UWM Voice Area

10/16/2026

Congratulations to our UW-Milwaukee singers who have been selected as Patricia Crump Vocal Competition Finalists!

The UW-Milwaukee Voice Area is thrilled to celebrate these three outstanding singers who have been selected as finalists in the Patricia Crump Vocal Competition!

Liv Olsen – Current UWM senior, BFA Vocal Performance
Emily Bergeron – UWM Voice Alumna
Tabetha Steege – UWM Voice Alumna

We are incredibly proud of these talented artists and excited to see them represent the excellence of our UWM Voice Area!

Come hear them perform LIVE!

Saturday, October 17, 2026, 12:30 PM
UWM Recital Hall | Peck School of the Arts

The UW-Milwaukee Voice Area is proud to collaborate once again with the Supporters of Opera Singers (SOS) in hosting the final round of the 4th Annual Patricia Crump Vocal Competition. This competition honors Patricia Crump, founder of SOS, and celebrates young singers with strong ties to Wisconsin as they take important first steps into professional careers.

Please join us in cheering on Liv, Tabetha, and Emily. We wish them all the best!

https://uwm.edu/arts/event/patricia-crump-vocal-competition-finals/

09/28/2026

PRELUDE: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A MUSIC MAJOR on Fri, Oct. 23 is for high school students interested in majoring, minoring, or just staying involved in music activities when they head to college. Students participate in classes and ensembles and learn what a day in the life of a college music student feels like. Additional information and registration link are at Prelude Day.

https://uwm.edu/arts/event/music-prelude-day-in-the-life-of-a-music-major/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAUnV2ZjbGNrBSdXZGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHBkb2YBc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEebyi8_zDBk9LWeNo2KSpg_qKRhFpGmwo8uqmhZ9n3UN73qGhXqHmlvcN5rmg_aem_aKAZGJxZqGgDrkhL53kqrA

Remember what it was like when you first picked up your instrument or sang in front of an audience? That moment was the beginning of your life as a musician. And now that your skills are strengthening in high school, it’s time to think about college as your next step to lifelong success in the mus...

09/28/2026

Applications for the 2027 UWM Vocal Arts Festival on Feb. 5-6 are now open! The festival designed for skilled high school vocalists who enjoy both solo and choral singing. Participants will rehearse and perform with the VAF Honor Choir and participate in a variety of voice classes, masterclasses, lessons, and recitals. This is a great way to experience what music-making and vocal training are like at the collegiate level. Apply at VAF Application or visit Vocal Arts Festival for more information.

https://uwm.edu/arts/event/music-vocal-arts-festival/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAUnV19jbGNrBSdXWWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHBkb2YBc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEel4-4ZEiF0BUFkF7gW33qgYS-IxmXfY8Is9FIqfCkWz9atdxC92zZG06Kg9g_aem_XuTaawK91Wl8-3zhtcKBqQ

The Vocal Arts Festival provides an opportunity for skilled high school singers to interact with, perform for, and join their voices with peers from around the region. Participants have the chance to learn and grow as both soloists and choral artists.

09/03/2026

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Amanda DeBoer Bartlett to the UWM Voice Area faculty! https://www.amandadeboer.com

A soprano specializing in contemporary classical and folk music, Dr. DeBoer Bartlett has been praised as a “rainwater fresh soprano” by the Chicago Tribune, “galvanizing” by WBUR Boston, and for “an astonishing display of vocal nimbleness” by The New York Times.

As a member of Ensemble Dal Niente and Quince Ensemble, she has helped bring hundreds of new works to life and remains deeply committed to commissioning, performing, and supporting the music of living composers.

Her artistry also reaches into songwriting, shaped by her Nebraska upbringing, summers spent listening to country music legends with her grandmother, a love of Woody Guthrie, and an early obsession with Bernadette Peters. That wonderfully wide musical perspective makes her an exciting addition to our community and to the many musical paths our students pursue.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Amanda DeBoer Bartlett to UWM. We are so excited to have her as part of the Voice Area and School of Music!

03/04/2026

The UWM Voice Area is excited to welcome our 2026 Vilas Guest Artist-in-Residence, Sarah K. Brown, on March 5–6.

During her residency, Sarah will work closely with our students through a series of clinics, workshops, and masterclasses, sharing her expertise in vocal health, performance, and career sustainability.

Sarah is widely respected in the industry and has worked with principal performers from Broadway to Netflix, helping artists maintain healthy, sustainable voices while meeting the demanding realities of professional performance.

We are thrilled to bring an artist and specialist of her caliber to campus and look forward to two inspiring days of learning, exploration, and collaboration with our students.

To learn more about our Guest Artist visit: https://www.sarahkbrownvoice.com/

02/27/2026

Congratulations to Lexi Smith, soprano, on being named one of the winners of the 2025–2026 UW–Milwaukee Concerto Competition!

Tonight she joins the UWM Symphony Orchestra as a featured soloist, performing the achingly beautiful Vier letzte Lieder by Richard Strauss. A monumental work that we could not be more excited to hear her bring it to life.

This is going to be an unforgettable evening, and the Voice Area is incredibly proud to see one of our own on stage for such a major event.

Join us tonight and celebrate Lexi’s beautiful achievement:
https://uwm.edu/arts/event/uwm-symphony-orchestra-concerto-competition-winners-concert/

02/22/2026

The First and Second Year Vocal Showcase is here!

Join us TOMORROW, February 23 at 7:30pm in the Music Building Recital Hall.

If you’ve never experienced one of these evenings, this is the perfect time. You’ll hear repertoire that spans genres and eras, reflecting the versatility we value in our Voice Area, all performed by our very own first- and second-year singers.

Come support these emerging artists as they take the stage and share their work.