Voice

With over 150 participants and four choral ensembles, the School of Creative and Performing Arts at Northwestern State University offers a comprehensive choral program that prepares the music major and non-music major for the rigorous demands of the professional academic and performing worlds. Highly qualified and experienced voice faculty provide one-on-one instruction for majors in Music Education, Vocal Performance, Music Business, Sacred Music and Musical Theatre. There are opportunities for international travel, significant performances, and experiences with important people in the music field.

Singing is one of the most vulnerable forms of expression, and the NSU Voice Department strives to create a welcoming and nurturing environment for its students to explore their passion. Each member of our faculty works diligently to provide opportunities for musical growth no matter the student’s chosen career path. We encourage our students to work together, learn from each other, and help keep each other accountable in their commitment to their craft as they pursue their professional goals.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying to study Voice at NSULA or would like further information, please contact Dr. Robert Cardwell at cardwellr@nsula.edu.

Undergraduate Degrees

Music Performance
Music Education
Music Business
Sacred Music
Minors in Music

Graduate Degrees

Masters in Music Performance
Masters in Music Education

Ensembles

Chamber Choir
Cane River Singers
Lyrica (Treble)
Orpheus (TBB)
Opera Theater Ensemble

Audition Requirements

Undergraduate Programs & Master of Music Education

  • 2 songs from the standard classical voice repertoire; 1 must be in English and 1 must be in Italian, French, German, or Spanish.
  • You will be asked to sight-read some very short examples ranging from very easy to somewhat difficult.
  • While M.M. Ed. applicants are not required to audition for admittance into the voice program, an audition is still required for scholarship consideration.

Please contact Dr. Robert Cardwell to discuss suitable repertoire to ensure you are the most comfortable and confident!

Master of Music Performance

  • Audition repertoire must include 5 selections, with at least 1 selection in each of the following languages: English, Italian, German, and French.
  • 3 art songs from the classical voice repertoire
  • 2 arias from the opera repertoire; 1 aria may be from an oratorio.
  • You will be asked to sight-read some very short examples ranging from very easy to somewhat difficult.

Please contact Dr. Robert Cardwell with any inquiries about audition requirements.

Voice Faculty

Dr. Robert Cardwell
Assistant Professor of Music – Voice & Director of Opera
Northwestern State University
cardwellr@nsula.edu
Office: 211 (Old Fine Arts)
Faculty Profile

Dr. Shane Thomas
Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music
Northwestern State University
318-357-5755
thomassh@nsula.edu
Faculty Profile

Dr. Marcy McKee
Associate Professor of Music – Voice, Lyric Diction, & Vocal Literature
Northwestern State University
mckeem@nsula.edu
Office: 217 (Old Fine Arts)
Faculty Profile

Mr. Adam Philley
Assistant Professor of Music – Voice & Associate Director of Choral Activities
philleya@nsula.edu
Office: 215 (Old Fine Arts)
Faculty Profile

Dr. Terrie Sanders
Professor of Music – Voice, Pedagogy & Music Department Head
Northwestern State University
sanderst@nsula.edu
Office: 213 (Old Fine Arts)
Faculty Profile

The Life of a NSU Voice Student

  • Weekly one-on-one voice lessons with one of our applied teachers
  • Participation in choral ensembles
  • Weekly Studio Class
  • Opportunities to perform in a fully staged opera and/or opera scenes program each semester
  • Opportunities to perform in Guest Artist masterclasses and workshops

Tuition Costs

NSU provides ALL students participating in a large ensemble, IN-STATE tuition costs irrelevant of where you are from. Tuition costs are NSU are usually significantly cheaper than almost all other universities. Spring 2024 Tuition costs (before scholarship) can be found at this link: https://stdocproviderdataprod001.blob.core.windows.net/677/FeeSheet-FeeBreakdown-2023-24-rev5-1-23.pdf

Please contact one of the the Voice Professors if you would like further information.

Scholarships

All voice students participating in choral ensembles (Chamber Choir, Lyrica, Orpheus, Cane River Singers) are eligible for scholarships on the basis that they are enrolled as full-time students, are participating in 2 of the choirs, and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA. Please contact Dr. Shane Thomas at thomassh@nsula.edu for further information.

Opera Theater Ensemble does not count towards the ensemble requirement. However, opera scholarships are available at the discretion of the Director of Opera.

Graduate Assistantships

Each year, NSU offers graduate students the opportunity to apply for an Assistantship. This entitles that student to a $12,000 annual stipend in return for 20 hours of work each week. Please contact Dr. Robert Cardwell for further information.

If you would like more information, to set up an audition or to have a chat about your future at NSU, please contact Dr. Robert Cardwell at: cardwellr@nsula.edu

Better yet, come join us on campus and be an honorary NSU Voice Student for the day and experience for yourself why this voice department is a great place to be! Contact Dr. Cardwell to arrange your visit. You and your family are most welcome!

There are 4 choral ensembles at Northwestern State University, each with its own rehearsal time, performance schedule, and repertoire:

Northwestern Chamber Choir
The premier vocal ensemble at NSU, this 32-member ensemble is comprised of the top vocalists at the university. The choir has competed and won significant awards in choral competitions, Hungary, Italy, and Austria.  They have also been invited to sing at the 2024 Southern Division ACDA & 2019 National Collegiate Choral Organization Conference.  The choir has also been the featured invited choir at Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA), Louisiana American Choral Directors Association, (LA ACDA) and guest artist series in several venues.  Additionally, each December the Chamber Choir presents the annual Lessons & Carols in the Minor Basilica in Natchitoches, LA.

Lyrica
Comprised of 40 Treble voices, Lyrica sings choral literature suitable for treble voices and performs a joint concert each semester. Lyrica has performed with the NSU Chamber Orchestra, Louisiana American Choral Directors Association, and the Louisiana Music Educators Association State Music convention.

Orpheus
A crowd favorite, Orpheus, formerly Men’s Chorus, is comprised of tenor & bass students and performs a joint concert each semester with Lyrica.  They also perform regularly on and off campus.

Cane River Singers
This new SATB ensemble is comprised of students, faculty, and local Natchitoches community members.  They act as an outreach to the community and present concerts featuring major choral works each semester.  Recent collaborations with the NSU Chamber Orchestra & Shreveport Symphony Orchestra have been just a few of the great experiences this choir provides.

Scholarship Auditions

Please contact Director of Choral Activities, Professor of Music, Dr. Nicholaus B. Cummins at cumminsn@nsula.edu or Associate Director of Choral Activities,  Adam Philly at philleya@nsula.edu.

Audition requirements:

At least one prepared solo (Voice performance majors will be expected to sing 2 solos with 1 in a foreign language). *Suggested Repertoire: (Italian Art Song or Aria, English Art Song, a solo you would sing for “Solo and Ensemble Festival”)

We will take you through a series of vocal exercises to explore your entire vocal range and timbre.
Sight-reading: you will be asked to sight-read some very short examples ranging from very easy to somewhat difficult.
You will be asked to sing back brief melodies to test your tonal memory.
Please remember to bring a copy of your music for the accompanist. An accompanist will be provided.

For auditions Monday through Friday, click here.