UWM Voice Area

03/04/2026

The UWM Voice Area is excited to welcome our 2026 Vilas Guest Artist-in-Residence, Sarah K. Brown, on March 5–6.

During her residency, Sarah will work closely with our students through a series of clinics, workshops, and masterclasses, sharing her expertise in vocal health, performance, and career sustainability.

Sarah is widely respected in the industry and has worked with principal performers from Broadway to Netflix, helping artists maintain healthy, sustainable voices while meeting the demanding realities of professional performance.

We are thrilled to bring an artist and specialist of her caliber to campus and look forward to two inspiring days of learning, exploration, and collaboration with our students.

To learn more about our Guest Artist visit: https://www.sarahkbrownvoice.com/

02/27/2026

Congratulations to Lexi Smith, soprano, on being named one of the winners of the 2025–2026 UW–Milwaukee Concerto Competition!

Tonight she joins the UWM Symphony Orchestra as a featured soloist, performing the achingly beautiful Vier letzte Lieder by Richard Strauss. A monumental work that we could not be more excited to hear her bring it to life.

This is going to be an unforgettable evening, and the Voice Area is incredibly proud to see one of our own on stage for such a major event.

Join us tonight and celebrate Lexi’s beautiful achievement:
https://uwm.edu/arts/event/uwm-symphony-orchestra-concerto-competition-winners-concert/

02/22/2026

The First and Second Year Vocal Showcase is here!

Join us TOMORROW, February 23 at 7:30pm in the Music Building Recital Hall.

If you’ve never experienced one of these evenings, this is the perfect time. You’ll hear repertoire that spans genres and eras, reflecting the versatility we value in our Voice Area, all performed by our very own first- and second-year singers.

Come support these emerging artists as they take the stage and share their work.

10/20/2025

THE RESULTS ARE IN: Out of 11 finalists, each receiving $500, 2 larger prizes were awarded at the 2025 Patricia Crump Vocal Competition. We are thrilled that it was just announced that UWM's Lexi Smith was given the $2500 Encouragement Award! We would also like to congratulate the Grand Prize Winner, Lauryn Nelson and again to our UWM finalists, Kaisa Herrmann and Emily Bergeron for a fantastic showing. For more information please see: https://www.supportersofoperasingers.org/2025-winners.html.

10/15/2025

ATTENTION! A huge CONGRATULATIONS to UW-Milwaukee's Alexandra Smith, and alumni, Emily Bergeron, Kaisa Herrmann for advancing to the Finals of the Patricia Crump Competition! This competition honors Patricia Crump, founder of Supporters of Opera Singers (SOS), and celebrates young singers with strong ties to Wisconsin as they take important first steps into professional careers. This Saturday, Oct. 18th, 12-3pm, at UWM's Peck School of the Arts, Music Building Recital Hall, come watch the finals live, as ten finalists perform in person for a distinguished panel of judges for the 5K Patricia Crump Grand Prize. https://uwm.edu/arts/event/patricia-crump-vocal-competition-finals/

10/11/2025

Congratulations to our wonderful singers who worked with guest-artist, Richard Ollarsaba. What a fantastic Masterclass filled with exciting sounds, wisdom and new artistic choices.

Featured:
Chanse Mortenson
Alexandra Smith
Liv Olsen
Danielle Sanchez
Thomas Biehn

10/09/2025

TODAY at 4pm, Music Building, Recital Hall - bass-baritone, Richard Ollarsaba, joins us in a very special Masterclass with our UW-Milwaukee voice students!

09/23/2025

I am thrilled to announce that the UWM Voice Area will present internationally acclaimed bass-baritone Richard Ollarsaba in recital, joined by pianist Aurelia Andrews, for Side Quest: Quixote, the Men of La Mancha.

This one-night-only performance will take place on Thursday, October 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the UWM Music Recital Hall. The program explores works inspired by Don Quixote and Man of La Mancha, featuring music by Ravel, Ibert, Delannoy, Chapí, Massenet, and Leigh & Darion.

A few important notes:

This is a pay-what-you-can event, making it accessible to all.

Seating is limited, so we encourage you to arrive early.

We are incredibly proud to bring world-renowned artists like Richard Ollarsaba and Aurelia Andrews to our stage, and we would love your support in celebrating this special evening.

Join us for an unforgettable night of artistry — one night only!

03/14/2025

CONGRATULATIONS to all the students who competed at the 2025 Marculescu-Stern Vocal Competition! What amazing talent that was showcased today, giving our guest judges a tough decision to make. At the end of the day the Award Scholarships went to:
1st: Maddy Copeland
2nd: Akira Harris
3rd: Alex Bonnell
Encourement: Ariel Marks
Thank you to those who attended and to our guest judges, Aurelia Andrews and Chaz’men Williams-Ali!

01/20/2025

UWM Voice Area is starting the spring semester STRONG!! This Thursday our Vilas Artist-in-Residence, Jason Ferrante (jasonferrante.com) will be working with our students from Jan. 23-24th -- Masterclass, Opera Workshop, Vocal Pedagogy, and Roundtables! Incredibly excited to watch our students work with this world class artist and pedagogue!

12/03/2024