In January, a small group of Missouri State opera students attended the annual National Opera Association (NOA) conference in Florida. This conference serves as an incredible opportunity for students to network with professionals, scout graduate programs, and attend sessions on acting, repertoire, and professional development. The highlight of the conference is the Collegiate … [Read more...] about Opera students place second at national conference
MSU has been a participant of MMTA for several years. In fact, the music department’s very own faculty member, Dr. Jason Hausback, has been vice president of the organization for the last eight years. It’s not unusual for MSU students to do well but at the caliber that they performed this year, it’s something to celebrate. There are several music teachers associations that … [Read more...] about Students place in state-wide music competition
Music and storytelling have long been intertwined with one another. From Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s famous score that underlies the ballet performance of The Nutcracker to the trope of using Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Flight of the Bumblebee” in a film to create a sense of urgency or danger. But, while classical music has proven to be a powerful force in our culture, it’s … [Read more...] about Listening with our eyes
COVID-19 has brought many major changes to the Missouri State campus. Masks are required in all buildings and many classes and events are now entirely virtual. It may seem impossible that an art form like opera would survive in these new, unprecedented times, but Dr. Ann Marie Daehn is making sure that MSU Opera Theater continues to operate as normally—and safely—as … [Read more...] about Producing opera in times of COVID-19
Department of Music professor and composer Dr. Michael Murray will be showcasing a selection of chamber music through an upcoming livestream concert. This concert will feature the world premiere of Butterfly Days (2020) for mezzo-soprano and piano, The Darkening Green (2018) for string quartet, and Genevieve's Cats (2017) for soprano and piano. The livestream is being held in … [Read more...] about Butterfly Days: A Livestream World Premiere