Program overview

With a double emphasis in voice pedagogy and performance, our program will prepare you to find success on the world’s operatic and concert stages, teaching in studios and classrooms, and in thriving private voice studios. Using a process-oriented approach, we focus on developing your vocal skills to enable you to become the best possible vocal artist and independent musician.

Program highlights

Expand your knowledge and expertise with private vocal training, frequent performance opportunities, access to performance technique classes and the Presser Voice Lab.

Program Highlights

  • Private vocal training - Students enrolled in the pedagogy track have weekly private lessons and study voice literature, opera and voice pedagogy. Five voice pedagogy classes exceed the industry standard and prepare you for the private teaching experience.
  • Frequent performance opportunities - Students gain performance experience through studio and performance class, in recitals, in the two staged operas produced each year, or through work with the Westminster Symphonic Choir.
  • Access to Performance Technique Classes- Performance skill-building courses are available for all Graduates students including Singing Actor, Performing in Lyric Theater, Opera Workshop, and private vocal and dramatic coaching.
  • Presser Voice Lab - Have hands-on opportunities to study voice acoustics, anatomy and physiology, with a concentration on resonance, respiration, phonation, articulation, hearing and vocal health in the Presser Voice Lab. Graduate assistantships in the Presser Voice lab are also available for select students.

Admission requirements

Facts and figures

2

Opera productions every year

5

distinct courses in voice pedagogy and teaching

22

Knowledgeable faculty experts

Why Westminster

"The comprehensive training I received in voice pedagogy at Westminster has been vital to my career as a pedagogue! It is difficult to find a graduate program that incorporates performance, practical teaching experience, and the evidence-based theoretical tools necessary to find success as a professional voice teacher. I credit much of my success to the individualized attention and stellar teaching I received at Westminster Choir College."

— Marquese Carter '14

Cinderella and prince charming embrace under a tree of nymphs during the opera performance of Cinderella

Expand your vocal range and career

Program alumni find success in careers as performing artists both in the United States and abroad. Many also work as college professors and private instructors. Graduates of the pedagogy track have subsequently completed Master's of Speech Language Pathology, Doctor of Education, Doctor of Music and Ph.D. degrees. Currently, 10 of our recent graduates hold full time, tenure track teaching positions at colleges and universities around the U.S.

Common careers:

  • Solo performer
  • Collaborative artist
  • Vocal teacher
  • Touring performance artist
  • Voice researcher and Singing Voice Specialist
Woman sings into microphone

Program requirements

The 38-credit pedagogy emphasis entails private lessons, voice literature, opera, vocal pedagogy, supervised student teaching and culminates with a full recital. 

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Next steps

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Contact

Voice Pedagogy & Performance, M.M. (Pedagogy Emphasis)

Margaret Cusack

Professor, Department Chair

Department of Performance Studies

Omega House

mcusack [at] rider.edu

609-921-7100 x8253

Academic Focus: Voice

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