Sylvia F. Stoner-Hawkins
senior Artist-in-Residence - Voice
Office: Zankel Music Center 207
Phone: (518) 580 - 5334
Email: sstonerh@skidmore.edu
A diverse professional singer and actor, she has performed across the country in opera and theater. Regional opera credits include the Des Moines Metro Opera, Shreveport Opera, Opera Omaha, Union Avenue Opera, Kentucky Opera, Lake George Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Kansas Concert Opera and the Kansas City Puccini Festival. Selected roles include Lisa in Pikovaya Dama, Tatiana in Eugene Onegin, Manon in Manon Lescaut, Nedda in I Pagliacci and Marguerite in Faust. She has performed various chamber works including Resphigi’s Il Tramonto in Italy with Orvieto Musica, as well as contemporary classical with the NewEar Ensemble, and early music with the Spencer Consort. She most recently was the soprano soloist in Haydn’s Creation with the Battenkill Chorale.
She was a regional winner of the National Council Auditions for the Metropolitan Opera, and a finalist in the Marcella Sembrich competition, the Naftzger and NATS competitions. Acting credits include the national tour of Terence McNally’s MARIA CALLAS: MASTERCLASS, as well as productions with the Kansas City Repertory Theater, the New Theatre, the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, Starlight Theater, and Quality Hill Playhouse.
As a stage director, she has directed for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City’s Education Program, the Civic Opera of Kansas City, the Kansas City Opera Institute, the KU Chamber Opera, the UMKC Conservatory of Music, Skidmore College, Washburn University, and Kansas City Young Audiences.
She obtained her Doctorate of Musical Arts Degree with honors in vocal performance
at the University of Kansas and is currently the Artist-in-Residence in Voice at Skidmore
College.
DEGREES:
- Doctor of Musical Arts, Vocal Performance, December 2010 The University of Kansas, Joyce Castle, Principal Teacher
- Master of Music, Vocal Performance, May 1998 Conservatory of Music, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Inci Bashar, Principal Teacher
- Bachelor of Arts in Music and Theater, Magna cum laude, May 1994 Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, Anne Turner, Principal Teacher
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
Skidmore College (Saratoga Springs, New York), Senior Artist-in-Residence in Voice, August 2014-present
Teach private voice lessons for majors and non-majors
Teach performance classes
Direct Opera Workshop
Washburn University (Topeka, Kansas), Director of Opera, Lecturer in Voice, August 2011-2014
Direct opera productions for the Washburn Opera Studio
Teach Music for the Stage, Music Theater Workshop
Teach private voice lessons for Voice majors and non-majors
Teach Vocal Literature
Teach Enjoyment of Music
University of Kansas (Lawrence, Kansas), Graduate Teaching Assistant, Fall 2007-Spring 2010
Voice lessons for undergraduate Voice Performance, Music Education and Music Therapy
majors
Studio classes and group recitals for students
Prepare Music Education and Music Therapy seniors for degree recitals
Teach voice performance classes for music majors
Lyric Opera of Kansas City, High School Honors Artists Program, Fall 2009-present
Voice lessons for 12 selected high school students
Monthly master classes
Preparation for contests and college auditions
Community School of the Arts (Kansas City, Missouri), Teaching Artist, 2008-2010
Teach private voice lessons for students from age 9-adult
Conduct master classes for studio and school
University of Saint Mary (Leavenworth, Kansas), Interim Lecturer, 2009
Voice lessons for undergraduate music minors
Group recitals
Jury preparation
Skidmore College (Saratoga Springs, New York) Interim Lecturer in Voice, 2006
Voice lessons for 22 Music Majors, Minors, and Non-majors
Weekly Studio classes
Coordinated juries, special master classes, and visiting artists
Judged voice division of Filene Music Competition
Opera Workshop Director
Workshop premiere of new one-act opera Music on the Water and four scenes from Mark Adamo's Little Women
Acted as stage director and musical director
Coordinated visiting composer and guest artist
Artist-in-Residence
Featured artist of the New York State Music Teachers Association conference (premiered
Loves Philosophy and performed solo voice recital)
CLINICIAN:
- Master Class in Performance, selected voice students, University of Nebraska, March
2009
- Delaware Valley Music Festival, Solo Voice and Vocal Ensembles, February 2009
- Master Class for Lyric High School Honors Artists, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, May
2007-09
- Master Class, selected voice students, Skidmore College, May 2005
PUBLICATIONS:
- Sylvia Stoner-Hawkins, George Abbott's Contribution to Musical Theater through the 1950s, American Music Research Center Journal (2010): forthcoming.
- Sylvia Stoner-Hawkins, Newly commissioned articles on Broadway icons, New Grove Dictionary of American Music (2011: Oxford University Press): forthcoming.