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Frances Young BennettView profile

Lecturer

• Vocal Arts
• Classical Singing
• Opera
• +3 more

Frances Young Bennett is a Lecturer in Vocal Arts at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). A renowned soprano described by the LA Times as having "gossamer sheer purity," she has performed extensively across the US and internationally, including recitals at Royce Hall, concerts with cellist Lynn Harrell, and solo appearances in the IMAX film Top Speed . Her operatic roles span classical works from Mozart to Bernstein. Education : University of California, Irvine Fulbright Scholarship recipient Guilhall School of Music (London) Britten/Pears School (Aldeburgh) and Mayer Lissman Opera Centre (London) Active as both performer and educator, Frances has taught at Pomona College, Idyllwild School of the Arts, and currently teaches summer programs at the Colburn School's Songfest. Her research interests focus on vocal pedagogy, art song interpretation, and historical performance practices in classical singing. Scientific Awards : International Young Singer of the Year (Llangollen Musical Eisteddfod, Wales) Singer of the Year (Los Angeles NATS) Scholarships from Southern California Opera Buffs, Southern California Opera Guild, and The Music Academy of the West

Gary Heaton-SmithView profile

Lecturer

• Music Composition
• Classical Percussion
• Performance Studies
• +3 more

Dr. Gary Heaton-Smith (he/him/his) is a Lecturer in the Department of Music at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and an Assistant Professor of Music at Antelope Valley College. He directs percussion studies at UCI and has performed internationally with prestigious ensembles like the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera, and Paul Simon. Dr. Heaton-Smith holds a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Music Performance (Percussion) from UCLA, an MA in Music Composition from Fresno State, and a BA in Music Performance (Percussion) from Fresno State. His research and professional activities focus on Classical Percussion , Music Composition , and Instrumental Performance . As a composer, his works are published by GPG Publications and SP Publications. His performance experience spans orchestral, operatic, and contemporary music settings across the United States and Europe. Education: Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Music Performance (Percussion), UCLA Master of Arts in Music Composition, Fresno State Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance (Percussion), Fresno State Professional Roles: Assistant Professor of Music, Antelope Valley College Lecturer in Percussion Studies, UCI Department of Music Publications: Published composer with GPG Publications and SP Publications

Karl VilcinsView profile

Lecturer

• Music Performance
• Bassoon
• Orchestral Performance
• +3 more

Karl Vilcins serves as Bassoon Instructor at the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music within the Department of Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion. An active orchestral musician, he holds the position of Second/Contra Bassoonist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra since 2017. His educational background includes: Bachelor of Music in Performance from The Ohio State University (2002) Master of Music in Orchestral Performance from the Manhattan School of Music (2004) Vilcins specializes in bassoon and contra bassoon performance across orchestral, operatic, and chamber music contexts. His career spans major American orchestras and international engagements, with particular expertise in both standard repertoire and contemporary works. He maintains an active performance schedule while contributing to Eastman's woodwind pedagogy program. As a performer, Vilcins has developed significant experience across diverse musical settings including symphonic orchestras, opera productions, ballet companies, and chamber ensembles. His artistic focus emphasizes collaborative musicianship and technical mastery of double-reed instruments within professional ensemble contexts. Vilcins maintains an active performance career through multiple professional affiliations. He has held the position of Principal Bassoon with the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra (2005-2011), performed as Guest Principal Bassoon with the Rochester Philharmonic (2011/12 season), and established himself as a prominent freelance musician in New York City since 2012. His ensemble work includes regular performances with the Orchestra of St. Luke's, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, American Ballet Theater, and American Composers Orchestra. Notable engagements include a two-week tour of Japan with Orpheus Chamber Orchestra in 2014, featuring performances in 12 prestigious concert halls including Tokyo's Suntory Hall. Summer festival appearances form a significant component of Vilcins' artistic profile, with recurring participation at the Tanglewood Music Festival, Attergau Festival in Salzburg, Strings Music Festival in Steamboat Springs, and Sun Valley Music Festival where he has performed for multiple seasons.

Noélia L. Archambeault de HernándezView profile

Associate Professor

• Vocal Pedagogy
• Vocal Jazz
• Technology in Music Education
• +5 more

Noélia L. Archambeault de Hernández is an Associate Professor of Voice at the University of Delaware's School of Music, where she teaches voice and pedagogy. She holds a B.M. from the University of the Incarnate Word, M.M. from Westminster Choir College, D.M.A. from Texas Tech University, and a Vocology certificate from the National Center for Voice and Speech. Her research focuses on vocal jazz, technology in voice studios, and cross-training techniques. She is a published scholar in Journal of Voice and Choral Journal , and serves on the NATS Voice Science Advisory Committee and ACDA Diversity Initiatives Committee. As founder of the Chicana Art Song Project, she collaborates with Chicana artists to expand classical music's cultural representation. Dr. Archambeault de Hernández advocates for DEI in the arts, co-chairing ACDA’s task force on transgender singer care and participating in UD’s Anti-Racism Initiative. She performs operatic and contemporary works as a soprano/mezzo-soprano, with notable roles including in Ginastera’s Cinco Canciones Populares Argentinas . Outside academia, she is a triathlete and Ironman finisher, living in Maryland with her husband, Dr. Blake Smith, and son Dalton.

Brian CarterView profile

Adjunct Assistant Professor

• Voice Performance
• Opera
• Vocal Pedagogy
• +3 more

Brian Carter is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Voice at the University of Delaware's School of Music. He is a versatile baritone praised for his "big, commanding voice" by the Houston Chronicle, with extensive performance experience in opera and concert halls across the United States. Operatic roles: Rigoletto, Gianni Schicchi, Alberich, among others Concert repertoire: Mendelssohn's Elijah , Fauré and Duruflé Requiems, Mahler's Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen Stage direction credits: Andrea Chénier , The Drowsy Chaperone Dr. Carter teaches voice at multiple institutions, including the Blutt College House Music Program at the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University Music Prep. His pedagogy focuses on bel canto technique adapted for diverse singing styles. His research interests include vocal pedagogy, classical and commercial singing styles, and performance authenticity in opera and concert works. His recent engagements include stage directing Andrea Chénier for Concert Opera of Philadelphia and solo performances in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Delaware Valley Opera Company. Scientific Awards : First Prize Winner, New Jersey Association for Verismo Opera Competition (2012) Dr. Carter maintains affiliations with institutions including University of Texas at Austin (DMA and MMus), San José State University (BMus), and mentors from the AIDS Quilt Songbook creator William Parker. He has collaborated with ensembles nationwide, including Opera San José and Des Moines Metro Opera.

• Orchestral Percussion
• Music Performance
• Percussion Pedagogy
• +3 more

Eric Millstein is a percussionist with the Lyric Opera of Chicago and a faculty member at the DePaul University School of Music (since 2004) and the Curtis Institute of Music (since 2014). He previously served as principal percussionist and assistant principal timpanist at the Grant Park Music Festival from 2002–2019. Education : Bachelor of Music, New England Conservatory Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Tufts University Master of Music, Temple University Member, New World Symphony Teaching & Publications : Presented clinics at Percussive Arts Society International Convention (2021) and institutions like Tanglewood Music Center. Authored The Little Book of Orchestral Percussion (2022, Pocket Publications), a guide on orchestral percussion interpretation. Research & Teaching Focus : Millstein emphasizes musical phrasing and interpretation in percussion, advocating for understanding the context of musical lines in performance. His work bridges practical performance with pedagogical frameworks for advanced percussion training. Performance Background : Active with major orchestral ensembles, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Grant Park Music Festival , his career spans over two decades in professional orchestral and operatic settings.

Samuel HunterView profile

Adjunct Professor

• Music Composition
• Orchestration
• Vocal Music
• +3 more

Samuel Hunter is an Adjunct Professor of Music Composition and Composer in Residence at Furman University's Fine Arts Center in Greenville, South Carolina. He also serves as an Instructor in Music Theory and History. His primary affiliations include Furman University and the Fine Arts Center, alongside roles as Principal Orchestrator for Frances Pollock's opera Stinney: An American Execution . Education: M.M. (Master of Music), University of Houston B.M. (Bachelor of Music), Furman University Research interests focus on chamber music composition, vocal works, and orchestration. His compositions have been commissioned by institutions such as Houston Grand Opera’s HGOco, Vox Cordis, and Anglican church choirs. Notable performances include works by Coro Città di Roma and the Meridian Symphony Orchestra. His orchestration expertise extends to collaborations with renowned operatic projects. Awards: Sarofim Composition Competition Winner Sarofim Graduate Commission Pi Kappa Lambda Membership Advising and grants: No formal advisees listed, but his role as Composer in Residence and orchestrator implies collaborative projects. Grants may relate to commissions but are unspecified. Labs/Teams: Active in the Fine Arts Center’s music programs and collaborates with Frances Pollock on operatic projects.

Craig PriceView profile

Visiting Assistant Professor

• Music and Sexuality
• Opera
• Voice Performance
• +3 more

Craig Price serves as Visiting Assistant Professor of Voice at Furman University's Department of Music, teaching vocal performance from his office in the Daniel Music Building. An active performer and researcher, he bridges academic instruction with professional artistry in the classical music field. His educational foundation includes: D.M.A. in Voice Performance from the University of South Carolina M.M. in Voice Performance from the Manhattan School of Music B.M. in Voice Performance from Furman University Price's research centers on music's intersection with sexuality, particularly examining institutional responses to the Me Too movement within opera. His seminal work "Time’s Up: How Opera is Facing its Own Me Too Movement" analyzes power dynamics and ethical evolution in operatic production, presenting critical perspectives on representation and consent in classical performance traditions. This research demonstrates growing scholarly attention to social justice in music institutions, with increasing conference presentations and publications addressing systemic change in opera. His scientific recognition includes: Pi Kappa Lambda Honor Society induction (University of South Carolina) Metropolitan Opera National Council Award Orpheus National Vocal Competition Award Price actively mentors Furman voice students while maintaining professional leadership as Secretary of the South Carolina National Association of Teachers of Singing chapter and member of the National Opera Association. His upcoming featured panel at the 2024 NATS Conference continues his advocacy for ethical evolution in vocal pedagogy.

• Musical Theatre
• Vocal Pedagogy
• Classical Voice Performance
• +3 more

CJ Greer is an Assistant Professor of Voice (Musical Theatre) at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she developed a new musical theatre degree program. She actively performs in Broadway tours (e.g., Company ) and internationally, including roles in La Bohème , Les Misérables , and Disney’s The Diamond Horseshoe Revue . She holds an MFA and MM from Penn State and a BME from the University of Illinois/Champaign-Urbana. Her research focuses on vocal science, interdisciplinary health studies (collaborating with speech-language pathology, neuroscience, and cardiac-pulmonary medicine), and performance pedagogy. She explores methods like Open Source Forms (OSF) for tension release and vocal training fusion. Her work includes 'Singing in the MRI' studies and post-intubation vocal rehabilitation research with Sierra Veterans Hospital. Greer has presented at NATS, MTEA, and VASTA conferences, discussing topics like theatrical intimacy in vocal studios and vocal cross-training. She writes for Classical Singer and Voice and Speech Journal , including articles on transgender student pedagogy and opera vs. musical theatre techniques. She received Helen Hayes nominations for performance and teaches globally through private studios, masterclasses, and programs like The Broadway Artists Intensive . Her teaching philosophy integrates science, body awareness (OSF, Laban), breathwork (Fitzmaurice), and speaking techniques (Berry, Rodenburg) to enhance performance authenticity.

David ChildsView profile

Research Professor

• Brass Music Performance
• Euphonium Studies
• Classical Music
• +3 more

Overview David Childs is a Distinguished Research Professor of Euphonium at the University of North Texas (UNT) and an Honorary Associate at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. A globally celebrated euphonium virtuoso, he has performed with prestigious orchestras such as the BBC Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. His career spans solo recitals at venues like Carnegie Hall and Wigmore Hall, alongside over 15 world premieres of concertos. Education 2021: Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) from University of Salford, Manchester. Research & Performance Childs champions new music and traditional brass band repertoires. His research interests include euphonium performance techniques and the instrument’s role in classical music. He serves as Artistic Director of Cardiff Symphonic Winds and Editor of Brass Band World Magazine . Reviews & Awards Recipient of 12 major awards including the ITEA Roger Bobo Excellence in Recording Award. Noted by critics as 'the Roger Federer of the euphonium' and 'a visionary soloist'. Leadership Founder of Eminence Brass quartet and Principal Conductor of Dallas Brass Band, he advocates for the euphonium’s global recognition through recordings and educational outreach.

• Computer Music
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Machine Learning
• +5 more

Dr. Chris Kiefer is a Professor of Musical Instrument Design at the University of Sussex's School of Media, Arts and Humanities. His work bridges music technology, computer science, and arts, focusing on musician-computer interaction, physical computing, and machine learning. He leads projects such as the AHRC-funded 'Musically Embodied Machine Learning' and co-ran the 'Feedback Musicianship Network.' His research involves developing innovative instruments like the Nalima and Feedback Cello, emphasizing participatory design and dynamical systems analysis. Key research areas include feedback musicianship, livecoding, embedded AI for musical interfaces, and ecoacoustics. He has secured multiple grants, including from AHRC and NERC, and collaborates internationally in conferences like NIME and Sound and Music Computing. His work spans signal processing, tangible interfaces, and interdisciplinary performance systems, with a focus on embodied AI and sustainable technological practices. Grants: AHRC Fellowship (2024-2025), Musically Embodied Machine Learning; AHRC Feedback Musicianship Network (2021-2022) Notable Instruments: Nalima, Feedback Cello, uSEQ Eurorack module Key Publications: Focus on livecoding tools, feedback systems, robot music theatre, and embedded machine learning architectures His labs and collaborations emphasize merging computational creativity with traditional musical practices, fostering innovation in both academic and artistic domains.

Cynthia MorrowView profile

Assistant Professor

• Vocal Pedagogy
• Opera Direction
• Vocal Performance
• +3 more

Cynthia Morrow is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Music at The University of Texas at Austin. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts (Ohio State University), Master of Music (University of Maryland), and Bachelor of Music (Hollins College). Her career includes faculty roles at the University of Florida, Mississippi College, and Hope College. Dr. Morrow specializes in vocal performance and pedagogy, teaching courses like applied voice, diction, and opera workshop. She directed major operas including Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and Strauss’ Die Fledermaus . Her students have excelled in National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competitions at state and regional levels. As a performer, she has sung leading roles in works by Mozart, Poulenc, and Britten, alongside oratorio performances of Handel, Bach, and Mozart. Currently based at the University of Texas, her work bridges academic instruction, opera production, and vocal artistry.

Christian BaldiniView profile

Professor

• Orchestral Conducting
• Composition
• Contemporary Music
• +3 more

Christian Baldini is a Professor of Music and Music Director/Conductor of the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra, holding the Barbara K. Jackson Chair in Orchestral Conducting. He also serves as Music Director of the Camellia Symphony Orchestra and the Barbara K. Jackson Rising Stars of Opera program. His career includes roles with the BBC Symphony and San Francisco Symphony, as well as operatic productions at London’s English National Opera and Buenos Aires’ Teatro Colón. Baldini’s conducting has revitalized Argentina’s orchestral scene and earned acclaim through recordings like the 2015 Mozart CD and the 2021 Centaur Records album. He holds degrees from SUNY Buffalo (Ph.D.), Penn State (M.A.), and Argentina’s Catholic University (B.A.). Education: Ph.D. in Composition, State University of New York at Buffalo M.A. in Conducting, Pennsylvania State University B.A. in Conducting and Composition, Catholic University of Argentina Research Interests: Baldini advocates for contemporary music, having premiered over 200 works. His compositions are performed globally and published by Babel Scores and Universal Edition. He focuses on blending classical and modern repertoires, with a specialization in orchestral and operatic conducting. Recent Projects: Upcoming engagements include Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld in Buenos Aires and a 2025 return with the National Symphony Orchestra of Argentina. His 2025 album with Coviello Records features David Felder’s Jeu de Tarot 2 . Awards: Salzburg Festival Young Conductors Award finalist (2012) Top prizes in Seoul (2005) and São Paulo (2006) competitions Five-star reviews for Mozart CD (2015) and 2021 Centaur Records album Advising/Grants: Baldini mentors students like Daniel Godsil (Gerber Prize winner) and Aida Shirazi. The UC Davis Symphony Endowment supports his work in accessing top-tier soloists and travel opportunities. Labs/Teams: Leads the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra and collaborates with the San Francisco Opera on the Rising Stars of Opera program.

• Music
• Performing Arts
• Collaborative Piano
• +3 more

Leanne Regehr serves as a Voice Instructor at the University of Alberta and The King's University in Edmonton, holding a Doctor of Music from Northwestern University and a Master of Music from the University of Alberta. Her career spans collaborative piano, opera, and choral performance with major orchestras and ensembles across North America. Her educational background includes: Doctor of Music (D.Mus.) in Piano Performance, Northwestern University Master of Music (M.Mus.), University of Alberta Regehr's artistic research focuses on collaborative piano techniques, operatic repertoire development, choral accompaniment, and solo performance practices. She has built a distinguished career through engagements with Shreveport Opera, Edmonton Opera, and Mercury Opera, while maintaining a sixteen-season tenure as accompanist for the Richard Eaton Singers. As an educator, she mentors emerging vocalists through Opera NUOVA, Cowtown Opera Summer Academy, and Sherrill Milnes' VoicExperience Program. Her collaborative work extends to performances with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, Pro Coro Canada, Da Camera Singers, and Luminous Voices.

• Classical Singing
• Opera Performance
• Vocal Pedagogy
• +3 more

Carol Smith is a Vocal Tutor at the University of Sheffield's School of Languages, Arts and Societies. She holds affiliations with the Modern Language Teaching Centre (MLTC) and specializes in vocal instruction and performance. Her career includes notable achievements such as a Gold Medal from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and training at the National Opera Studio. Education: Guildhall School of Music and Drama (Gold Medal Winner) National Opera Studio Performance Highlights: Debut recital at Carnegie Recital Hall (New York), performances at Wigmore Hall with Malcolm Martineau and Graham Johnson, roles in Glyndebourne Festival Opera (e.g., Miss Wordsworth in Albert Herring ), and solo appearances with orchestras such as the Philharmonia and Academy of Ancient Music. She has also been featured in BBC recordings and programs like Friday Night is Music Night . Awards: Gold Medal, Guildhall School of Music and Drama Teaching & Career: Focuses on vocal training and classical performance, blending her extensive operatic and concert experience with educational roles. Her work emphasizes historical performance practices and art song repertoire.