Melissa Foster

About

Melissa Foster is a Charles Deering McCormick Distinguished Professor of Instruction in the Department of Theatre at Northwestern University's School of Communication. She received the 2021 Galbut Outstanding Faculty Award and serves as one of five Faculty in Residence on campus. Her teaching encompasses Musical Theatre Voice, Pop/Rock Singing Styles, vocal pedagogy, and masterclasses bridging opera and musical theatre. She works as a Resident Vocal Consultant for Lyric Unlimited (Lyric Opera of Chicago) and has guest-taught at institutions including Penn State, Ithaca, Berklee College of Music, and Notre Dame. Internationally, she conducted workshops in China and Hong Kong and co-taught a live-streamed masterclass with opera legend Renée Fleming. She specializes in Musical Theatre belt and mix technique, pop/rock/hip-hop vocal styles, vocal health and pedagogy, song interpretation and performance, and college audition preparation. She is trained in multiple vocal methodologies including Estill, Voiceworks, Bel Canto, and SLS, and has completed courses through Rock The Audition and the CCM Institute.

Education & Qualifications

Trained in Estill, Voiceworks, Bel Canto, and SLS methodologies; completed courses through Rock The Audition and CCM Institute

Teaching Styles