Multifaceted performer and educator Keyona Willis joins CCM's faculty

UC College-Conservatory of Music Dean Stanley E. Romanstein has announced the addition of Keyona Willis, DMA to the college’s roster of distinguished performing and media arts faculty members. An accomplished singer and voice instructor, Willis' appointment as Assistant Professor-Educator of Musical Theatre Voice begins on Aug. 15, 2021.

As a performer, despite the cancellations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Willis was seen this spring in a COVID safe production performing Mimi in La Bohème with Opera Columbus. The performance was directed by Dennis Whitehead Darling and conducted by fellow CCM faculty member Kathleen Kelly, who also created the new libretto. This fall, Willis will perform a rescheduled concert of Mass in Blue with Capriccio Columbus. In 2022, she will perform with Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra singing the role of Violetta in La Traviata. Prior to the COVID-19 cancellations, Willis had the honor of performing Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi with Opera Columbus and Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors at St. John’s Church. Earlier that spring, Willis was the soprano soloist in Verdi’s Requiem with Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. Willis also performed as the soprano soloist in Mozart’s Requiem with Capriccio Columbus and later with the Westerville Symphony Orchestra. Willis was seen in New York portraying Alice Ford in Verdi’s Falstaff with Prelude to Performance. She also had the honor of singing a premier work, The Ruby Elzy Story, inspired by David Weaver’s book, Black Diva of the Thirties. Other notable performances include Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Vitellia (La Clemenza di Tito), Aida (Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida), Adolfo (Faramondo), Juliette (Romeo et Juliette), Countess (Le nozze di Figaro), Polly (The Threepenny Opera), Susannah (Tintypes), Monica (The Medium) and Rosa Bud (The Mystery of Edwin Drood). She also enjoys giving recitals, master classes and workshops.

Willis obtained her Bachelor of Music degree from Otterbein College (now known as Otterbein University) in Westerville, Ohio, and her Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts with a Singing Health Specialization degrees from the Ohio State University. She has been a Senior Lecturer of Voice at Otterbein University where she has had the pleasure of working with a group of outstanding Musical Theatre, Music and Acting majors. Willis also holds a robust private teaching studio. She is a member of the Actor’s Equity Association, the National Association of Teachers Association and the Musical Theatre Educators’ Alliance.

"Keyona Willis possesses expertise as both a performer and an instructor focused on the promotion of healthy singing practices," said Romanstein. "She will be an excellent addition to our faculty, and our students will benefit from her holistic teaching philosophy. I want to recognize the excellent work of our faculty search committee, which was co-chaired by Diane Lala and Eric Santagata, and also included Katie Johannigman, Quinn Ankrum, Daniel Weeks and Denton Yockey."

Featured image at top: new CCM faculty member Keyona Willis