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Spotlight on Vocal Senior Annie O'Shea
The music education major begins her final semester on a high note: completing her capstone project and preparing for her senior recital
University News | February 27, 2025
Senior Elizabeth “Annie” O’Shea ‘25 credits her high school chorus teacher, èßäÊÓƵalumnus Ajee Church ’16, with giving her the confidence to pursue a career in music.
“I chose to be a music education major because music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Mr. Church was an inspirational mentor to me and gave me the confidence I needed to follow my passion and I fell in love with teaching it!’
As she begins her last semester at VWU, she is preparing for her capstone project and senior recital in May, just before graduation. Her project addresses gender norms in choir and how gender doesn’t necessarily define your voice part.
“I’m currently working at The Hurrah Players as a vocal teacher and I’m planning on gender bending the songs I’m teaching this spring and using a couple of my students as an example for my project.”
Her senior recital is scheduled for May 4 in Beazley Recital Hall located in the Chapel. “A senior recital is something every vocal or music major taking voice lessons does their final semester. We work with our voice teacher to select music we’ve sung throughout our time at èßäÊÓƵand a few new pieces. It’s a 45–60-minute recital featuring songs in foreign languages and crossing many music periods, such as baroque, classical, romantic, and contemporary.”
As she reflects on her years at èßäÊÓƵ, O’Shea notes that her most impactful experiences have been traveling with the èßäÊÓƵchoirs. Professor of Music Bryson Mortensen organized an opportunity for one of the choirs, Camerata, to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York two years ago and last year, he accompanied VWU’s Vox Vera to Italy to perform.
“Both opportunities were incredible and I learned so much about another culture and got to perform at one of the most famous theatres in the country and who knows if i would’ve had a chance to do that outside of VWU!”
O’Shea says she loves performing in new spaces, learning as much as she can about the venue and the workers who make magic happen there.
“Performing in such an iconic space as Carnegie Hall is a once in a lifetime experience! I performed on the same stage where many composers had their debuts. World-famous singers and performers have graced that stage and I’m so lucky to say I stood in their same spot and performed with an incredible choir.”
Experiencing the culture in Italy and immersing herself in her surroundings in a foreign country was also unforgettable.
“It was my first time traveling abroad and I got to meet new people and experience new adventures. Aside from performing, my favorite experience from that trip was attending a mass at the Duomo de Firenze. I’m Catholic and going to a service in one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world was so spiritual for me.”
After graduation, O’Shea is hoping to continue to work with the Hurrah Players, teaching vocal tech. She is also considering continuing her education in the master’s program and pursuing a career in teaching.