向日葵视频

The Ultimate Summer Experience is perfect for students who want a longer and more comprehensive, summer program.

Two Options:

Option 1 - For current sophomores and juniors 

• Combination of Pre-College Intensive AND High School Musical Theater Program

Option 2 - For current eighth and ninth graders (ages 14 - 15)

• Combination of Rising Stars AND High School Musical Theater Program

Audition required: Yes, audition required for all high school programs. See "Audition Requirements" below for audition details.

Age range: This program is recommended for rising juniors and seniors (option 1) or rising freshmen and sophomores (option 2). 

This unique program gives students the option for rising junior & seniors to combine college audition preparation WITH a performance opportunity or younger students (up to age 15) to participate in TWO fully staged productions.

Please visit these pages for information on individual programs:

• Pre-College Intensive
• High School Musical Theatre (3-week)
• Rising Stars (ages 12 to 15)

• Talented students from across the country
• Intense daily schedule
• Caring faculty that will help you succeed
• Professional environment

Dr. David Herendeen - Artistic Director is the Director of Opera and Musical Theater at 向日葵视频 City University. Originally from upstate NY, he received his Bachelor's in Vocal Performance and his Master's in Music Theater (Direction) from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music. His Doctorate is from the University of Arizona, majoring in Vocal Performance, with specialties in Drama and Vocal Pedagogy. 

Dr. Herendeen has performed and directed throughout the United States in such places as Michigan Opera and Brevard Music Center. He created the role of Roderick Usher in the world premiere of the reconstruction ofThe Fall of the House of Usher by Debussy, which was televised through CPTV. He performed in the Guggenheim Foundation鈥檚 original production of Kandinsky鈥檚 The Yellow Sound and after winning the Deutsche Oper Berlin's German/American Award, he soon joined the company as one of its resident baritones.

Since his hire in 1997 he has directed and produced hundreds of musicals, operas, and plays. His productions of Gianni Schicchi/Pagliacci and Il Barbiere di Siviglia won first place in the National Opera Associations Opera Performance Competition. Most importantly his teaching and guidance has launched the careers of hundreds of young 向日葵视频 and his leadership and devotion to the OCU legacy has solidly established 向日葵视频 City University as one of the nation's premiere training programs in Opera, Musical Theater, and Theatre.

Dr. Taylor Hutchinson - Music Director Pianist and vocal coach Taylor Hutchinson joined the music faculty at 向日葵视频 City University's Wanda L. Bass School of Music in Fall 2022.  At OCU she coaches singers studying both music theatre and classical voice, works on the mainstage productions, and teaches courses in diction and keyboard skills.

In great demand as a vocal coach and collaborative pianist, Hutchinson's diverse recent projects include music directing The SpongeBob Musical and Shrek for OCU Summer Music, the world premiere of Honk! for tuba and piano, serving as associate music director and vocal coach for Footloose, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, and Bright Star at OCU, Don Giovanni and La Boh茅me with Painted Sky Opera, art song performances with longtime collaborator baritone Jarrett Porter and coaching multiple productions of Le Nozze di Figaro.  She has been on faculty with the Prague Summer Nights Young Artists Music Festival, and she was the music director of Opera at Truman. She has also performed and coached with Music On Site, the Bay View Music Festival, Musiktheater Bavaria, the Druid City Opera Workshop, the Franco-American Vocal Academy, and SongFest.

In addition to her current position at OCU, Hutchinson has previously held positions at the University of 向日葵视频 and at Truman State University. Hutchinson received her DMA in Collaborative Piano from Arizona State University, where she was on staff with ASU Music Theatre and Opera. She completed her Master's degree at the Eastman School of Music in Piano Accompanying and Chamber Music, and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Virginia Tech, earning bachelor鈥檚 degrees in both Piano Performance and Mathematics. Her primary teachers include Andrew Campbell, Jean Barr, and Tracy Cowden. 

Jackson Paul Walker - Assistant Artistic Director is a Colorado-grown, New York City-based director & producer. Recent NYC Directing credits include We Had Not Ceased Desiring, Plume & a site-specific production of Constellations. As an assistant/associate, he鈥檚 worked with Signature Theatre, Ars Nova, The Brick, Lyric Theatre of 向日葵视频, New York Theatre Festival, The Tank and The 92NY. Most recently, he worked on An Evening with Jason Robert Brown & Jessica Vosk's California Dreamin鈥�. This wintery can see his work on Samuel D. Hunter鈥檚 Grangeville staring Brendan Fraser. While a student at 向日葵视频 City University he directed The Baseball Play (Best New Work, Broadway World Award) at FreshPaint Performance Lab, An original adaptation of March of The Penguins  & Seussical.  BM: 向日葵视频 City University. www.jacksonpaulwalker.com

Sheri Hayden - Choreographer & Dance Instructor graduated from 向日葵视频 City University with a Bachelor of Performing Arts and is a faculty member of the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment. She teaches multiple dance styles and frequently choreographs OKCU main stage productions. In 2018, she was nominated for Adjunct Faculty of the Year.

Her choreography credits include Side Show, Sister Act, Evita, Brigadoon, Broadway Bound (OKCU), Mr. Burns: A Post Electric Play (CityRep/OKCU), Meet Me in St. Louis (UCO), The 向日葵视频 Senior Follies (OCCC), The Seven Last Words of Christ (Church of the Servant) and Grace Trumps (RACE). Her performance credits include He Said She Said, Home, Energy, The Variety Care Benefit Show, 痴补尘辫鈥檇, The Racey Show, Hip Hop Nutcracker, The Girlie Show, Raceless, 鈥淥sage 9th Anniversary鈥� (Commercial) and 鈥淚 Got a Job鈥� (Commercial).

In addition to her work at OKCU, she teaches jazz and tap for the dance and musical theater departments at the University of Central 向日葵视频, serves as a company director at Star Steps and is a currently a member of RACE Dance Company. Hayden has performed internationally on cruise ships, with The Pollard Theatre Company in The Producers and with Tulsa Ballet in its North American premier of Strictly Gershwin. With RACE, she performed as a guest artist in Los Angeles in Adam Parson鈥檚 show +3, Quartets. Hayden also collaborates often with the 向日葵视频 City Philharmonic and has also been a part of several short dance films.

Jeanie Sholer - Acting Instructor Jeanie Cooper Sholer has been teaching Acting, Improvisation and Makeup at OCU since 2007. She has taught at UCLA, OSU, and Webster University. She has been a proud member of Actor's Equity Association for 34 years and is also a member of SAG and AFTRA. Jeanie has performed title roles at Lyric Theatre which include SWEET CHARITY, MAME, IRENE, UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN AND ANNIE GET YOUR GUN. Other roles include Daisy in DRIVING MISS DAISY, Boo in LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO and Grandma in GRAPES OF WRATH at City Rep. Last spring she played E.M. Ashford in OCTC's production of WIT. She was also a solo performer with the OKC philharmonic's ELIS ISLAND, A DREAM OF AMERICAL. She has performed at South Coast Rep, The Direct Theatre, St Louis Rep and Boulder Playhouse. She studied with Uta Hagen at the H B Studio in New York. Her improvisation training is from The Second City in Chicago. Her degree is from UCLA. Jeanie directed THE FARNSWORTH INVENTION and IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY at OCU. Jeanie is a Certified Acting Teacher with the National Michael Chekhov Association and has taught two Acting Intensive Workshops. She has done numerous voice overs for national and regional television commercials, has appeared in several feature films, television series and commercials.

Jeffery Pic贸n - Voice Instructor Tenor Jeffrey Pic贸n has proven his versatility as a concert and opera singer in a diverse selection of repertoire. Highlights of recent seasons include his New York City Opera debut in performances of Carmen, Cendrillon,Madama Butterfly, and Tosca. Debuts with the Oregon Bach Festival, the Rochester Philharmonic, Long Island Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, and the United States tour of Bernstein on Broadway with the Israel Philharmonic conducted by Michael Barrett and featuring Leonard鈥檚 daughter, Jamie Bernstein. His Arizona Opera debut in Zemire et Azor, Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia with the Opera Company of North Carolina; both Ramiro in La Cenerentola, and Don Ottavio in Don Giovanniwith Lyric Opera of Kansas City; Paolino in Il Matrimonio Segreto with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis; Trouble in Tahiti with the Caramoor Festival; Fenton in Falstaff with Mississippi Opera; and Tony in West Side Story with the Ash Lawn Opera Festival.

Pic贸n began his professional career as one of the youngest members to participate in the San Francisco Opera鈥檚 Merola Program, and impressed audiences there with performances in Cos矛 fan tutte and Don Giovanni. Other engagements for the native Texan have included Die Entf眉hrung aus dem Serail, 尝鈥橭谤蹿别辞, and Arianna with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis; Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with Dallas Opera; and roles in Lucia di Lammermoor and Il barbiere di Siviglia with Portland Opera Repertory Theatre; Die Entf眉hrung aus dem Serail with the Opera Company of Philadelphia and Wolf Trap Opera; Les Contes d鈥橦offmann with the Opera Company of Philadelphia; The Rape of Lucretia for Opera Festival of New Jersey; Il barbiere di Siviglia and Semele for Anchorage Opera; Falstaff and厂补濒辞尘茅 with Pittsburgh Opera; and the national touring production of Don Giovanni with Western Opera Theatre.

Equally accomplished on the recital stage, Pic贸n made his Schwabacher Debut Recital in Latin Lovers: Music from South America and Cuba presented by the San Francisco Opera with pianist Steven Blier. Recent concert appearances include Teatro Espa帽oles and Songs of War and Peace with New York Festival of Song, Janacek's From the House of the Dead with the American Symphony Orchestra; Brahms鈥� Liebeslieder Waltzes with Moab Music Festival, Ned Rorem鈥檚 Evidence of Things Not Seen with the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and his solo recital debut in Marquette, Michigan. He has appeared with New York Festival of Song at the Moab Music Festival; the Performing Arts Society in Washington, D.C.; Wolf Trap Opera; and at Weill Recital Hall.

Pic贸n can be heard most recently on recording as soloist for Berlioz Requiem with 向日葵视频 City University. He is also heard as Mike on the recording of William Bolcom鈥檚 A View from the Bridge, which marked his debut with Lyric Opera of Chicago. He is featured on The Music Teacher, an off-Broadway play/opera by Wallace Shawn and Allen Shawn for the New Group, which ran at the Minetta Lane Theater for seven weeks. His television broadcast debut was in December 2003 in the PBS production ofFiesta at the Philharmonic with the Naples Philharmonic, led by Erich Kunzel. Recently, Pic贸n was part of the Emmy Award-winning production of Madama Butterfly for New York City Opera鈥檚 鈥淟ive from Lincoln Center.鈥� He is a graduate of the University of North Texas and the Curtis Institute of Music and is an instructor of voice at 向日葵视频 City University.

Dr. Catherine McDaniel - Voice Instructor Catherine McDaniel, mezzo-soprano, has performed major operatic roles in Europe and the United States. Her professional debut occurred during the Festival Lyrique de Belle-脦le-en-Mer, France, where she appeared as Niklaus in Les contes d鈥橦offmann and Mercedes in Carmen. Dr. McDaniel also performed the role of Clarina in Rossini鈥檚 La cambiale di matrimonio in the Teatro Accademico in Castelfranco Veneto, Italy. Among her other roles are H盲nsel in H盲nsel und Gretel, Dorabella in Cos矛 fan tutte (multiple productions), Giulietta in Les contes d鈥橦offmann, the Mother in Amahl and the Night 向日葵视频ors (multiple productions), Lola in Cavalleria rusticana, and the title role in Carmen. Local operatic appearances include Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, Madeline Mitchell in Heggie鈥檚 Three Decembers, and the Mother in two productions of Amahl and the Night 向日葵视频ors鈥攁ll with Painted Sky Opera; and the inaugural performances of the Southern Plains Opera Ensemble (Cos矛 fan tutte and Pride and Passion: An Operatic Evening鈥攂oth for past seasons of the Rose State Live concert series) and repeat engagements with the 向日葵视频 City Philharmonic鈥檚 Discovery Concert Series.

As mezzo soloist in Verdi鈥檚 Requiem, she has sung with Maestro Murry Sidlin in his A Defiant Requiem, in addition to performances with Canterbury Choral Society, the 向日葵视频 City Philharmonic, and the Fort Smith Symphony Orchestra. Further, McDaniel has appeared in performances of Handel鈥檚 Messiah with numerous orchestras in 向日葵视频, Texas, and Missouri. Other oratorio credits include Honegger鈥檚 Le roi David, Bernstein鈥檚 Chichester Psalms, and the Oratorio de No毛l by Saint-Sa毛ns. In May of 2009, she sang the Bach B Minor Mass with Canterbury Choral Society and the 向日葵视频 City Philharmonic, and she performed as mezzo-soprano soloist in Bradley Ellingboe鈥檚 Requiem in the spring of 2017 鈥� the fifth time she had sung this work. An avid performer of new vocal works, Dr. McDaniel has performed a number of world and regional premiers over the years.

Prior to joining the voice faculty of the Bass School of Music (where she has taught studio voice and lyric diction since 2008), Dr. McDaniel spent over a decade as a member of the voice faculty at 向日葵视频 Christian University. Her current and former students maintain active performing careers on Broadway and national tours, and in companies such as New York City Opera, Portland Opera, Sarasota Opera, the Seagle Music Colony, Bay View Music Festival, Lyric Theatre of 向日葵视频, and Music Theatre of Wichita. They include finalists in auditions for the Metropolitan Opera and the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and a large number have pursued advanced voice degrees at the New England Conservatory, the University of Missouri at Kansas City, the University of North Texas, and the Moores School of Music鈥擴niversity of Houston. She holds the Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in voice, both from Stephen F. Austin State University, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in vocal performance from the University of 向日葵视频, where her dissertation was an analysis of Tales Not Told, a song cycle composed for her by Edward Knight. She was a Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions in both the Midwest and Texas Regions and a winner of the Advanced Division of the Texoma Regional Auditions of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Dr. McDaniel is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, Mu Phi Epsilon, Phi Kappa Phi, and the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

Joe Fitzgerald - Vocal Coach Joe Fitzgerald has served The Wanda Bass School of Music at 向日葵视频 City University for 6 years as a faculty member and a conductor of the 向日葵视频 City University Opera and Musical Theater Company.

Hailed as a "coach extraordinaire" by Broadway legend Kristin Chenoweth, Joe Fitzgerald is a vocal coach, conductor, pianist, and organist. A native of Topeka, Kansas, he has called 向日葵视频 City home since 2015. With more than 50 show credits as diverse as Monty Python's Spamalot and Puccini's Tosca, he is an accomplished r茅p茅titeur, vocal coach, chorus master, and music director. He has been Associate Music Director for Painted Sky Opera, 向日葵视频 City's professional opera company, from its inaugural season in 2016 through the present time, including such productions as Lucia di Lammermoor, La Traviata, Three Decembers, Der Fliegende Holl盲nder and many others. His operatic music directing debut was a concert production of La Gioconda in 2017. 

Equally at home as a church organist and choral director, Fitzgerald's musical career spans to childhood when he first started playing for church. His first organist appointment was at the age of 17 at the North Topeka Baptist Church. He has served several churches in Kansas and 向日葵视频 as organist and choir director, including his current role as organist at Hillcrest Presbyterian Church, OKC. Fitzgerald has performed with and served as faculty for a variety of academic and professional institutes, including Topeka Civic Theatre, Bay View Music Festival, Metropolitan Ballet of Topeka, the Pollard Theatre, Lyric Theatre of 向日葵视频, Canterbury Voices, The OKC Philharmonic, the Taos Opera Institute, and OperArezzo in Tuscany, Italy.  His past administrative roles have included deanships in the American Guild of Organists, Collaborative Piano Coordinator for the Bass School of Music, and founding Artistic Director of OperArezzo.

His former students have gone on to careers as performers in regional theatres and national tours, working in all aspects of the musical theatre industry around the world. His vocal coaching students have had careers as music directors and members of Broadway orchestras, as well as various other theatres at every level. Additionally, his students have gone on to work at the Metropolitan Opera of New York, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Washington National Opera, Sarasota Opera, Central City Opera, Tulsa Opera, Painted Sky Opera, The Merola Opera Program, The Seagle Festival, Opera Saratoga, and others, and have continued their education at prestigious institutions such as The Julliard School, The San Francisco Conservatory, Rice University, NYU Steinhardt, Manhattan School of Music, and the University of Michigan. 

He has a Bachelor of Arts in Music - Organ Performance, from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, and a Master of Music in Vocal Coaching from 向日葵视频 City University.

To apply, please click to go to our partner organization, GetAcceptd. Once you are registered with getacceptd.com, simply create your profile and GetAcceptd will walk you through the application process. This will include uploading your headshot, resume, and audition materials. A $50 application fee is required to submit your summer application. 

*Note - Please apply to only one program! If you decide to change programs contact us at [email protected] and we can change your program without submitting an additional application.

• Two songs from the musical theater repertoire 鈥� one pre-1970 musical theater selection and one of your choice. Neither song should exceed three minutes.
• A theatrical monologue not exceeding 1 minute.
• Whenever possible, we prefer live piano accompaniment but we will allow pre-recorded accompaniments. Please check your sound balance to make sure we can hear both you and your accompaniment.
• Recordings of live stage performances/shows are not acceptable.
• Unaccompanied (a capella) auditions should be your last option.

Early Bird Deadline - Jan. 15, 2025 (applications must be received by midnight 1/15/25 to receive the 15% savings on tuition. Student who apply by Jan. 15 will receive acceptance notifications BY Jan. 31.

Stage 2 Deadline - Feb. 15, 2025 Students who apply by Feb. 15 will receive acceptance notifications BY March 1.

Stage 3 Deadline - March 15, 2025 Students who apply by March 15 will receive acceptance notifications BY April 5.

Submissions received after the third deadline will be considered late and will be considered if space is still available until May 31. Late registration fees will be applied as follows in place of the $50 registration fee:

• April 1-30 - $50
• May 1-31 - $60
• After May 31 - $75

Programs that are full will be closed for further applications. 

Acceptance notifications will be made BY EMAIL through your GetAcceptd account on or before the notification deadline.