Emily Toronto

Emily Toronto is a Professor of Voice, Voice Pedagogy, and Opera Workshop at South Dakota State University (SDSU), affiliated with the School of Performing Arts. She has been with SDSU since 2004 and serves as the district governor for South Dakota of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). Dr. Toronto holds a Master of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice Performance from the University of Michigan.

Her professional career includes performances with renowned organizations such as Michigan Opera Theatre, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and Toledo Opera. She is a founding member and artistic co-director of Heartland Opera Troupe, with notable roles in operas like La Cenerentola, Le Nozze di Figaro, and The Trickster and the Troll. She is also dedicated to opera education for children, having performed in over 75 school presentations across multiple states.

Her teaching focuses on vocal pedagogy, opera workshop, and diction in multiple languages (German, French, Italian, Latin, and English). Her students have achieved recognition in regional and state competitions. Dr. Toronto’s work emphasizes bridging professional performance with educational outreach in the performing arts.