Mezzo-soprano HAYLEY SHOEMAKER serves as Assistant Professor of Applied Voice in the Fort Hays State University department of music in Kansas.  Known for her "vibrant and sonorous" sound, she is equally at home on the operatic, musical theatre, concert, and recital stages, and maintains an active and diverse performance schedule.  Highlights of her many stage experiences include the title role in Carmen with Lawrence Opera Theatre, Dido in Dido and Aeneas with Heartland Opera Theatre, Frida Image in El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego with Opera Omaha, Bradamante in Alcina as a resident artist at William Jewel College, Prince Charmant in Cendrillon with Opera in the Ozarks as well as Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus, Third Lady in The Magic Flute, India in The Real Gemma Jordan, Rachel in The Highest Yellow, Angelina in La Cenerentola, Penelope in The Return of Ulysses, and Dorabella in Così fan tutte.  Recently, Dr. Shoemaker traveled to Eutin, Germany where she reprised the role of Carmen in the Eutiner Festspiele. Most recently, she made her role debut as Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible.

 

Shoemaker received the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Vocal Performance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and holds a Bachelor of Music, summa cum laude, from Fort Hays State University.  As an advocate for accessible opera, her research focus has been the study and definition of an emerging operatic genre known as micro-opera, presenting her research at the 2024 National Opera Association Annual Conference.  She also previously collaborated with the Lincoln Opera Project which produced five micro-operas which were traveled and performed across the Midwest.

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Previous teaching positions include applied voice (classical and musical theater technique) at Hastings College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  She is a current member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and served as the 2024-2026 Auditions Chair for the West Central Region.  Shoemaker also holds membership in the National Opera Association.