Your artistry, expressed. At Hartt, growth in technique and musicianship, guided by distinguished faculty, is the focus of vocal study. Our rich undergraduate and graduate course of study includes private voice lessons, coachings, vocal pedagogy, language and diction study, opera stagecraft, and our invigorating core music curriculum.
About the Program
We offer many degrees of all levels of study, including: Bachelor of Music, Undergraduate Diploma, Master of Music in Vocal Performance, Master of Music in Choral Conducting, Graduate Professional Diploma, Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance, Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting, and an Artist Diploma. You can explore more below.
Choral, opera, and song performance are the opportunities which form the foundation of the vocal program at Hartt. By balancing these, Hartt prepares students for the next step in their singing journeys, which could include graduate study, private teaching, or a performance career. All students study privately with a member of Hartt's eminent voice faculty, enhancing their technique and knowledge of the repertoire.
During the first two years of study, a strong foundation in movement and acting helps create well-rounded singing actors. Third- and fourth-year students enjoy coaching privately with the esteemed Vocal Coaching faculty, creating well-polished performances through intensive work on language, style, and musicality. This nurturing, yet thorough, ecosystem sets the Voice BM apart by providing the most comprehensive training for the next generation of world-class singing actors.
The Master of Music in Vocal Performance provides the mature student with advanced vocal training and academic study in preparation for careers as professional twenty-first century musicians. The core of this training includes intensive private vocal study, private coaching, language, lyric diction, invigorating academic classes, the graduate vocal seminars, and numerous solo opportunities in recital, choral, and operatic performances.
Hartt’s graduate-level diploma programs provide emerging professional artists with advanced-level study to further their career goals in the vocal performing arts. The core of this training includes intensive vocal study and private coaching, movement and acting, and numerous solo performance opportunities. With fewer academic requirements than other advanced degrees, the remainder of the curriculum is designed to allow for participation in areas that speak to the artist’s professional interests.
The Doctor of Musical Arts degree program is designed to develop the complete musician, emphasizing both the highest level of musicianship and practical scholarly insight. Each curriculum is intended to prepare the respective candidate for a career at the most advanced level of performance, teaching, or composition.
Graduate students may pursue the advanced study of choral conducting on the master's or doctoral level. These two programs offer rigorous training that includes private conducting lessons, languages and diction, voice study, musicianship, score reading and preparation, performance practice, and an array of academic studies to prepare choral directors for conducting and teaching careers in community, school, and university settings. Students work closely with Hartt choral ensembles and both degree programs have required choral performances as part of the curriculum.
Kaarin Cecilia Phelps '15, Grand prize winner of the 2024 Georges Enescu International Voice CompetitionHartt really started it all for me. It’s where I fell in love with opera and performing.
Performance Opportunities
Unique to The Hartt School is the undergraduate and graduate-level track of specialized song seminars. These courses provide in-depth study to help master the languages, styles, and performance practices specific to songs from countries throughout the world. Separate from diction and vocal literature courses, these seminars provide opportunities to build valuable skills through performance. Each year, The Hartt School hosts its Festival of American Song, featuring concerts with students, faculty, guest artists, and often living American composers.
Audition Requirements
It is highly encouraged that all applicants audition in person. An accompanist is provided free of charge for all vocal auditions. Music must be provided in a binder, double-sided and hole-punched.
The following requirements are for performance majors and non-performance majors.
Applicants must prepare three (3) selections, two (2) of which are art songs, and one (1) which may be a third art song or a selection from the oratorio, opera, or musical theater* repertoires. All selections will be performed by memory, and should include at least two (2) languages, one (1) of which must be English.
*Acceptable musical theater works include those from the Golden Age or by Stephen Sondheim.
Applicants must prepare three (3) art songs and two (2) selections from the oratorio, opera, or musical theater* repertoires, for a total of five (5) selections. All selections will be performed by memory and must encompass four (4) languages - one (1) of which is English - and three (3) varying stylistic periods.
*Acceptable musical theater works include those from the Golden Age or by Stephen Sondheim.
All applicants must prepare a full-length recital (approximately 45 minutes of music), representing at least three (3) stylistic periods in at least four (4) languages, one of which must be English.
- The audition should include an opera aria and an oratorio aria.
- Translations and program notes should be uploaded to your online application portfolio. The committee will select from the submitted materials.
- DMA applicants will have a 15-20 minute interview after their audition with Vocal Studies faculty.