Maryann Kyle

Lyric Soprano, Associate Professor of Voice

In demand as one of the finest vocal coaches of belt, legit and classical vocal technique, Maryann Kyle has dedicated her professional life to guiding singers in their pursuit not only of exceptional singing, but also captivating performance.  Kyle has extensive experience teaching, coaching, and performing opera, recitals, concerts and Broadway shows.  Kyle is currently the vocal coach for Twist, a new musical by composers Tena Clark and Gary Prim, and directed by Debbie Allen, which opened in Atlanta in 2010 at the Alliance Theatre, and opened at the Pasadena Playhouse in 2011.  Kyle is the creator of Maryann Kyle’s COMMAND PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP,  which focuses on the integration of the voice into the total actor.    

Maryann Kyle is an active performer of opera, concert, and recital repertoire, and has shared the concert stage with some of world’s greatest artists, having sung the role of Micaela in Carmen opposite internationally known mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves; performing as a guest soloist with The Miami Festival opposite famed bass-baritone William Warfield; and singing the soprano solos in Mendelssohn’s Elijah opposite baritone Timothy Noble and mezzo-soprano Marietta Simpson.  Kyle has appeared as a soloist on the pop music stage with famed artists Patti Labelle, Patti Austin, Dionne Warwick, Ann Nesby and Vesta Williams. Kyle’s Sondheim Cabaret will premiere in NYC at the Laurie Beechman Theatre/West Bank Café in October, 2011.

“Specializing in belt and legit style Broadway technique, Kyle has had tremendous success in training singers in the best and healthiest use of their voice, and in integrating the function of singing with their character and physical acting process.”  She maintains studios in Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta.  Her students include famed New York dancer Jared Grimes, Emily Hindrichs (English National Opera, Oper Frankfurt, Tanglewood, Seattle Opera), Olivia Diane Joseph (off-Broadway production of The Wiz, Suzi Bass Award Winner), Alaman Diadhiou (title role in Twist, America’s Child Tap Dance Prodigy, Oman…O Man!, Jerry Lewis telethon), Pop/R&B singer, Matthew Johnson (Twist) and Aijia Lise, (headliner at the Viper Room in Hollywood and the House of Blues on Sunset Strip, Twist).

Kyle’s coaching talents are not restricted to Broadway musicals.  Her students are successful in the classical realm as well, many of whom have performed leading roles with New Orleans Opera, Seattle Opera, Oper Frankfurt, and English National Opera. 

Her students have garnered numerous awards including top placements at state and regional Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions.  Her students have earned apprenticeships with Seattle Opera, Lake George Opera Festival, Aspen Festival, Tanglewood Music Festival, Ohio Light Opera, Brevard and Operafestival di Roma; many continue to pursue their studies in major conservatories and schools including Indiana University, San Francisco Conservatory, Boston Conservatory, Manhattan School of Music, Cincinnati Conservatory, Oklahoma City University and New England Conservatory of Music.

Kyle continues to sing leading operatic roles with professional opera companies throughout the United States. She has also appeared as a soloist with many symphony orchestras in the US and beyond.  She has toured extensively with John Wustman in the Songs of Franz Schubert Recital Series, who described her as “a lyric soprano of great and unusual gifts: an extremely musical singer that brings great beauty and style to all music that she performs,” and opera conductor Kurt Klippstatter said she "…possesses a beautiful soprano voice which is both expressive and technically well founded. Her combined vocal and dramatic talents make her a natural…"

Kyle’s main opera roles include Mimi and Musetta in Puccini’s La Boheme Countess and Susannah in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte, Violetta in La Traviata, Pamina in Die Zauberflote, Lady Billows in Albert Herring, Micaela in Carmen, the title role in Floyd’s Susannah, and the Evil Queen in the world-premiere of Snow White.  Kyle will sing her first Tosca,  with Mississippi Opera in November, 2011.

Dr. Kyle’s involvement in collaborative efforts includes her continuing relationship with the Mississippi Arts Commission as a touring artist.  Kyle and pianist Theresa Sanchez make up the duo Bellescanto and perform throughout the year presenting recitals and educational outreach performances. This very active duo performs throughout the year around the region. 

Dr. Kyle has worked with such noted stage directors as Mignon Dunn, Lorna Haywood, Robert Larsen, Alan Mann, Wendy Tauscher, William Farlow, Kyle Marrero, Robert Tannenbaum, Paula Homer, Dugg McDonough, David Dunn Bauer, Albert Sherman, John Hoomes, Nicholas DiVirgilio and David Holley.

Conductors and coaches with whom she has worked are Mignon Dunn, Robert Bernhardt, Michael Borowitz, Dorothy Randall, Greg Ritchey, Russell Young, Paul Vermel, Robert Grayson, Greg Mason, John Wustman, and Kurt Klippstatter. Teachers have included Mark Elyn, Elizabeth Nohe Colson and Robert Grayson.

Dr. Kyle is currently Associate Professor of voice at The University of Southern Mississippi where she is Director of the Southern Opera and Music Theatre Company’s Outreach and Workshop program.  She has served as director of the Apprentice Artist program with Mississippi Opera, and vocal coach with Festival South.  Kyle also served on the faculty of the Operafestival di Roma, Italy and the Faculty-Festival Musica nas Montanhas, Brazil.

RELATED SITES

www.maryannkyle.com

www.operafest.com