Rick Piersall

About

Dr. Rick Piersall serves as Director of Opera and Associate Professor of Voice at Abilene Christian University. He is a co-founder of the South Dakota Vocal Arts Festival and has directed operas at Stephen F. Austin State University, Houston Baptist University, and the University of South Dakota. Under his direction, ACU Opera produces at least two operas a year, one in the fall and a full production each spring semester. As a baritone, Dr. Piersall has appeared in leading roles with Utah Lyric Opera, Center for Contemporary Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Longleaf Opera, El Paso Opera, Opera at Lehigh, Opera Fort Collins, Opera Iowa, Opera North, Amarillo Opera, and the Abilene Opera Association. Among his notable roles are Mozart's Figaro, Reverend Olin Blitch in Susannah, the title character in The Boor by Argento, Don Fernando in Beethoven's Fidelio, and Tony in the musical The Most Happy Fella. He recently performed at Associazione Amici dell'Opera Lirica Ester Mazzoleni in Palermo, Italy, and directed ACU Opera students in a world premiere performance in Fort Worth and a trip to Avignon, France where they served as interns for his performance of The Secret Agent at Opera Avignon.

Education & Qualifications

DMA (Rice University Shepherd School of Music)

Teaching Styles