Vocal Frequently Asked Questions

Our students are performing all the time. All groups (choral, opera, musical theater workshop) are open by audition.

Choral---sings 3-4 concerts per semester with a glittering Winter Wonderful show in December and a tour (2017-Salzburg, Vienna and Prague) in May.

Opera---one major scenes program (costumes/sets) in fall semester, one main stage performance with orchestra (costumes/) sets, numerous run-out performances throughout the South Florida area.

Undergraduates are required to audition for all performances.  Most often younger students are in the chorus and small roles, but all roles are open by audition and we cast based on the audition, not on your level. 

Yes!  Department students are performing in other students’ recitals and often collaborate with instrumentalists within the Frost school.  They appears as soloists with the Frost Symphony and Frost Wind Ensemble, and on weekly Vocal Performance Forums.  In addition, there are often department class performances (diction class recitals, musical theater workshop performances, etc.)

As a department major, you will sing solo recitals as culminating projects in your junior, senior, masters and doctoral years of study.  In addition, many students sing on recitals of other Frost students and with Frost ensembles throughout the year.

There are approximately 10-15 students in each voice studio.  You will receive an hour-long lesson per week (14 weeks per semester) and sing a jury examination at the end of each semester.

If you know with whom you would like to study, contact them and ask if they have room in their studio and would like to work with you.  If you don’t know with whom you would like to study, we recommend that you read the bios online and see if one of the teachers is your choice.  If not, upon your arrival on campus in August, you will sing a very short audition for the faculty.  We will assign you to the teacher that we think would be the best fit. 

To see the courses and curriculum, click on these links:

• Bachelor of Music
  http://bulletin.miami.edu/undergraduate-academic-programs/music/voice-performance/
  
  
• Master of Music
  http://bulletin.miami.edu/graduate-academic-programs/music/vocal-performance/vocal-performance-mm/
  
  
• Artist Diploma
  http://bulletin.miami.edu/graduate-academic-programs/music/vocal-performance/vocal-performance-ad/ 

• Doctor of Musical Arts-Vocal Performance
  http://bulletin.miami.edu/graduate-academic-programs/music/vocal-performance/vocal-performance-dma/

• Doctor of Musical Arts-Vocal Pedagogy and Performance
  http://bulletin.miami.edu/graduate-academic-programs/music/vocal-performance/vocal-pedagogy-performance-dma/

• Performers Certificate
  http://bulletin.miami.edu/undergraduate-academic-programs/music/voice-performance/ - certificatestext

We are a small department in a large school of music.  We have approximately 50 vocal performance students---25-30 undergraduates and 15 graduates. We value a working environment that is supportive, friendly, helpful and competitive.

Voice Forum (for vocal performance majors) is held every week, Fridays at 1:25.  The time is used for performances by students, presentations by outside experts on mindfulness, Alexander Technique, auditioning, the singing business, etc. Each student is required to sing at least 2 times per semester, but is allowed to sing as often as you and your teacher decide is best.

Yes, most of our graduate students and many of our undergraduates have church and temple jobs.  We schedule opera rehearsals so that they do not conflict with church/temple job rehearsals.

Our students do all kinds of things in the summer.  Most will attend the Frost at the Salzburg program at least once in their studies at Frost.  In addition, they attend other summer study programs or win acceptance to performance programs (Seagle Colony, Brevard, Santa Fe, Glimmerglass, Wolf Trap, etc.)  Sometimes, they study language programs, both abroad and in the US.

Yes.  The intense performance schedule of the department and Frost performances makes it difficult, but our students have performed with Florida Grand Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Naples Opera, Miami Lyric Opera, Greater Miami Opera, Hispanic-America Lyric Theatre and opera and zarzuela performances with other local companies.

Yes!  We have both vocal coaches and a dramatic coach.  Starting in the junior year, each student coaches with either the vocal or dramatic coach for an entire semester.

Most of our undergraduates go to graduate programs in vocal performance.  The schools that have accepted them are Juilliard, Eastman, Northwestern, Boston University, San Francisco Conservatory, University of Colorado-Boulder, Rice, University of Texas-Austin, University of North Texas, Manhattan School of Music, Mannes School, the Mozarteum, Royal College of Music.  Some choose to go to work and are holding jobs in advertising, arts management, marketing, sales, and teaching.

Many of the Master’s students move to New York, Chicago. Boston or San Francisco to pursue performing.  Some go to Europe.  Many of them teach, either full-time or “on the side”.  Some have gone on to careers on Broadway and off-Broadway.  Houses in which our graduates have performed are the Metropolitan Opera, Oper am Rhein, Deutsche Oper in Berlin, Hamburg Staatsoper, La Scala, Convent Garden, Philadelphia Opera, Sarasota Opera, Pensacola Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Opera Naples, Atlanta Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Florentine Opera, the Duffy Institute, Virginia Opera, Houston Opera, and the Dallas Opera.

Yes, the Frost School of Music has study-abroad programs in Austria, Holland, England, and Australia. These semester-long programs are designed specifically for Frost School music students in any major. Voice and piano students from the Frost School, as well as other colleges and universities, have the opportunity to study in Salzburg, Austria, during the summer. Additionally, the University Office of International Programs has a wide array of international exchange programs with colleges and universities throughout the world. Faculty advisors work closely with students who wish to take advantage of one of the study-abroad options.

There are several award-winning a cappella groups and musical theater groups on campus.  With voice teacher approval, our students participate in them and enjoy their experiences greatly!