voice students (combined studios as of Fall 2019). Students perform jury repertoire with a collaborative pianist, and studio members offer constructive comments to develop the performance.
- Teach Diction for Classical Singers, 2019
- An overview of diction, including mastery of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), learn general rules of Italian, German, and French diction using Wall’s “International Phonetic Alphabet for Singers” and “Diction” by John Moriarty.
- Direct Opera Workshop
- Rehearse musically and dramatically, stage direct and produce full-scale or minimized operas for a spring performance(s):
- A Cinderella Story (tbd), Spring 2020
- Scenes program, Spring 2019
- Figaro, Act II (full-scale), Spring 2018
- Scenes program, Spring 2017
- Xerxes (full-scale), Spring 2016
- Rehearse musically and dramatically, stage direct and produce full-scale or minimized operas for a spring performance(s):
- Coordinate Studio Recitals
- Liederabend, 2019
- Serata Musicale, 2018
- Liederabend, 2017
- A Sisterhood of Song, 2016
- Fiery Phonation, 2015
- Coordinate Juries, Master Classes, and Guest Artists
- Mary McNulty, Professional Musical Theater Performer: master class and mock auditions, 2018
- Dr. Sharon O’Connell Campbell, Professor of Voice, University of Nebraska-Kearney: Guest Clinician, 2017, 2019
- Dr. Anne Jennifer Nash, Professor of Voice, Concordia College: Guest Clinician, 2017, 2019
- Elizabeth Margolius: Opera Stage Director-in-Residence, 2017
- Scott Schoonover, Artistic Director Union Avenue Opera: Opera Conductor-in-Residence, 2016
- Dr. Chad Payton: Counter-Tenor-in-Residence, 2016
- Dr. Rebecca Folsom, Professor of Voice Boston Conservatory: 2015
- Dr. Daniel Bubeck, Counter-Tenor and Baroque Specialist: voice master class, 2015
- Coordinate Outreach Performances of Opera and Special Events
- Saratoga Independent School: opera workshop and Bernstein the Educator, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
- St. Clement’s School: opera workshop and Bernstein the Educator, 2017, 2018
- The Waldorf School: opera workshop and Bernstein the Educator, 2017, 2018
- Clifton Park/Halfmoon Library Concert Series: opera workshop, 2016
- Shenendehowa High School: opera workshop, 2016
Director of Opera, Lecturer in Voice, Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas, August 2011-2014
- Direct opera productions for the Washburn Opera Studio
- Teach Music for the Stage, music theater workshop
- Teach private voice lessons for Voice majors and non-majors
- Teach Vocal Literature
- Teach Enjoyment of Music
Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, Fall 2007-Spring 2010
- Voice lessons for undergraduate Performance, Education and Music Therapy majors
- Studio classes and group recitals for students
- Prepare Music Education and Music Therapy seniors for degree recitals
- Teach performance classes for Voice majors
Interim Lecturer, University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth, Kansas, Spring 2009
- Voice lessons for undergraduate music minors
- Group recitals
- Jury preparation
Interim Lecturer in Voice, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York, January-December 2006
- Voice lessons for music majors, minors, and non-majors
- Weekly Studio classes
- Coordinated juries, special master classes, and visiting artists
- Judged voice division of Filene Music Competition
- Opera workshop
- Workshop premiere of new one-act opera Music on the Water and four scenes from Mark Adamo’s Little Women
- Acted as stage director and musical director
- Coordinated visiting composer and guest artist
- Featured artist of the New York State Music Teachers
- Association conference (premiered Love’s Philosophy and performed solo voice recital)
Additional Teaching
Artist-Faculty, InterHarmony International Music Festival, Acqui Terme, Italy, July 2018
- Teach private voice lessons
- Coach chamber ensembles
- Perform on artist faculty concerts
Teacher, High School Honors Artists Program, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Fall 2009-present
- Voice lessons for twelve selected high school students
- Monthly master classes
- Preparation for contests and college auditions
Community School of the Arts / Teaching Artist 2008-2010, Kansas City, Missouri
- Teach private voice lessons for students from age nine to adult
- Conduct master classes for studio and school
Conference Presentations
A Symposium on Wonder: Center for Humanistic Inquiry, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York, 2019.
“What Does Wonder Sound Like?”
National Association of Teachers of Singing Regional Conference, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, 2019.
“Transforming Art Song into Music Theatre: Sister – Show Me Eternity: The Creative Process.” Co-Presenters: Sharon O’Connell Campbell, Ellen Sommer, Anne Jennifer Nash.
National Association of Teachers of Singing National Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2018
“Transforming Art Song into Music Theatre: Sister – Show Me Eternity: The Creative Process.” Co-Presenters: Anne Jennifer Nash, Sharon O’Connell Campbell, Evan Mack.
Publications
The Cambridge Companion to West Side Story, Cambridge University Press (Date TBD): forthcoming
New Grove Dictionary of American Music, Oxford University Press (2015): newly commissioned articles on Broadway icons
American Music Research Center Journal (2013): “George Abbott’s Contribution to Musical Theater through the 1950s”
Soprano Sylvia Stoner made an attractive, winning Hanna, acting and singing strongly.
Sylvia Stoner gives a strong performance as Hanna, imbuing her role with a nice sense of playfulness. Stoner displays a powerful and clear soprano voice that’s well suited to this tuneful material
Sylvia Stoner, as Hanna, is beautiful and vivacious, with a strong, clear soprano.