Chair
Steven Paul Spears (he/they)
Steven Paul Spears is associate professor of music and, beginning in Summer 2023, Chair of the Voice Department. In addition to teaching studio voice and vocal literature, they teach the dictions of English, Italian and French.
All Faculty
Dale L. Duesing
Dale Duesing ’67 began his musical career as a child studying piano in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While at Lawrence he studied vocal performance, before going on to have an international vocal career as one of the world’s leading baritones.
John T. Gates
John T Gates, a member of the Lawrence voice faculty since 2005, was a bass soloist in German opera houses and concert halls (Mönchengladbach, Saarbrücken, Kiel, Wuppertal, and others) where he sang some 1000 performances over a period of thirteen years. His wide-ranging opera reper
Estelí Gomez (she/her/hers)
Praised for her "clear, bright voice" (New York Times) and "artistry that belies her young years” (Kansas City Metropolis), soprano Estelí Gomez is quickly gaining recognition as a stylish interpreter of early and contemporary repertoires.
Shannon Gravelle (she/her)
Dr. Shannon Gravelle is assistant professor of music in the Conservatory of Music at Lawrence University, serving as the Co-director of Choral Studies and as music education faculty.
Karen Leigh-Post
Janet Planet
Described as a “The voice of the new jazz culture with seemingly limitless expression” by Jazziz Magazine, the spirited and vivacious Janet Planet has been self-produced and managed for the majority of h
Kristin L. Roach (she/her)
Kristin Roach is a Grammy-nominated pianist and international conductor with 37 new operas and 21 world premieres under her baton.
Cayla R. Rosche (she/her)
Dr. Cayla Rosché recently completed her tenure as a Fulbright Scholar in Reykjavík teaching phonetics and continuing her research on Icelandic art song at Listaháskoli/Iceland University of the Arts, culminating in a full recital of this repertory.
Steven Paul Spears (he/they)
Steven Paul Spears is associate professor of music and, beginning in Summer 2023, Chair of the Voice Department. In addition to teaching studio voice and vocal literature, they teach the dictions of English, Italian and French.
Phillip A. Swan
PHILLIP A. SWAN is Co-Director of Choral Studies and Musical Director for LU Musicals. Dr.
Copeland Woodruff (he/him/his)
Copeland Woodruff is currently the director of opera studies at Lawrence University, Conservatory of Music.