Description and requirements Faculty Courses

Description:

Vocal performance at Purchase College is a small, highly selective program designed to train and mentor serious students in their pursuit of a career in professional classical singing and opera.

This is achieved through a highly disciplined and completely integrated curriculum taught by a talented, committed, and caring faculty, all of whom were or are active, first-class performing artists.

Our working mantra is “learning to perform requires performing to learn.” To that end, every class has a performing component whenever possible. In particular, the program is noted for its excellent instruction of vocal technique, stage technique, movement, language studies, and musical styles.

The program’s operas, which are performed primarily by undergraduates, are routinely praised for their inventiveness and professionalism and have won several annual National Opera Association awards.

Bachelor of Music Requirements:

In addition to meeting  General Education requirements and other degree requirements, undergraduate vocal performance majors must complete the following conservatory requirements (116 credits).

Of the 116 credits, up to 8 credits of music history may be counted toward the liberal arts requirement (30 credits minimum) for the degree. Language courses (FRE, GER, ITA) may also be applied toward this requirement.

Freshman Year: 29 credits

Sophomore Year: 40 credits

Junior Year: 29 credits

Senior Year: 18 credits

Master of Music requirements:

Graduate music majors who concentrate in voice and opera studies must meet the following conservatory requirements (45 credits) and earn a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA at Purchase College.

First Year: 22 credits

Second Year: 23 credits

Music Artist Diploma Requirements:

This diploma is intended for graduate students in music who have completed the master’s degree requirements for their areas of study.

To earn the Artist Diploma in opera studies, students must meet the following conservatory requirements (18 credits for the one-year program; 36 credits for the two-year program): 

First Year: 18 credits

Second Year: 18 credits

Music Performers Certificate Requirements:

This is a postbaccalaureate program for students who have completed the undergraduate requirements for their areas of study and are entering into careers as performers in solo, ensemble, or studio settings.

To earn the Performers Certificate in opera studies, students must meet the following conservatory requirements (18 credits for the one-year program; 36 credits for the two-year program):

First Year: 18 credits

Second Year: 18 credits


Faculty

  • Thomas Baird

    Lecturer of Dance; Lecturer of Music
    • BA, Empire State College, SUNY

  • Hugh Murphy

    Associate Professor of Music
    • BM, MM, Peabody Conservatory of Music, Johns Hopkins University

  • Sherry Overholt

    Assistant Professor of Music
    • BM, University of Miami
    • MM, MMA, DMA, Yale University

  • David Recca

    Lecturer
    Chorus Director
    • MusB, Performers Certificate, Purchase College, SUNY
    • MM, Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester
    • MMA, Yale University
    • DMA, Yale University

  • Jacque Trussel

    Professor of Music
    • BS, MM, Ball State University

  • Bonnie Hamilton

    Assistant Professor of Music
    • BA, Florida State University

  • Djordje Nesic

    Lecturer
    • BM, Belgrade University of the Arts

  • Tara Helen O’Connor

    Associate Professor of Music, Flute
    • BA, MM, DMA, Stony Brook University, SUNY

  • Kaori Sato

    Assistant Professor of Music
    • BM, Miyagi Gakuin Women’s University (Japan)
    • MM, Mannes College of Music

  • Margaret Vignola

    Lecturer
    • MusB, Purchase College, SUNY