Vivian Dettbarn-Slaughter is an award-winning teacher and performer with over 35 years of experience. She has studied with many distinguished singers, master class clinicians, and coaches, including Birgit Nilsson, Natalie Bodanya, Martial Singher, John Wustman, Sharon Papian, Joaquin Nin-Culmell, Karen Wicklund, Joanne Bozeman and Beverly Hay. She was Artist-in-Residence with the Toledo Opera, and has sung recitals in the U.S., Canada and Europe. Concert appearances include Handel’s Messiah, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Faure’s Requiem, Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, Krenek's Cantata for Wartime, and Bartok's Village Scenes. She has sung with orchestras throughout the U.S., and has also had an active career as a pianist and chamber musician.
Vivian holds a Doctor of Sacred Music degree from The Graduate Theological Foundation, a Master's degree in vocal music and education at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, and a Bachelor's degree in piano performance from the University of California in Santa Barbara. She was awarded the Doctor of Fine Arts honoris causa for her work as professor of Sacred Music at the Graduate Theological Foundation in 2017. She also studied in the DMA program in Opera and Music History at the University of Memphis.
In addition to coaching and directing operas, she has performed roles in opera and musical theater, including West Side Story, The King and I, Hansel and Gretel, The Barber of Seville, Carmen, Cosi Fan Tutte, The Magic Flute, La Serva Padrona, Tartuffe, Patience, The Yeoman of the Guard, and Amahl and the Night Visitors.
Dr. Dettbarn-Slaughter taught at Appalachian State University, the University of Memphis, the University of Findlay, the Graduate Theological Foundation, and Adrian College. Her teaching specializations include classical and theater applied voice, and music history. She taught young singing actors for ten years at the Cannon Music Camp in Boone, NC, and has had a long career as a church musician. She is Professor Emerita of Sacred Music and Fellow of the Graduate Theological Foundation. She is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and the author of The Vocalist’s Toolbox: A Portable Workshop for Singers.
Vivian holds a Doctor of Sacred Music degree from The Graduate Theological Foundation, a Master's degree in vocal music and education at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, and a Bachelor's degree in piano performance from the University of California in Santa Barbara. She was awarded the Doctor of Fine Arts honoris causa for her work as professor of Sacred Music at the Graduate Theological Foundation in 2017. She also studied in the DMA program in Opera and Music History at the University of Memphis.
In addition to coaching and directing operas, she has performed roles in opera and musical theater, including West Side Story, The King and I, Hansel and Gretel, The Barber of Seville, Carmen, Cosi Fan Tutte, The Magic Flute, La Serva Padrona, Tartuffe, Patience, The Yeoman of the Guard, and Amahl and the Night Visitors.
Dr. Dettbarn-Slaughter taught at Appalachian State University, the University of Memphis, the University of Findlay, the Graduate Theological Foundation, and Adrian College. Her teaching specializations include classical and theater applied voice, and music history. She taught young singing actors for ten years at the Cannon Music Camp in Boone, NC, and has had a long career as a church musician. She is Professor Emerita of Sacred Music and Fellow of the Graduate Theological Foundation. She is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and the author of The Vocalist’s Toolbox: A Portable Workshop for Singers.