Sylvia Stoner

About

Dr. Sylvia Stoner-Hawkins is a versatile soprano and Senior Artist-in-Residence in Voice at Skidmore College, where she has served since August 2014. She teaches private voice lessons for majors and non-majors, leads performance classes, and directs the Opera Workshop. With a DMA in Vocal Performance from the University of Kansas (2010), MM from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory (1998), and BA in Music and Theater from Skidmore College magna cum laude (1994), she brings comprehensive musical training to her teaching. Her professional performance career spans leading soprano roles across the country, including Lisa in Pikovaya Dama, Tatiana in Eugene Onegin, and Manon in Manon Lescaut, with companies including Des Moines Metro Opera, Shreveport Opera, and Kansas City Puccini Festival. A regional winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and finalist in the Marcella Sembrich and Naftzger competitions, she combines exceptional performance expertise with dedicated pedagogy. She previously served as Director of Opera and voice instructor at Washburn University (2011-2014). Her teaching encompasses classical technique, opera performance, musical theater, and contemporary styles, with a specialty in stage direction and vocal pedagogy.

Education & Qualifications

DMA in Vocal Performance (2010) - University of Kansas; MM in Vocal Performance (1998) - University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music; BA in Music and Theater, magna cum laude (1994) - Skidmore College

Teaching Styles