Melissa Givens, DMA
Area Coordinator, Vocal Studies
Assistant Professor in Music
Education
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BA in Music, Davidson College
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MM in Vocal Performance, Shepherd School of Music, Rice University
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DMA in Music Performance, University of Houston
Courses Taught
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Applied Voice
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Language Diction (English, Italian, French and German)
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Opera Workshop
Teaching Focus
Ms. Givens’ teaching focus is the healthy use and development of the singing voice, with an emphasis on performance practice and vocal literature.
Additional Information
Ms. Givens is an internationally recognized performer as well as a teacher. She was a featured soloist in the European tour of the production PitieĢ! with the Belgian dance company Les Ballets C de la B, and has also performed as a soloist with the Vienna Volksoper Orchestra, the Budapest Concert Orchestra, Austin Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony Orchestra, National Philharmonic and the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra.
She is also a champion of collaborative musical endeavors and is a core artist with the early music ensemble Ars Lyrica Houston and the Bach Society of Houston. Her discography includes critically acclaimed performances on several recordings, including Ars Lyrica’s world premiere recording of music of Alessandro Scarlatti (Naxos), and several discs by Conspirare: Company of Voices (Harmonia Mundi), two of which were nominated for Grammy® Awards. Her solo disc, let the rain kiss you, was an editor’s pick on the music website www.cdbaby.com.
Ms. Givens is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and serves as the Treasurer for the Greater Houston Chapter. She is also a member of the American Guild of Musical Artists, the Houston Tuesday Musical Club, and the honor societies Omicron Delta Kappa and Pi Lambda Kappa. In 2009 she was named a Patroness of Sigma Alpha Iota, the international music fraternity for women. Ms. Givens serves on the University Social Events Committee.