San Francisco Bay Area native, Dr. Melissa McCann has been teaching voice and piano since 2010. Not only an avid teacher, Dr. McCann has performed in music festivals all over the world including The American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, Accademia Europa dell’Opera in Lucca, Italy, Angel Vocal Art in Los Angeles, CA, Russian Opera Workshop in Philadelphia, PA, and Highlands Opera Studio in Haliburton, Ontario. Melissa has also performed with companies including Opera San Jose, The Napa Valley Music Association, The San Francisco Youth Chamber Orchestra, Opera on the Spot, Charlottesville Camerata, and The Solano Chamber Society. Most recently, Melissa earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance, Pedagogy, and Literature from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA with Kevin McMillan.
During her time in Harrisonburg, Melissa founded Harrisonburg Opera Theatre and was the church choir director at Sunnyside Retirement Community Meredith Chapel. Dr. McCann completed her Post-Graduate Artist Diploma in Voice at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of acclaimed opera singer, Deborah Voigt. While in San Francisco, Melissa interned in the Education Department of San Francisco Opera and taught Kindergarten and First grade music with the San Francisco Conservatory in the Schools mentor-ship program. She also received a full scholarship to attend the Rubin Institute for Music Criticism.
Melissa earned her Masters of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance from the University of California, Irvine at the Claire Trevor School of the Arts where she sang the National Anthem for President Barack Obama at the school’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. At UC Irvine, Dr. McCann received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Euridice in Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice, and as the Soprano in Pergolesi's Stabat Mater.
Melissa completed her Bachelor’s of Music at University of the Pacific, where she studied voice with Dr. Lynelle Wiens, and piano with Dr. John Cozza. Melissa began teaching in Stockton, California at Zion Academy of Music and continued to teach with California Music Studios, Melody Music Studios, Shenandoah Valley Academy, and at James Madison University as a Graduate Assistant.
Vocal Performance, Pedagogy, and Literature
Post-Graduate Artist Diploma in Voice
MFA in Vocal Performance
Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance