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OBU—Oklahoma Baptist University

Vocal Performance

This degree is a performance-intensive degree if you are considering a career as a concert soloist, opera and musical theatre vocalist, recording artist and studio musician, church musician, studio teacher or other vocations in music.

Reinaldo Figueroa

Class of 2023

“The biggest change that has occurred within me has been my faith. I got baptized in the fall semester of my junior year. My eternity has been forever changed thanks to Christ-like professors and friends that have led me to Christ.”

Read Reinaldo’s Story

Benefits of OBU Vocal Performance Program

Private Instruction

What you will find in this degree is a great opportunity to study acting, movement, dance, song literature and vocal pedagogy to fine-tune your craft. Due to more performing opportunities and requirements, you will work with your private instructor more in a one-on-one setting than other students.

Singing for a Lifetime

With top-notch teachers and faith-integrated learning, in earning the Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance degree, you build a solid technique that ensures a lifetime of healthful singing. You also cultivate expressive and technically secure vocalism enabling you to perform in a wide variety of outlets according to your abilities/interests. In addition, as an OBU student you will develop a sense of elegance, humility, poise and gracious confidence in every public performance or singing endeavor while broadening and deepening musical skills and intelligence. These factors aid in discovering your creative, artistic and professional potential.

Program Information

Rewarding and Challenging

The OBU Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance offers you an opportunity to grow in an atmosphere that is both challenging and nurturing through weekly studio classes, private lessons, master classes and voice seminars. OBU graduates typically view the degree plan as challenging yet rewarding as they look back and see how much they have grown while on Bison Hill.

Jobs and Job Opportunities

The key word here is “many,” as in many opportunities for success. Our Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance graduates have gone on to highly successful careers in performance, education, studio recording and church-related fields. Graduates have left Bison Hill and have gone on to appear on stages and in theatres around the globe including the Metropolitan Opera and other famous opera houses in the world. Comprehensive vocal training combined with OBU’s strong liberal arts education has provided our graduates an extremely high acceptance rate into graduate schools such as Eastman, Indiana, Florida State, Cincinnati, Peabody, Penn State, Baylor, the University of Memphis and many others. Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance graduates can also be found teaching across the United States at all education levels.

Faith Integration

You will be guided by faculty members who are professional, compassionate and committed to the call of Christ and to your success and growth. Our faculty at OBU integrate faith and learning in their discipline. This helps our purpose to equip the next generation of future shapers to live all of life for Jesus. 

Music Ensemble Opportunities

Vocal Ensembles

Instrumental Ensembles

Small Ensembles

Individual and Personal

Class sizes are small and you can build relationships with your classmates and professors that will last long after you leave Bison Hill.

Program Options

Bachelor of Music (BM)

World-Class Faculty

OBU faculty are experts in their fields and will be with you every step of the way.

Dr. Patty K. Nelson

Dr. Patty K. Nelson

Chair, Division of Music
Professor of Music Education

Division of Music