WSU Voice & Opera/Musical Theatre

11/23/2025

This past Thursday night I was in Pullman to make the 2025 presentation of the Morgan Cope "For the Love of Music" scholarship. This year's recipient is Ashley Myers. Ashley is a senior as a musical education major and will be doing her student teaching in the fall of 2026. She is bright, happy, energetic and highly respected by her peers and faculty. Ashley is always willing to volunteer for area needs and is a strong leader in ensembles. Over her time at WSU she has participated in University Singers, Treble Singers, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers and Opera/Musical Theatre. She provides a positive role model for others.

The night was so fitting with an introduction presentation by Dr. Julie Anne Wieck remembering Morgan and her love for the musical program. Alisa Troy, Ashley's vocal coach announced Ashley as the 2025 recipient of the scholarship. Dave Turnbull the Associated Director of the Music Program is pictured with me and Ashley. I want to thank Julie, Alisa and Dave (in picture with me and Ashley) for helping facilitate this year's presentation. I would also like to thank Raise for Rowyn and Steve Koleszar for their own going support for Morgan's scholarships.

The concert after the presentation was wonderful featuring music from Stephen Sondheim and Stephen Schwartz. As Ahley and the other singers/performers sang to scenes from musical such as Company, Into the Woods, Godspell and Wicked, I started to remember all of theater/musical programs Morgan was in. She started very early with Missoula Children's Theatre when they came to town. I couldn't help seeing Ashley sing and picture Morgan and how much she loved do that.

Congratulations, Ashley. It was so nice to me you and I wish you all the best as you graduate and start your student teaching.

11/14/2025

We're excited to open up registration for our VocalFest event in February! High school-age singers, let's get you ready for auditions and competitions through masterclasses, group activities, and presentations. FREE! Spread the word!

11/11/2025

Music of Stephen Sondheim and Stephen Schwartz, under the direction of Dr. Julie Anne Wieck and collaborative pianist, Elena Panchenko, will be presented in Bryan Hall Theatre on Thursday, November 20, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. These two Broadway composers wrote some of the most beautiful, innovative and meaningful music for such shows as Company, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Godspell, Children of Eden and Wicked. WSU faculty member, Dr. Matthew Myers, will be joining the cast as a guest artist and choreographer for the Godspell selections. Admission is free of charge so come and enjoy some wonderful performances by the singers of the WSU School of Music Opera/Musical Theatre program.

11/02/2025

Congratulations to the following students who participated in the 2025 Inland Northwest National Association of Teachers of Singing Auditions this weekend at Central Washington University. They all did a wonderful job representing WSU Voice and the studios of Professor Toy and Dr. Wieck.

Those who placed in their individual categories were (left to right):
Makenna Wagnon - 1st place in Advanced Classical (Toy)
Darya Baker - 3rd place in Upper College Musical Theatre (Wieck)
Jack Murdock - 1st place in Lower College TBB Classical and Lower College Musical Theatre (Toy)
Yoona Doo - 2nd place in Lower College Treble Classical (Wieck)

Others who participated were (left to right):
Mikiah Harper
Kayla Mommsen
Ashley Myers
Andon Merrick

Many thanks to Elena Panchenko, our fabulous collaborative pianist who played for 7 of the singers this weekend.

10/28/2025

Audition to be part of the cast for the spring production of Princess Ida! The story satirizes the education of women, evolution and the never-ending battle of the sexes! Auditions will be on December 1 and 3 in Bryan Hall Theatre. Performances will be on Family Weekend, April 3 and 4. Please follow the QR code below for more information and to sign up for an audition time. Contact Dr. Wieck at [email protected] with any questions.

10/24/2025

Don’t miss wonderful musical theatre selections by Stephen Sondheim and Stephen Schwartz, as well as art songs and operatic arias for Family Weekend! The performance is on Friday, October 24 at 7:30 in Bryan Hall Theatre.

10/22/2025

Come join us for a wonderful evening of beautiful music featuring our fabulous vocal students!

09/17/2025

“I Am in Need of Music” is the title of a beautiful song by American composer, Ben Moore and is the theme for this evening’s recital of art song by Dr. Julie Anne Wieck, soprano and Elena Panchenko, harpsichord and piano. They will be joined by Dr. Ruth Boden on cello for a set of Baroque songs by Henry Purcell, starting with “If Music Be the Food of Love.” The rest of the recital will consist of German lied by Schubert, Strauss, Brahms and Wolf, followed by a selection of songs from Chants d’Auvergne by Joseph Canteloube.

08/13/2025

This fall MUS 428 Opera/Musical Theatre will be performing Music by Stephen Schwartz and Stephen Sondheim. The class meets on M/W from 3:10 - 5:00. Auditions are being held this Thursday, August 14 through Monday, August 17 in Kimbrough 115. You do not need to be a music major to audition so sign up now at https://music.wsu.edu/choral-ensemble-auditions/.

06/30/2025

We had a fabulous time at the Cougar Summer Music Camp in the musical theatre ensembles! There were two ensembles that joined together at the end of the week, allowing for some students to be exclusively in musical theatre while others also participated in band, choir, or piano. Seventeen students performed songs from “Little Shop of Horrors” and even made their own versions of Audrey II, the man eating plant, for the finale. Director Dr. Julie Anne Wieck, Assistant Director/Choreographer Jessica Hirsh from University of Idaho Theatre, and Colaborative Pianist/ Coach Elena Panchenko look forward to doing it again next summer!

05/19/2025

This will be the fourth year of the WSU Cougar Summer Music Camp and we are excited to announce that as the camp has grown each year, so has the interest in musical theatre. Because of that we are pleased to be adding a guest faculty member to our program. Joining Dr. Julie Anne Wieck and Elena Panchenko will be Jess Hirsh, Assistant Professor in Musical Theatre in the University of Idaho Theatre Department. She will be assisting with electives, choreography and rehearsals.

The camp is designed for grades 8 – 12 with current 7th graders also accepted. Campers will be able to choose the Musical Theatre Track OR one of the large ensembles (Choir, Band, Orchestra) or piano and then musical theatre as their second ensemble. Please spread the word! The deadline for registration is June 1!

04/15/2025

Singers, This year we are expanding the musical theatre offerings so you have the option of choosing choir and musical theatre or just musical theatre! Either way, prepare to have some fun in Pullman this summer!

Registration is now open for the 2025 Cougar Summer Music Camp!

Our Annual WSU Cougar Summer Music Camp welcomes all band, choir, and orchestra students grades 7-12 to join us for another fantastic summer. Ensembles include concert band, jazz band, orchestra, choir, musical theater, African drumming, and more!

We are excited to highlight the return of our string program this summer!!

Application Deadline: Application, recordings, forms and fees must be received by June 1, 2025

Join us today!!