Tammie Huntington

Biography

Dr. Tammie Huntington, soprano, is a Professor of Music at IWU where she teaches Vocal Pedagogy, Opera Workshop and Opera Theatre in addition to Applied Voice. Huntington holds a Doctor of Arts degree in Voice Performance with Opera/Opera Direction emphases from Ball State University, where she produced and directed the world premiere of Fifty-Third Street, a new American opera by Jody Nagel. Huntington resides in Marion with her husband, three sons and a daughter.

Why I love teaching at IWU

My colleagues at Indiana Wesleyan University are deeply committed to following Jesus Christ in every area of their lives: at work and at home, but particularly in their art and teaching! That means they are deeply dedicated first to BEING outstanding musicians, practicing their art with excellence in public arenas, in addition to ministering behind the scenes. Finally, they are dedicated to helping students realize their full potential as musicians and as Christ-followers, which means developing life-long habits and skills that will continue to fuel their passion and growth long after they have graduated. That attracts students who are also serious about their craft and about their Lord, which makes for a fantastic atmosphere in which we all grow and perform and minister together. I can’t wait to come to work every day! 

3 of my students and what they are doing now: 

Rebecca Roy, IWU Vocal Performance graduate, recently graduated with her M.M. in Vocal Performance from Peabody Conservatory, where she created the role of Antoinette in the world premiere of Quadar:  An Operetta for Children at the Kennedy Center, and was also in the U.S. premiere of Mansfield Park by Jonathan Dove.  She recently won the David G. Morris Memorial Competition of the North American Welsh Festival, moving on to compete at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Monmouthshire, Wales. She has recently accepted a contract to sing in the chorus of Opera Delaware and continues to audition and perform around the east coast. 

Skye Scott, private student of Dr. Huntington through his elementary and high school years, graduated from Carnegie Mellon University, and is now performing in New York theatre, film and the Broadway tours of Jersey Boys (Billy Dixon) and Million Dollar Quartet (Carl Perkins). 

Michael Johnson, IWU Music Education graduate, is teaching music at Oakstone Academy, a private school founded on the principle of providing a truly inclusive environment for children with autism spectrum disorders, allowing them to be full participants in the classroom with peers who do not have disabilities. He wrote the music curriculum for elementary at this school and brought vocal music to the elementary program and its concerts. He works with middle and high school students in the choirs and bands, and directs an acapella choir, Oakapella. This group travels around Ohio performing at nationally sponsored events, attends the International Competition for High School Acapella, and last year they recorded a CD through the Kickstarter Foundation.  

What's our distinctive? What sets you apart from any other similar program in any other school? 

We are preparing students to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength while engaging their world at the very highest level of their art. 

Instrument Played:  Soprano (Piano, Secondary) 

Subjects taught:  Applied Voice, Diction for Singers, Opera Workshop & Opera Theatre 

Awards

Council for Christian Colleges and Universities 2015 Networking Grant  

for Soprani Compagni:  Portraits of Women in Contemporary Soprano Duet 

• Commissioning of 12 new soprano duets from award-winning contemporary composers from across the US and around the world 
• Hosting of New Works Symposium on campus of IWU to premiere new works 
• Professional Recording and Publishing of Anthology of new works 
• Tour to universities throughout the US, and to China, Korea and Australia & Sweden 

2015 End of Year IWU Funding Award from Executive Scholarship Committee 

for Soprani Compagni:  Portraits of Women in Contemporary Soprano Duet 

2013 Provost’s Scholars Initiative Award 

for The College Music Society International Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina Session Performance:  Soprani Compagni:  The Benefits and Challenges of Sharing the Stage, the Classroom and the Opera Theatre 

Achievements 

• National Opera Association National Convention and National Association of Teachers Winter Workshop, Indianapolis, IN, January 2016 Session Presentation & Performance:  Soprani Compagni:  Portraits of Women in Contemporary Soprano Duet 

• Soprani Compagni New Works Symposium, Portraits of Women in Contemporary Soprano Duet, November 2015, Indiana Wesleyan University, Hosts, Organizers &  Performers  
• College Music Society Fifty-Eighth National Conference, Indianapolis, IN, November 2015 Session Presentation & Performance: Soprani Compagni:  Portraits of Women in Contemporary Soprano Duet 

• Song Collaborators Consortia Art Song Festival, West Texas A&M University, Canyon, TX, 2013 Soprani Compagni guest performance 

• The College Music Society International Conference, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2013 Session Performance:  Soprani Compagni:  The Benefits and Challenges of Sharing the Stage, the Classroom and the Opera Theatre 

• National Opera Association Annual Convention, Portland, OR, 2013 Session Presentation & Performance:  Soprani Compagni:  The Benefits and Challenges of Sharing the Stage, the Classroom and the Opera Theatre 

• National Opera Association Annual Convention, San Antonio, TX, 2011 Poster Presentation on the Performance Practice of Jody Nagel’s Opera Fifty-Third Street 

• Values Integration and the Arts Series at Manchester College, Manchester, IN, 2010 Presentation on the Performance Practice of Jody Nagel’s Opera Fifty-Third Street 

• International Congress of Voice Teachers, Paris, France, 2009 Poster Presentation on the Performance Practice of Jody Nagel’s Opera Fifty-Third Street 
•  Hawaii International Conference on Arts & Humanities, Honolulu, HI,  2009 Presentation on the Performance Practice of Jody Nagel’s Opera Fifty-Third Street 
• Lecture Recital on Gian-Carlo Menotti’s The Telephone 

Work History

• Adjunct Voice Instructor, Indiana Wesleyan University, 2006 - 2007 

Responsibilities:  Teaching Applied Lessons, Vocal Pedagogy, Class Voice, and directing the IWU Women’s Chorus. 

• Director of Vocal Studies, Part-Time, Grace College, 2005 – 2006 

Responsibilities:  Administration of Vocal Area, including scheduling of lessons, accompanists, masterclasses, field-trips and juries; Teaching Applied Lessons, Vocal Pedagogy, and Opera Workshop;  Director, Grace Symphonic Chorus, Grace Opera Theatre. 

• Doctoral Assistant in Voice & Opera, Ball State University, 2005 - 2006 

Responsibilities include teaching Applied Voice to majors, minors and non-majors; Accompanist to applied voice students in the BSU Vocal Department; and Administrative Assistant in Opera. 

• Instructor of Music, Half-Time, Grace College, Winona Lake, IN, 2001 - 2005 

Responsibilities: Teaching Applied Voice Lessons and Vocal Pedagogy;  Director, Women’s Vocal Ensemble “Cantate!”  and Grace Festival Chorus 

• Graduate Assistant in Opera, Ball State University, 2003 - 2005 

Responsibilities include directing scenes program 2004-05; Assistant Director for the 2003 BSU Opera Theatre mainstage production  Die Fledermaus; administrative assistant to the Director, Props-mistress, Publicity/Ad Campaign Manager, and Program Book Designer.  

• Voice Instructor, Grace Academy of Fine Arts, 2003 - 2004 

• Private Voice and Piano Teacher, Huntington Music Studio, 1994 - 2003 

Students accepted with acclaim and scholarship into select chorales and music programs at Carnegie Mellon University, Grace College, Ball State University, Bethel College, Hanover University, Greenville College, Anderson University, and University of Dayton.  Former students are also performing at the Mariott Theatre in Lincolnshire, IL;  recording and touring professionally in CCM; involved in studio singing and classical recital; and teaching both in the private studio and in public school music programs.  

• Adjunct Voice Instructor, Grace College, 2000 - 2001 

Responsibilities:  Applied Voice Lessons; Director, Women’s Vocal Ensemble 

• Choral Director, Lakeland Christian Academy, 1997 - 1998 

• Band Director, H.E.L.P.S. Home-school Group, 1994 - 1997 

• Music Teacher, Warsaw Christian School, 1991 - 1994 

Responsibilities:  General Music Instructor, Grades PS-6; Director, W.C.S. Choir, Band, and Chimes Groups; Music Director, 6th Grade Musical 

Degrees

• D.A. - Vocal Performance
  2008, Ball State University
  Opera Direction
• M.M. - Vocal Performance
  2004, Ball State University
• B.S. - Applied Voice and Music Education
  1991, Grace College