Jan McDaniel

Jan McDaniel is a Professor of Vocal Coaching and conductor at the Bass School of Music, Oklahoma City University, with 25 years of tenure. She specializes in opera, musical theater, and vocal coaching, directing the university’s Master of Music program in Vocal Coaching—one of the few such programs in the U.S. Her conducting work includes over 30 productions, such as the world premiere of Edward Knight’s Night of the Comets and regional premiere of The Hotel Casablanca. Her productions have earned National Opera Association awards, including Best Opera Production for Division III (2013) and annual wins since 2017.

Education:

• Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, Midwestern State University
• Master of Music in Musicology, University of North Texas
• PhD coursework completed, University of North Texas

Her research and artistic work spans vocal pedagogy, historical performance practices, and collaborative piano. She has collaborated with renowned artists like Kelli O’Hara and Kristin Chenoweth. McDaniel’s awards reflect her impact on opera education and performance, including her Rotary International scholarship for studies in Germany.

She leads orchestral and operatic projects with organizations like Painted Sky Opera (verdi’s La traviata, Rigoletto), Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma (West Side Story, Master Class), and the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. Her discography includes the Albany Records release Where the Sunsets Bleed: The Chamber Music of Edward Knight.

As a mentor, she oversees the Vocal Coaching program, producing graduates who work in professional opera houses and Broadway. Her grants and collaborations include work with the Key West Symphony’s Young Artist Opera Program and the Taos Opera Institute.