As a member of the Voice Department you will be immersed in a program of study commensurate with the demands of professional singing. At each level of study, you will pursue the highest standards of training in developing technique, repertoire, languages, and musicianship. We believe the artist synthesizes all aspects of training with heart, mind, and body.
celebrating 150 years of bu school of music
Voice Faculty
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Penelope BItzas
Associate Professor of Music, Voice; Director, Young Artists Vocal Program, BU Tanglewood Institute
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James Demler
Assistant Professor, Voice
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Lynn Eustis
Associate Professor, Voice; Chair of Voice, School of Music
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David Guzman
Assistant Professor of Music, Voice
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Douglas Sumi
Lecturer in Music, Vocal Repertoire and Coaching
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Alison Trainer
Assistant Professor of Music, Voice
A Musician’s Dream: The BU Student Experience at Carnegie Hall
Seungmin Kang (CFA’24) (left) and Alexis Peart (CFA’23) perform “Settings of Langston Hughes Poems,” by composer Florence Price, at a concert by College of Fine Arts School of Music students, held at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City, March 2. The concert was the capstone experience for graduating seniors and a select group of graduate students. Performers were selected after participating in a School of Music competition, when each applied study program (voice, strings, keyboard, woodwinds, brass, and percussion) held preliminary auditions open to student performers. Finalists selected from each program competed before a panel of outside adjudicators, all renowned performing musicians.
Program of Study
VOCAL STUDIES
Weekly private voice lessons for all levels with collaborative pianists assigned to each student for lesson and studio preparation and weekly studio classes.
- Courses in phonetics and diction
- Three song literature courses for undergraduates
- Special topics in song literature for graduate students
- Private coaching
- Graduate course in vocal pedagogy
- Courses in performance skills and performance techniques
OPERA PROGRAMS
Through the BU Opera Institute students participate in immersive and integrated stagecraft and musical preparation at all levels of study.
- Opera Project (Freshmen and Sophomores)
- Opera Workshop (Juniors and Seniors)
- Opera Theatre (Graduate Students)
Beyond the Classroom
As a social justice fellow, Sadie Habas (CFA’25), a vocal performance major and political science minor, gives back to the community by interning for BU Hillel, the center for Jewish life at BU. Through the internship, Sadie volunteers at Haley House, a non-profit organization that helps feed under-resourced communities.
I hope to continue to explore the intersectionalities between music and justice and use my voice in society to better it and make it fair and just for all people.
Sadie has also been able to explore her Jewish identity and recognize how her voice training has helped her become a strong communicator. Sadie shares her internship experience with CFA and how music and justice can go hand-in-hand.
Audition Requirements
Thinking of applying? Find out more about prescreening, repertoire, and audition details by instrument.
Performance Opportunities
- Two fully-produced, mainstage operas per year
- Two Fringe Festival chamber operas each fall
- Historical Performance concerts and productions
- Scenes programs
During the course of their studies, students participate in a range of performance opportunities at a variety of venues at Boston University, in the city of Boston, and beyond. With over 400 performances per year at the School of Music, students are always just a few steps from taking the stage.
From recitals to orchestra concerts, students perform regularly including annual performances at Symphony Hall in Boston and Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Notable Alumni
Chelsea Basler (MM ‘09, OI ‘11)
Lauren Flanigan (BM ‘81)
Katrina Galka (MM ‘13)
Meredith Hansen (MM ‘02)
Sara Heaton (MM ‘07)
Georgia Jarman (BM ‘97)
Katherine Jolly (BM ‘99)
Kelly Kaduce (MM ‘99)
Dominique LaBelle (AD ‘89)
Martin Bakari (BM ‘09, OI ‘11)
Daniel Brenna (MM ‘98, OI ‘00)
David Cangelosi (MM, OI)
Matthew DiBattista (BM ‘95)
Eric Fennell (MM ‘97, OI ‘99)
Joshua Kohl (MM ‘05)
Our alumni are professionally engaged with major opera companies and symphony orchestras in the U.S and abroad, including:
The Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Royal Opera House – Covent Garden, English National Opera, Berlin Staatsoper, Deutches Oper Berlin, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, Washington National Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Opera Nice, Canadian Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Dallas Opera, New York City Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Glimmerglass Festival, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Boston Lyric Opera, Minnesota Opera, Hawaii Opera, Caramoor Festival, Spoleto Festival – Italy, London Philharmonic, Boston Baroque, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Beth Morrison (BM ‘94)
Mark Murphy (MM)
Robert Mollicone (BM ‘07, MM ‘09) Piano, Collab Piano
Kostis Protopapas (MM ‘97) Conducting
Jennifer Rivera (BM ‘97)
Next Steps for Applicants
The best way to determine if BU is right for you is to visit us in-person or remotely. Observe classes. Faculty members are available to meet with you and to discuss your educational interests, individual learning needs, and career goals.
Explore our admission requirements, financial tools, and resources to determine if the program is the right match. Reach out to visitSOM@bu.edu with any questions along the way.
