Private Voice Faculty
Dr. Gwendolyn Alfred
Soprano
Praised for her “bright and passionate tone” (Houston Chronicle), soprano Gwendolyn Alfred recently premiered a newly-commissioned work for Houston Grand Opera which landed her in the prestigious Texas Monthly magazine. She made her Houston Symphony debut as a featured soloist in their Summer Community Concert Series and sang the soprano solos in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (Houston Civic Symphony) and Carmina Burana (Fort Bend Symphony). Her most notable opera roles include: Emeline (What Wings They Were), Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Giulietta (Les Contes D’Hoffmann), Magda (The Consul), Contessa Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro), Madama Cortese (Il Viaggio a Reims), Mrs. Gobineau (The Medium), Cinna (Lucio Silla), and Maria Corona (The Saint of Bleecker Street) with such companies as HGOco, Opera in the Heights, Miami Music Festival, and The Moores Opera Center.
Alfred received the Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Houston and the Master of Music degree from Lamar University. She completed a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Houston.
Dr. Alfred is an Assistant Professor of Voice/Area Coordinator at Texas Southern University. Before her appointment at TSU, she taught at Galena Park ISD, Port Arthur ISD, and the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston. She recently received prestigious recognition for her contributions in music and music education from the Houston Area “40 under 40” professional group, the Outstanding Faculty Award from Texas Southern University, and the “Living Legend of Southeast Texas” award from the ExxonMobil B.E.S.T. foundation. Alfred’s most recent project includes the development of a non-profit initiative to provide vocal instruction for underprivileged youth in Houston-area school districts.
Alfred received the Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Houston and the Master of Music degree from Lamar University. She completed a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Houston.
Dr. Alfred is an Assistant Professor of Voice/Area Coordinator at Texas Southern University. Before her appointment at TSU, she taught at Galena Park ISD, Port Arthur ISD, and the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston. She recently received prestigious recognition for her contributions in music and music education from the Houston Area “40 under 40” professional group, the Outstanding Faculty Award from Texas Southern University, and the “Living Legend of Southeast Texas” award from the ExxonMobil B.E.S.T. foundation. Alfred’s most recent project includes the development of a non-profit initiative to provide vocal instruction for underprivileged youth in Houston-area school districts.
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John Gallagher
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Brian Yeakley
Tenor
Brian Ross Yeakley, tenor and founder of Operativo Houston, has performed with many reputable opera companies throughout the US including Wolf Trap Opera, Glimmerglass Opera Festival, Opera Saratoga, and Virginia Opera among others. Yeakley obtained his MM from University of Houston in 2014 and is now in pursuit of an Artist Diploma at University of Houston to gain skills required to run his small company in Texas (Operativo Houston).
Recent operatic credits: Babylas, Mr. Cauliflower, Operativo Houston; Tonio, La fille du regiment, Opera in the Heights; Ernesto, Don Pasquale, Moores Opera Center; Brighella, Ariadne in Naxos, Austin Opera. Recent oratorio credits: Evangelist, Mendelsohn’s St Paul Oratorio, Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church; Swan, Carmina Burana, Valley Symphony Orchestra; Tenor, Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Moores School of Music; Tenor, Bruckner’s Te Deum, Austin Symphony. Upcoming: Swan, Carmina Burana, Moores School of Music; Pluto, Orpheus in the Underworld, Moores Opera Center.
Recent operatic credits: Babylas, Mr. Cauliflower, Operativo Houston; Tonio, La fille du regiment, Opera in the Heights; Ernesto, Don Pasquale, Moores Opera Center; Brighella, Ariadne in Naxos, Austin Opera. Recent oratorio credits: Evangelist, Mendelsohn’s St Paul Oratorio, Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church; Swan, Carmina Burana, Valley Symphony Orchestra; Tenor, Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Moores School of Music; Tenor, Bruckner’s Te Deum, Austin Symphony. Upcoming: Swan, Carmina Burana, Moores School of Music; Pluto, Orpheus in the Underworld, Moores Opera Center.
Abby Powell
Mezzo-Soprano
Vocalist Abby Powell has indulged audiences the world over with her uniquely lush and agile vocal interpretations. Praised by The New York Times as a singer of "solid and youthful" tone, Ms. Powell has prolific experience on both operatic and world recital stages. Lauded by the likes of renown singers Leontyne Price, Phyllis Curtin, and Marilyn Horne, as well as renowned conductor James Conlon, Ms. Powell graduated from The Julliard School in New York City with a Master of Music in Voice. Ms. Powell has been the recipient of numerous awards, including The Rise Stevens Award, G. & M. Grunin Prize for Music, and The Aspen Music Festival Voice Competition. Additionally, Ms. Powell was awarded The Maxwell H. Gluck Community Fellowship Scholarship, which enabled her to organize and perform outreach concerts in the greater New York City area.
Since returning to her hometown of Houston, Texas in 2017, Abby has been a frequent soloist with The Houston Chamber Choir, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, The Chorale at St. John the Divine and this season she will join the cast of HGO in "The Pearl Fishers."
Abby has been a voice teacher since 2001. She is a champion of vocal technique, ear training, eurythmy, and instructing musical expression in others. She has taught master classes at both NYU and The Juilliard School and developed young talent for Beyoncé's production company, Parkwood Entertainment.
Abby is committed to championing new works and has a deeply vested interest in opera as a full sensory experience - not just for the ears, but for the eyes as well. Abby "moonlights" as a performance artist and crossover/pop singer and enjoys collaboration with visual artists, dancers, and actors. She is a firm believer in the music of the past, present, and future. She is also an arts activist logging more than 10 years of volunteer work with the organizations Sing for Hope and Concerts in Motion.
Since returning to her hometown of Houston, Texas in 2017, Abby has been a frequent soloist with The Houston Chamber Choir, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, The Chorale at St. John the Divine and this season she will join the cast of HGO in "The Pearl Fishers."
Abby has been a voice teacher since 2001. She is a champion of vocal technique, ear training, eurythmy, and instructing musical expression in others. She has taught master classes at both NYU and The Juilliard School and developed young talent for Beyoncé's production company, Parkwood Entertainment.
Abby is committed to championing new works and has a deeply vested interest in opera as a full sensory experience - not just for the ears, but for the eyes as well. Abby "moonlights" as a performance artist and crossover/pop singer and enjoys collaboration with visual artists, dancers, and actors. She is a firm believer in the music of the past, present, and future. She is also an arts activist logging more than 10 years of volunteer work with the organizations Sing for Hope and Concerts in Motion.
Erin McDaniels
Soprano
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Erin McDaniels received her Masters of Music in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from Penn State University in 2019. She relocated to Houston this summer, and is excited to get involved in the rich musical culture in Texas! Ms. McDaniels is looking forward to the opportunity to nurture and develop students’ creativity and musicality at Shadow Creek.
Ms. McDaniels has been teaching private voice and piano lessons for over 5 years. Her students have varied from country singers in the heart of Nashville, to singers performing leading roles in operas, to pop singers preparing for callbacks of NBC’s The Voice. At Penn State, Ms. McDaniels did extensive work developing her cross-training teaching technique. She worked with students from all disciplines and trained her singers to be proficient in multiple vocal styles, including classical, musical theatre, jazz, and pop. In addition to teaching, Ms. McDaniels has a rich performance career. From the rich lyricism of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe (Iolanthe) to the fiery coloratura of Mozart’s Fiordiligi (Cosi fan tutte), Ms. McDaniels has performed a variety of vocal styles. In addition to performing roles from the standard operatic repertoire, she enjoys working with living composers, and has premiered lead roles in two operas. She also has experience in musical theatre and has performed roles ranging from the saucy Desiree (A Little Night Music) to the respectable Sarah Brown (Guys and Dolls). Additionally, she works as a church soloist and has performed in many cantatas and oratorios. |
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