Teacher

Myra Vassian grew up in the mountains of NC where some of her earliest musical influences were opera, musical theater, jazz standards and Appalachian folk music. At the age of 18 she tied for the grand-prize trophy at the Asheville Mountain Youth Jamboree, (a regional high school competition for the preservation of Appalachian music) with her rendition of “The Hangman”, accompanying herself on the auto-harp and becoming the first singer to ever win the trophy. After receiving degrees in voice from Baylor University (TX) and Western Carolina University (NC), Ms. Vassian was awarded an International Rotary Scholarship to attend the Conservatory of Music in Zürich, Switzerland. She remained in Switzerland for five years and earned a Performing Artist Diploma from the Bieler Opernstudio, in Biel/Bienne. Ms. Vassian made her professional European debut in the role of “Lauretta” from Gianni Schicchi, and continued to sing leading roles such as “Norina” from Don Pasquale, “Zerlina” from Don Giovanni, the world premiere of Der Zoobär by Swiss composer Jost Meier and “Madeleine” from Le postillon du Lonjeumeau. Upon returning to the United States, Ms. Vassian performed the role of “Susanna” from The Marriage of Figaro with Opera Carolina and Piedmont Opera. While continuing to perform both in Opera and Musical Theater, Myra started her teaching career at Davidson College in North Carolina. After moving to New York, Ms. Vassian taught Lower School Music at both the Hewitt School for Girls and Sacred Heart. She became the Director of Music at The City Church, New York for 10 years until its closing and subsequently served on the Voice Faculty of the Evening Division of the Juilliard School of Music for 10 years while maintaining a studio of private voice students. Ms. Vassian’s most recent love is singing cabaret. While in Manhattan she had the pleasure of performing multiple shows at The Duplex, the Metropolitan and the Laurie Beechman Theaters under the direction of Lennie Watts and musical direction of Stephen Ray Watkins. Currently, Ms. Vassian directs a community choir in Cape May, NJ as well as performing in various concerts throughout the year there. Most recently, she is proud to be teaching a studio of wonderful future music teachers as a part of the voice faculty at Texas State University--and loves calling Texas her new home.