Penelope Shumate
In the fall of 2021 I began my service to Austin Peay State University as the Director of Opera Workshop and Assistant Professor of Voice.
In my teaching career, students' successes in my Vocal Studios have included advancing, placing, and winning awards in vocal competitions including the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition and NATS (National and Regional - Classical and Musical Theatre categories), being hired for professional performance engagements, being selected for international and national voice training programs, winning vocal scholarships, accepting awards at prestigious graduate programs, performing leading and supporting roles in academic Opera productions, appearing as soloists with university ensembles, and professional music employment.
I enjoy teaching students from beginning through advanced skill levels in both classical and CCM vocal genres. With all students, I concentrate on helping them to develop efficient posture and breathing, and a healthy resonant tone, free of excess or unnecessary tension. Teaching and studying voice is a wonderful and never-ending journey in the fulfilling pursuit of artistic excellence. There is no end to improvement when hard work is present. I feel privileged to be given the opportunity to work with an instrument as precious and unique as the human voice. In addition to my extensive Vocal Pedagogy training during both my DMA and Master of Music degrees, I also studied Alexander Technique and Estill Voice Training.
Voice Teacher
Opera Director
Voice Student Accomplishments
Opera Directing
Mentorship
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"Ah, perfido!" by Beethoven
with the APSU Symphony Orchestra
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Mahler Symphony No. 2
with the Gateway Chamber Orchestra
Cendrillon by Viardot
"Operetta Opulence"
APSU Opera Workshop
I enjoy mentoring students in their vocal and career development. In addition to my professional engagements off-campus, I enjoy performing with colleagues and students of APSU. Through my performances I continue to gain knowledge and grow as an artist which helps me stay current in my field and guide students in their pursuit of artistic excellence.
Masterclasses Presented
University of Florida, Appalachian State University, Augusta University, Stetson University, Middle Tennessee State Univerity, West Virginia University, University of Arizona, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, University of Kansas, James Madison University, Lee University, Liberty University, Texas Tech, University of Oklahoma, Drake University, Coastal Carolina University, Millikin University, and Western Illinois University
Presentations
"Kassandra," with composer Dr. Anthony Brandt (Rice University) - National Opera Association National Conference
"Kassandra" - College Music Society Southern Chapter Conference
"Diction Gems" - NATS and WIU Summer Music Institute
"Quality Music Preparation that Perserves the Voice" - NATS
“Skills for Success: Time Management and Believing” - WIU Graduate Research Conference
"How to Prepare Music for Performance" - WIU Summer Music Institute
“Audition Preparation in Three Parts: Securing Repertoire - Connecting the Dots - Performance Success”
WIU Student Chapter of American Choral Directors Association
AUSTIN PEAY STATE UNIVERSITY - Clarksville, TN - Director of Opera Workshop and Assistant Professor of Voice (Fall 2021-present)
I offer weekly lessons to undergraduates and graduates, resulting in graded jury performances as well as recitals. The repertoire includes art song, opera, and oratorio arias in French, German, English, Spanish, Italian, and Latin, in addition to music from CCM vocal genres. Students include treble and low voices, music majors and minors, in addition to both traditional and non-traditional students. I also direct the Opera program in performances of scenes programs each fall and mainstage opera productions each spring. My duties include, but are not limited to, researching, selecting, and conducting repertoire, diction/musical coaching, teaching acting/movement, securing performance/streaming rights, choreography and/or engaging choreographers, costume/set design, acquiring props/set pieces, managing load in and load out, training/supervising stage managers and graduate assistants, working with production photographers/lighting designers/technical directors, scheduling/managing rehearsals in multiple locations, supertitle creation and operator training, poster/program creation with extensive notes and translations, publicity, managing social media content, grading students’ assignments, collaborating with conductors musically and on instrumental and budgetary needs, effectively working with administration regarding opera program needs/budget, facilitating students acquiring headshots and bios, and maintaining updated YAP audition and competition listings. My work with numerous opera directors across the country as a professional opera singer continues to inform my directing activities and helps me teach students about current opera trends.
WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY - Macomb, IL - Associate Professor of Voice (2014-2021)
I offered weekly, fifty-minute lessons to undergraduates and graduates, resulting in graded jury performances of five or eight songs, as well as recitals. The repertoire includes art song, opera, and oratorio arias in French, German, English, Spanish, Italian, and Latin, in addition to music from CCM vocal genres. Students included treble and low voices, music majors and minors, with ages ranging from seventeen to twenty-three. I also taught Opera Workshop, Vocal Pedagogy, Vocal Literature, as well as English, Italian, German, and French Lyric Diction. At WIU, I also enjoyed performing as a soloist appearing with the Wind Ensemble, the Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, University Singers, in solo recitals, in Faculty Chamber Music Series concerts and faculty recitals, and also performed with my students. I was selected as the winner of the WIU Provost's Award for Excellence in Scholarly/Creative/Performance/Professional Activities. For two years in a row, I was also the winner of the WIU College of Fine Arts and Communication Dean's Award of Excellence for Creative/Performing Activities.
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY - Baton Rouge, LA - Teaching Assistant of Voice (2011-2014)
I offered weekly, half-hour lessons to undergraduates as well as assisting voice faculty by sharing students, resulting in graded jury performances of six songs, as well as recitals. The repertoire included art song, opera, and oratorio arias in French, German, English, Spanish, Italian, and Latin, in addition to sacred music and music from CCM vocal genres. Students included treble and low voices, music majors and minors with ages ranging from seventeen to forty. I also taught Voice Class, and German and French Lyric Diction.
DREXEL UNIVERSITY - Philadelphia, PA - Adjunct Instructor of Voice (2003-2010)
I offered weekly, fifty-minute lessons to undergraduates which resulted in graded jury performances of two songs. The repertoire consisted of art song, opera, and oratorio arias in French, German, English, Spanish, Italian, and Latin, and music from CCM vocal genres. Students included treble and low voices, music majors and non-majors, as well as Drexel University employees. Students’ ages ranged from seventeen to forty-five.
PRIVATE HOME STUDIO - Philadelphia, PA (2000-2010)
I offered half-hour and one-hour voice lessons to a variety of students from beginners to advanced, treble and low voices, with ages ranging from eight to thirty. The repertoire included a wide variety of music from classical to music from CCM vocal genres.
COMHAR, INC. - Philadelphia, PA - Voice Teacher (2009)
I provided half-hour and one-hour voice lessons to the members of the Center City location. Students included beginner treble and low voices with ages ranging from twenty-five to sixty-five, who were HIV positive, had developmental disabilities, mental health concerns, physical limitations, and drug dependencies. The repertoire consisted of music from classical and CCM genres.
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY MUSIC PREPARATORY DIVISION - Philadelphia, PA - Voice Teacher (2000-2004)
I provided half-hour, forty-five minute, and one-hour voice lessons. Students included beginners to intermediate treble and low voices, with ages ranging from eight to sixty. The repertoire consisted of music from classical and CCM genres.
Louisianna State University - Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy
Temple University - Master of Music (M.M.) Opera and Vocal Performance
Radford University - Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Vocal Performance and Radio and T.V. Broadcasting