Dr. Melissa McCann is a voice educator, pedagogue, and director whose work centers on helping singers become thoughtful, expressive, and independent musicians. She serves as Assistant Professor and Director of Performance at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, where she directs the Vocal Arts Ensemble. Her directed and coached repertoire includes Così fan tutte, The Music Man, An Evening of Bel Canto, and Guys and Dolls.

Her teaching experience spans university studios, private instruction, high school mentorship, children’s music education, choral directing, community engagement, and teaching artist work. Her students have earned acceptance to Brown University, Dartmouth College, Florida State University, Shenandoah Conservatory, and off-Broadway productions, and her University of Mary students have included winners of the BMSO Concerto Competition.

Dr. McCann’s scholarly and pedagogical work includes the 2024 lecture-recital “Interpreting Strauss,” presentations on resonance, voice in professional communication, vocal exercises, and vowel-pitch matching, and award-winning graduate research on vibrato rate in female singers. Her awards include the North Dakota Council on the Arts Special Projects FY25 Grant, the University of Mary Faculty Excellence Award, University of Mary Professional Development Grants, Figment NYC Artist Winner, UC Irvine Honors Recital recognition, and the University of the Pacific Presidential Scholarship.

She has led masterclasses, choral workshops, and adjudications for institutions including Biola University, Marietta College, the College of Wooster, James Madison University, New Song Church, All Saints Episcopal Church Las Vegas, Shenandoah Valley Academy, and Highland View Academy. Above all, Dr. McCann’s teaching is grounded in clarity, consistency, and relationship, with the goal of helping students become stronger singers, independent musicians, generous collaborators, and courageous artists.