Voice Department

Program Overview

DiFiore The Blair School of Music offers three undergraduate programs in the study of voice: the Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance, the Bachelor of Music Integrated Studies degree which includes the Teacher Education track, and the Bachelor of Musical Arts degree.

The voice department specializes in instruction in applied voice, vocal literature, chamber music, lyric diction, vocal pedagogy, and performance practice and style. Blair offers a comprehensive opera training program, producing fully staged productions with orchestra and instruction in acting, stage combat, improvisation and the Alexander Technique.

Blair voice majors have been accepted into graduate performance programs at Boston Conservatory, Boston University, Cincinnati University, Eastman School of Music, Emory University, Florida State University, Indiana University, The Manhattan School of Music, The Mannheim Conservatory-Germany, New England Conservatory, Northwestern University, Peabody Conservatory, Rice University, San Francisco Conservatory, Texas Christian University, University of Colorado-Boulder, University of Kansas Conservatory, University of Maryland-College Park, University of Southern California, University of Texas-Austin and University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Blair graduates have performed with AIMS-Graz Austria, Amato Opera, Berkshire Opera, Central City Opera, Des Moines Metropolitan Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Lincoln Center Summer Music Festival, North Shore Music Theatre, Ohio Light Opera, Opera Astoria Music Festival, Opera Theatre of Lucca, Italy, Sarasota Opera and Texas Chamber Opera.

The Voice Department at the Blair School of Music is home to the Mary Cortner Ragland Trust, which, since its inception in 2002, has brought the following world-renowned artists, teachers and coaches in recital and master classes to the Blair School for the enrichment of our students and the greater Nashville community:

Reginald Mobley, countertenor
Alice Coote, mezzo-soprano
Lawrence Brownlee, tenor
Susan Graham, mezzo-soprano
Stephanie Blythe, mezzo-soprano
Warren Jones, piano
Eric Owens, baritone
Kenneth Griffiths, collaborative piano
Dean Southern, Distant Voices presentation
Audra McDonald, soprano
Thomas Hampson, baritone
Roger Vignoles, collaborative piano
Renee Fleming, soprano
Dawn Upshaw, soprano
Bo Skovhus, baritone
Ian Bostridge, tenor
Jennifer Larmore, mezzo-soprano
Martin Katz, collaborative piano
Margo Garrett, collaborative piano
Julius Drake, piano
Barbara Honn, soprano
Julie Simson, mezzo-soprano

Our Mission...

At the end of their tenure at Blair, our voice students will:

1. DEMONSTRATE EXCELLENCE IN MUSICAL FLUENCY

Sing healthily, with ease, and with an informed technical understanding, not only of their
physical instrument, but also how to interpret text through compelling storytelling in all settings.

2. EXHIBIT LEADERSHIP AS CITIZEN ARTISTS

Seek always to be versatile artists who integrate themselves into, and serve their community
through their craft.

3. POSSESS A FOUNDATION IN COMMUNICATION, MARKETING, AND PRACTICAL SKILLS

Depart Blair equipped with the basic skills of entrepreneurship and arts advocacy, with an ability
to navigate an ever-evolving artistic life.

4. HAVE CONFIDENCE IN WHAT COMES NEXT

Will have engaged fully in both the music and liberal arts curriculum in order to establish a strong post graduate intention and path.

Faculty

	Tucker Biddlecombe Associate Professor of Choral Studies; Director of Choral Activities; Director of the Music Teacher Education Program	Email 615-322-5801 1109C Blair
	Dashon Burton Assistant Professor of Voice Instruction in: Applied Voice	Email Website Blair 1182
	Ben Harris Senior Lecturer in Vocal Music Instruction in: Vocal Coaching and Collaborative Piano	Email 615-322-4937 2171 Blair
	Carl Hellmers Adjunct Instructor Instruction in: Applied Voice	Blair 3157
	Amy K. Jarman Principal Senior Lecturer Instruction in: Applied Voice and Vocal Literature	Email 615-322-7684 2173 Blair Collegiate primary majors, collegiate non-primary majors, and collegiate minors
	Jennifer Q. McGuire Principal senior lecturer in collaborative Piano; Music Director of Vanderbilt Opera Theater Instruction in: Vocal Coaching and Collaborative Piano	Email 615-343-3164 2167 Blair
	Cheri Montgomery Adjunct Senior Artist Teacher of Vocal Diction Instruction in: Lyric Diction	Email Website 615-343-3092 3128 Blair
	Tyler Nelson Associate Professor of Voice; Area Coordinator Instruction in: Applied Voice and Vocal Pedagogy	Email Website 615-322-7685 1166 Blair Collegiate primary majors, collegiate non-primary majors, and collegiate minors
	Tracy Prentice Adjunct Assistant Professor of Voice Instruction in: Applied Voice	Email 615-322-7164 3157 Blair Collegiate non-primary majors, collegiate minors, and Blair Academy students
	Gayle Shay Associate Professor of Lyric Theatre Arts; Director of Vanderbilt Opera Theatre Instruction in: Opera Theatre and Lyric Theatre Workshop	Email 615-322-7687 3106 Blair Collegiate primary majors, collegiate non-primary majors, and collegiate minors