Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company

The rich and varied history of opera and musical theater at The University of Southern Mississippi began in 1948 by Frank Earl Marsh with a fully-staged production directed by Lloyd Patten of Smetana's Bartered Bride, accompanied by full orchestra. Unlike a strictly choral music program, the opera and musical theatre program attracts both vocal and instrumental talent. Through the years, the high-quality performances have attracted more and better students who present marvelous productions for the community.

About Southern Opera and Musical Theatre

In 1948, longtime Chairman of the Music Department Frank Earl Marsh was sitting in his office, musing over the day’s happenings, when suddenly he is struck with a revelation: there is a key component missing from the music program! While the choral and studio tracks thrive, Marsh sees a need for a high quality performance program that will attract and simultaneously showcase instrumental and vocal talent. He jumps from his chair, phones director Lloyd Patten, and immediately, they begin to plan. That same season, they stage and produce Bedřich Smetana’s comic opera The Bartered Bride with a full orchestra and vocal soloists. Thus was born the Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company.

Since then the program has accrued a reputation as one of the finest opera and musical theatre collegiate companies in the region, and now holds a recognized place alongside other major schools of music throughout the nation. The Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company attracts a range of diverse and dazzling performers, and presents professional quality productions for the community. Major vocal artists are frequently featured at the university, including (among others) Thomas Palmer (1972), Roberta Peters (1977), Denyce Graves (1998), Placido Domingo (2005), Renee Fleming (2010), Deborah Voigt (2015), and most recently, Kirstin Chavez (2016). With an exemplary administrative team, an exquisite student orchestra, professional conductors and stage directors, and talented vocal artists, Marsh’s vision has bloomed into an integral and treasured part of the music tradition here at Southern Miss.

We proudly welcome you to our program!

At a glance:
--A College of Arts and Letters fully accredited in music, art, theatre, and dance
--A 41-member music faculty of dedicated teacher-artists
--Professional voice teachers and stage directors
--An active opera program producing multiple fully staged productions each year
--Frequent master classes and performances by musicians of international stature

Artistic Director and Conductor
Jay Dean

Resident Stage Director
Rob Mulholland

Chorus Master
Webb Parker, Ph.D.

Voice Professors:
Kimberley Davis, D. M. A.
J. Taylor Hightower, D. M. A.
Maryann Kyle, D. M. A.
Jonathan Yarrington, D. M. A.