Corinne Ness

  • Dean, Division of Arts and Humanities; Director, Master of Music in Music Theatre Vocal Pedagogy; Professor of Music
    Email Address:
    cness@carthage.edu
    Office location:
    JAC 210
    Phone
    262-551-5733

    Professor Corinne Ness is a dean and director of the graduate program in music theatre vocal pedagogy at Carthage College, where she mentors the research and performance skills of the future generation of music theatre educators.

    Equally at home in classical and contemporary repertoire, Prof. Ness has performed in venues across the country. Her students have gone on to professional careers in opera and music theatre, with careers in performance, directing, teaching, and arts administration. Her students can be seen on stages in New York and Chicago, on national tours, on cruise ships, and in regional houses.

    Prof. Ness frequently serves as music director and vocal coach for music theatre productions. She was the vocal coach for Binghamton University’s production of In Pieces. At Carthage, she was the music director and coordinator for the world premiere of A Seat At The Table, which earned a national Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Citizen Artist Award. She also music directed Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, earning a KCACTF Region III Outstanding Ensemble honor.

    Prof. Ness has presented workshops on music theatre techniques across China, including multiple visits to Shanghai, Beijing, Xi’An, and Nanjing. She has been the music director and vocal coach for productions at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, the Beijing Dance Academy, and the Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts (SIVA). She was appointed a Distinguished Visiting Professor for the Beijing Dance Academy in 2017 and 2018, and has been a featured presenter on contemporary vocal techniques for conferences across China.

    Prof. Ness recently completed a series of music theatre anthology and teaching books, working with the Chinese Music Theatre Association. She has also published journal articles and book chapters here in the United States, including an article for the Opera Journal on teaching music theatre (2014) and chapters on voice pedagogy in The Voice Teacher’s Cookbook (2018) and Action Pedagogies for Popular Music (2021).

    Prof. Ness is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and the Music Theatre Educator’s Alliance International (MTEA). She serves as a mentor and co-chair of the NATS International Advisory Committee. She is also a member of the MTEA Voice Advisory Board and serves as a mentor for early-career faculty. She has presented original research on music theatre vocal techniques, integrated learning techniques, assessment, and voice pedagogy in the choral rehearsal. Prof. Ness has been a conference speaker for the Music Theatre Educator’s Alliance International, the International Congress of Voice Teachers, the International Symposium on the Phenomenon of the Voice in Newfoundland, the Estill World Voice Symposium at Harvard University, the National Opera Association, and the National Association of Teachers of Singing. She has been frequently featured regionally as an expert in music theatre training, working with teachers at the Wisconsin Music Educators Association Conference, and the Iowa Music Educators Conference.

    Prof. Ness is also a respected choral conductor, having spent the early part of her career as a choral music educator. She maintains an interest in arts education and arts advocacy. Prof. Ness has presented workshops at the Arts Education Summit in Chicago, as well as for Urban Needs in Teacher Education (UNITE). She is the past chair of the Kenosha Commission on the Arts and served on the Arts Advocacy panel for Ingenuity Incorporated, the lead arts advocacy and research organization for Chicago arts.

    Prof. Ness earned a B.M. in choral music education from Northern Illinois University and a M.M. with honors in vocal performance from Roosevelt University. Prof. Ness earned her Ph.D. with honors in cultural and educational policy study from Loyola University Chicago. Her dissertation research focused on the pedagogy of singing as it relates to culture and representation.

    • Ph.D. — Loyola University Chicago
    • M.M. — Roosevelt University, Chicago College of Performing Arts
    • B.M. — Northern Illinois University
    • Certified Master Teacher of Estill Vocal Pedagogy, earned in 2010
    • Certified Public Teacher, K-12 Music, earned in 1992
    • MUS 0250 Private Voice
    • MUS 5100: Voice Pedagogy: Anatomy and Function
    • MUS 5200: Contemporary Vocal Pedagogy
    • MUS 5500: Advanced Applied Voice
    • MUS 6300: Competency Exams
    • MUS 6310: Capstone Project
    • Wisconsin Women in Higher Education Leadership (WWHEL); 2022
    • Wisconsin Arts Board Creative Communities Grant, 2020
    • Kenosha Community Foundation, 2020; 2019; 2018
    • Racine Community Foundation Chamber Music Fund Grant, 2019; 2018; 2017; 2016; 2015; 2014
    • William Dean Charitable Trust, 2019
    • Wisconsin NATS Grant, 2017; 2016
    • Mary Frost Ashley Trust, 2015/2016
    • Kloss Foundation Grants for the Carthage Community Music Academy, 2014-2016
    • William Blair Philanthropy Organization, 2013
    • Carthage College Quality of Life Professional Development Grant, 2011; 2006
    • Ness, C., Iafrate, T., Zhang, X., Novak, T., and Schwaber, K. (2021). Musical Theatre in China: Considerations and Strategies for Teaching in a Global Context. Music Theatre Educators Alliance Journal.
    • Ness, C. (2021). Voice production as a system to explore contemporary commercial music sounds and colors. In Steve Holley, Kat Reinhart and Zach Moir (Eds.) Action Based Pedagogies for Music Education – A Practical Guide. Maclemore Music.
    • Ness, C. (2018). Developing A Palate For Assessment. In Brian Winnie (Ed.), The Voice Teacher’s Cookbook (pp. 86 – 88). Florida: Meredith Music Publications.
    • Ness, C. (2014). Teaching Music Theatre. Opera Journal.
    • Ness, C. (2012). Collecting Culture: Constructing Ourselves in General Music Textbooks 1971-2005. Conference Proceedings of Wisconsin Music Educators Association. WSMA; Madison, WI.
    • Ness, C. (2021). International Association of Teachers of Singing (Russia). History of American Vocal Pedagogy. Online conference presentation.
    • Ness, C. (2021). Music Theatre Performance Practice. Wisconsin Choral Directors Association Conference. January 2021.
    • Ness, C. and Novak, T. (2021). Paramount School of the Arts, Aurora, IL. Comprehensive Plan A: Planning for a Diverse Life In The Arts.
    • Ness, C. (2021). Tumaini University Makumira, Tanzania, Africa. Master Class (online).
    • Ness, C. (2020). Student Learning Outcomes in Music Theatre Voice: Assessment in the Voice Studio, Productions, and Workshops. Music Theatre Educators Alliance international conference Voice Professionals Post-Session. San Diego; January 2020.
    • Ness, C. (2020). Shanghai MISA Festival World Masters series. Vocal Power Seminar.
    • Ness, C., Iafrate, T., Novak, T., Zhang, X., & Zhang XQ. (2020). The Global Tide of Music Theatre in China. Music Theatre Educators Alliance international conference. San Diego; January 2020.
    • Ness, C. (2019). What’s on Broadway: The Vocal Qualities. Presented at the Beijing Dance Academy, Beijing, October 2019.
    • Ness, C. & Mossman, J.R. (2019). Balancing Art and Craft in Music Theatre Teaching. Music Theatre Educators Alliance international conference. New York; January 2019.
    • Ness, C. (2018). The Power of the Woman’s Voice. Wisconsin Women in Higher Education Leadership (WWHEL) Conference. October, 2018.
    • Ness, C., Morales, M. & Udry, S. (2018). Effectively Infusing Global Learning Into Student Experience – A roundtable discussion. Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU) conference, October 2018.
    • Ness, C. & Hunter-Holly, D. (2017). Voice Assessment. International Congress of Voice Teachers. Stockholm, Sweden.
    • Ness, C. (2016). Estill Vocal Pedagogy as Curriculum. North American Summit. Estill Voice International. Chicago, IL.
    • Ness, C. & Hunter-Holly, D. (2016). Assessment for Private Voice Teachers. National Association of Teachers of Singing International Conference. Chicago, IL.
    • Ness, C. (2016). “Now You’re the Music Director: Tips for Choral Music Educators Teaching Music Theatre.” Wisconsin State Music Association (WSMA) Conference, October 2016. Madison, WI.
    • Ness, C. (2015). Belting Basics. Classical Singer Convention. Chicago, IL.
    • C. (2014). Contemporary Vocal Pedagogy and the Choral Instructor. Wisconsin State Music Educator’s Association (WSMA) Conference, October 2014, Madison, WI.
    • Ness, C. (2014). Teaching Music Theatre in Global Contexts. International Music Theatre Conference, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Shanghai, China.
    • Ness, C. (2014). Music Theatre Pedagogy for Teachers. International Music Theatre Conference, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Shanghai, China.
    • C. (March, 2014). “Arts Education in Chicago: Advocating for Change” Presentation to the employees of William Blair Corporation, Chicago IL.
    • Ness, C. (2013). Evaluating the Next Master Teachers: Methods and Materials for Mentors. Presented at the Estill World Voice Symposium, Harvard University, Boston, MA.
    • Ness, C. & Dennee, P. (2013). Choral Tone: Exploring The Range of Possibilities. Presented at the Phenomenon of Singing International Symposium IX, St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada.
    • Ness, C. (2013). Collaborative Learning: Integrating the Opera and Music Theatre Workshops. Presented at the National Opera Association, Portland, OR.
    • C. (June, 2013). “Arts Education in Chicago Public Schools.” Interview on WBEZ, Chicago Public Radio, with Naila Boodhoo and The Afternoon Shift.
    • Ness, C. (2012). Collecting Culture and the Teaching of Singing. Poster session presented at the Wisconsin Music Educator’s Association Conference, Madison, WI.
    • Ness, C. & Dennee, P. (2012). Starting the Conversation: Implications and Pedagogical Considerations for Music Theatre Singing and the Choral Setting. Presented at the bi-annual convention of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Orlando, FL.
    • Ness, C. (2012). Crossing Genre Borders: Music Theatre Techniques for Classical Singers. Presented at the convention of the National Opera Association, Memphis, TN.
    • Ness, C. (2010). Music Theatre Techniques for Choral Teachers. Presented at the annual convention of the Iowa Music Educator’s Association, Ames, IA.
    • Ness, C. (2008). The Great Ladies of Broadway. Presented at the bi-annual convention of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Nashville, TN.