Degrees: D.M.A., Vocal Performance, University of Oregon, 1996; M.A. Vocal Performance, California State University Sacramento, 1994; B.M. Vocal Performance, California State University Sacramento, 1993
Office: Music, Watchorn Hall #208
Phone: 909/748-8698 Campus Ext. 8698
E-mail: melissa_tosh@redlands.edu
Melissa Tosh has sung extensively in opera, operetta, oratorio, recital and musical comedy, first in her home state of California and later in extended contracts with the Stadttheater Hildesheim and the Heidelberg Summer Castle Festival. After nine years of living and performing in Europe, Melissa returned to the United States to complete her doctoral studies and to shift her emphasis to vocal instruction at the college level.
Currently, Dr. Tosh is tenured as Full Professor at the University of Redlands in Southern California. Since arriving in 1999, she has taught courses in Applied Voice, Vocal Pedagogy, French, German and Italian Lyric Diction and Literature, Opera Workshop and Graduate Seminars in the School of Music. She has adjudicated for Spotlilght, Rotary and SCVA vocal competitions.
Melissa Tosh also enjoys composing. Her art song, Autumn Within was selected as first prize winner in the 2008 Longfellow Chorus Competition and several of her art songs and choral pieces were chosen for the international "Lullabies for Free Children" project. She is the 2011 recipient of the "Emerging Women Compsers" award offered by the Twin Cities Women's Choir.
Dr. Tosh resides in Redlands with her husband.
Masterclasses: Dorothy Kirsten, Nan Merriman, Daniel Ferro and Blanche Theborn, 1976-1979
Studied voice with Vladimir Shustroff, Egidia Bonessi, Paul Harms, James Miller and Jane Paul.
Chair of Voice Area
Graduate Advisor
Applied Voice
Graduate Seminars
Vocal Pedagogy
German, French and Italian Lyric Diction and Literature
Opera Workshop
D.M.A. University of Oregon, Eugene, 1996
M.A. California State University Sacramento, 1994
B.M. California State University Sacramento, 1993
San Francisco Conservatory of Music, 1990
CSU Long Beach and CSU Fullerton, 1973-1981
Youngstown State University, 1996-1999
Tenured-Track Assistant Professor of Vocal Studies
Applied Voice
Vocal Pedagogy
German Diction
University of Oregon, 1994-1996
Graduate Teaching Fellow
Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas, January 1994
Artist-in-Residence
Vocal Instructor
Stage Director
California State University Sacramento, 1993-1994
Assistant in Opera, Directing and Coaching
Sacramento Visual and Performing Arts Magnet High School, 1993
Choral Instructor
Vocal Coach
Heidelberg Patton Military Base Music School, 1988-1989
Voice and Piano Instruction
Hildesheim, West Germany, 1983-1987
Vocal Instruction
Theater der Stadt Heidelberg Schloss Spiele, 1988-1991
Stadttheater Hildesheim, 1983-1987
Guestings in Hagen, Peine, Giessen, Braunschweig, Wolfburg; Freelance tour in Germany and Switzerland, 1984-1991
Emerging Women Composers Award, Twin Cities Women's Choir, 2011
Longfellow Chorus: First Prize for Solo Vocal Art Song composition, 2007
, Belgium International Competition, 1986
Finalist San Francisco Auditions, 1982
Finalist Orange County Met Auditions
Gladys Turk Foundation Grant
Mobile Oil Grant
Civitan Special Olympics Fund Raising Award
NATS Orange County Chapter
Orange County Philharmonic Society
NATS (National Association of Teachers Singing)
IAWM (International Alliance of Women in Music)
ACF (American Composer's Forum)
Pi Kappa Lambda (Honorary Music Fraternity)
ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers)
Professor Tosh has served as faculty advisor to the Musical Theatre Club and to the Mortarboard Committee for selection of Commencement soloists.
Opera
Madame Flora, The Medium
Mother, Amahl and the Night Visitor
Martha, Martha
Countess and Susanna, Le nozze di Figaro
Sophie, Werther
Principessa and Sister Angelica, Suor Angelica
Célie, Signor Deluso
Miss Wordsworth, Albert Herring
Papagena, Die Zauberflöte
Blondchen, Die Entführung aus dem Serail
Gilda, Rigoletto
Gretel and Mother, Hänsel und Gretel
Magda, La Rondine
Prima Donna, Viva la Mamma
Despina and Fiodilidi, Cosí fan tutte
Esmeralda, Die verkaufte Braut
Lucia, Lucia di Lammermoor
Operetta
Kathie, The Student Prince
Christel, Der Vogelhändler
Mabel, Piraten aus Penzance
Giro-flé and Giro-flà, Giro-flé - Giro-flà.
Adele, Die Fledermaus
Arsena, Die Zigeunerbaron
Valencienne, The Merry Widow
Laura, Der Bettelstudent
Musical
Maria, West Side Story
Marian Paroo, The Music Man
Mother Abbess, The Sound of Music
Julie Jordan, Carousel
Mona Kent, Dames at Sea
Tuptim, The King and I
Oratorio
J.S. Bach
Vivaldi
Duruflé, Fauré, Weber and Rutter
Pergolesi and Vivaldi
Concert and Excerpted Opera