Margaret A. Garrett

Style: Pop; Opera; Jazz; Folk; Rock; Classical; Musical Theatre

Title: Voice Instructor/Owner, Bella Voce VA, LLC

Bio: Dr. Garrett served as Professor of Music – Voice at OBU from 2008 2025. Courses she taught included Applied Voice, Vocal Literature, Opera Workshop, Vocal Diction II: German and French, Ouachita Sounds, OBU Connections: Becoming the Beatles, Honors Seminar: The Beatles and Religion, and Honors Seminar: Sight to Sound: The Journey Stories Take Becoming Musicals and Operas. Her applied voice students have pursued degrees in Vocal Performance, Musical Theatre, Music Education, Worship Studies, and Music Industry. Dr. Garrett’s students have consistently won awards in classical, musical theatre, and contemporary categories in state and regional NATS competitions and in OBU’s Mary Shambarger Competition for Singers. They serve as performers, music educators, and worship leaders across the country. As an administrator, she served as the Vocal Area Coordinator, is a member of the University Committee, and has chaired several committees and search committees. With NATS, she has served as Auditions Chair, Site Host, and Secretary at the state and regional level. She recently served as the secretary for the Opera in the Ozarks Board of Directors and is a member of: National Federation of Music Clubs; the Voice Foundation; College Music Society; Musical Theatre Educators’ Alliance; Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity for Women; National Opera Association; National Association of Teachers of Singing; Pi Kappa Lambda music honor society; and Classical Singer. Recent artistic activity in Central Arkansas includes Mrs. Alexander/Voice 6, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night (The Studio Theatre, Little Rock, AR – cast), Music Director/Orchestra Conductor, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Studio Theatre), Music Director, Little Women (Royal Theatre, Benton, AR), Evil Queen Grimhilde, Disney’s Descendants (Studio Theatre), Mrs. Phelps, Matilda (Studio Theatre), Aunt Tilly/Mrs. Hatch, It’s a Wonderful Life (Bathhouse Dinner Theatre, Hot Springs, AR), and piano/vocal worship leader (Hope Church – PCA, Hot Springs, AR). Dr. Garrett teaches a range of vocal styles, including classical, musical theatre, pop/rock, jazz, and R&B. During her spring 2024 sabbatical, she studied jazz and R&B through Berklee College of Music Online. In addition, she has studied musical theatre and CCM vocal pedagogy with Mary Ann Kyle, Mary Saunders-Barton (Bel Canto Can Belto), Edrie Means Weekly (Shenandoah CCM Pedagogy Workshop), Sheri Sanders (Rock the Audition), Robert Edwin (Bach to Rock), Jeannette LoVetri (Somatic Voicework), and Mark Clark (Singer-getics). She is trained in the Estill Vocal Method, McClosky Vocal Technique, and Alexander Technique. Recognizing that psychology is a vital part of teaching voice and performing, she has studied Acceptance & Commitment Training (Voice Study Centre, England), Vocal Health, Mindfulness, and Performance Psychology. In Fall 2024, she is directed OBU’s opera, Cendrillon (Cinderella) by Pauline Viardot with English translation by Rachel M. Harris. A native of Tampa, Florida, Dr. Garrett now calls Virginia Beach home with he husband, son, and wonderful dog Daisy.

Voice Type: Soprano

Music Styles Taught: Pop; Opera; Jazz; Folk; Rock; Classical; Musical Theatre

Availability: I am available as a performer; I am currently accepting private students; I am available as a clinician or presenter

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