Vocal Performance

SJSU's School of Music and Dance Vocal Area is a thriving community of vocalists engaged in the vocal arts. Students study the fundamentals of vocal production (breathing, vowel formation, intonation, resonance, and diction) and repertoire, including art song, opera, musical theater, and oratorio, in various languages, during their four years of study. Vocal students benefit from weekly individual lessons with our extraordinary faculty of artist/teachers, as well as weekly studio classes.

Vocalists have the opportunity to join the Concert Choir, the famous Choraliers, Opera Theater, Musical Theatre, Collegium Musicum, Treble Choir, Glee Club, as well as our student a capella groups, including the Spartones and Pitch Please!. Undergraduate vocal majors perform recitals in their junior and senior years, and benefit from interation with an extensive rotation of distinguished guest artists. Recent guests have included Eugene Rogers and Rickey Tripp.

• Bachelor of Music in Performance
• Bachelor of Music in Composition
• Bachelor of Music in Music Education
• Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies
• Bachelor of Arts in Music
• Master of Music
• Minor in Music

Dr. Jeffrey Benson
Director of Choral Activities
408-924-4645
jeffrey.benson@sjsu.edu
MUS 262

Sandra Bengochea
Area Coordinator, Voice; Opera Theater
408-924-4658
sandra.bengochea@sjsu.edu

Christopher Bengochea
Voice
christopher.bengochea@sjsu.edu

Corie Brown
Choral Activities, Music Education
corie.brown@sjsu.edu

Ren Geisick
Vocal Jazz
408-924-4678
rengeisick@gmail.com

Jennifer Mitchell
Voice
jennifer.alexis.mitchell@gmail.com
MUS 244

Jacque Wilson Scharlach
Voice
jwilson1897@gmail.com
MUS 268

Philip Skinner
Music Education, Vocal Performance
philip.skinner@sjsu.edu

Jonathan Smucker
Voice
johnathan.smucker@sjsu.edu

Simona Snitkovskaya
Collaborative Pianist; Chamber Music
simona.sniksovskaya@sjsu.edu

Learn more about suggested audition repertoire.

• Are scholarships available?

  • Yes! Scholarship awards are competitive and based upon performance level and the needs of the School. Audition dates for scholarships are in February and early March.

    For scholarship information, please contact Dr. Jeffrey Benson.

• I would like to be a music major. What should I do?

  • For general questions, contact the School's recruitment specialists: musicdancerecruitment@sjsu.edu. If you have questions regarding the vocal major, contact Dr. Jeffrey Benson.

• When can I audition for vocal ensembles?

  • Auditions for Concert Choir, Choraliers, and Vocal Jazz Ensemble are held during the two advising days prior to the first day of classes.

    Audition for the Choirs

• Are there other performance opportunities?

  • Voice majors are expected to perform at least once per year on the Listening Hour, a concert series organized by the School of Music and Dance and open to the public. Voice majors also have the opportunity to audition for Opera San José. For audition information contact Opera San José, (408) 437-4456. Several times a year voice majors may be recruited to sing with touring shows, such as Andrea Bocelli.