Emily Howes Heilman

Emily Howes Heilman, DM

Assistant Professor of Voice

School of Music 320 | 936.294.4909 |ech035@shsu.edu

Division | Voice

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Dr. Emily Howes Heilman, mezzo-soprano, joined the SHSU music faculty in fall of 2018. She recently received her DM in voice performance from Florida State University where she was the recipient of the Edith S. Joel Opera scholarship as well as the Glenys Gallaher Award and the Hannah J. Beaulieu Competition. She studied with Shirley Close and Marcy Stonikas and graduated summa cum laude in 2018. She completed both her MM and BM in voice performance at the University of Louisville where she studied with Edith Davis Tidwell. She was the 2014 winner of the concerto competition (Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen), and she graduated with highest honors in both degrees.

Dr. Heilman’s true passion lies in performing works by contemporary composers. She covered the role of Hannah After in Laura Kaminsky’s As One with Chautauqua Opera in 2018 and the mezzo role in Phillip Glass’ Hydrogen Jukebox in 2017. She performed works by Timothy Hoekman at Carnegie Hall along with members of the Parlance Vocal Ensemble and premiered Quinn Dizon’s 12 Haiku for mezzo and orchestra at the University of Louisville’s New Music Festival. She has also premiered several roles with Thompson Street Opera, including the Executioner (Chris Kincaid’s Cephalophore), Wingtip (Yvonne Freckman’s Rootabaga Stories), and the U.S. premiere of Whiskers (Robin Haigh’s The Man Who Woke Up). In fact it is her passion for new works that inspired her doctoral thesis, which centered on Peter Lieberson’s Neruda Songs and Rilke Songs.

Other recent roles include Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni, cover), Ruggiero (Alcina), Lady Meresvale (Carlisle Floyd’s Prince of Players), Nero (L’incoronazione di Poppea), Angelina (La cenerentola), Ms. Todd (The Old Maid and the Thief), Maurya (Vaughan Williams’ Riders to the Sea), and Zerlina (Don Giovanni).