I have been obsessed with all things voice since the earliest days of childhood when I would plan weekly voice and piano recitals for my family to attend in our living room. Mix in amazing teachers, four degrees, many performances, voice science, technology, research, and teaching over 25,000 voice lessons, and bam!
I am an associate professor of music (voice and voice pedagogy) at Coastal Carolina University, near the sunny, southeast city of Myrtle Beach, SC.
I'm Amelia, Dr. Rollings Bigler, or ARB.
hi y'all!
meet the person who can't stop talking about singing.
Amelia Rollings Bigler, PhD, MM, PAVA-RV currently serves as Associate Professor of Voice and Voice Pedagogy at Coastal Carolina University (CCU) in Conway, SC after previously serving on the musical theatre faculty at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY. Dr. Rollings Bigler holds a PhD in Vocal Pedagogy from The University of Kansas, a MM in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from The Pennsylvania State University, and BM in Voice Performance and Bachelor of Music Education (piano emphasis) degrees from Columbia College (Columbia, SC). Operatic, oratorio, and musical theatre roles include the soprano soloist in Verdi’s Requiem, Third Norn in Wagner’s Götterdämmerung, Lady Billows in Britten’s AlbertHerring, Magda Sorel in Menotti’s The Consul, the Witch in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, and Saraghina in Yeston’s Nine.
Amelia Rollings Bigler, PhD, MM, PAVA-RV currently serves as Associate Professor of Voice and Voice Pedagogy at Coastal Carolina University (CCU) in Conway, SC after previously serving on the musical theatre faculty at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY. Dr. Rollings Bigler holds a PhD in Vocal Pedagogy from The University of Kansas, a MM in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from The Pennsylvania State University, and BM in Voice Performance and Bachelor of Music Education (piano emphasis) degrees from Columbia College (Columbia, SC). Operatic, oratorio, and musical theatre roles include the soprano soloist in Verdi’s Requiem, Third Norn in Wagner’s Götterdämmerung, Lady Billows in Britten’s Albert Herring, Magda Sorel in Menotti’s The Consul, the Witch in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, and Saraghina in Yeston’s Nine.
Full Biography
The National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and The Voice Foundation selected Dr. Rollings Bigler as the winner of the 2018 Van L. Lawrence Fellowship, awarded yearly to one singing teacher engaged in empirical research. She was also the first recipient of the NATS Clifton Ware Group-Voice Pedagogy Award and established the Center for Group-Voice Pedagogy and Research at CCU in 2023. Dr. Rollings Bigler was selected to be a NATS Master Teacher
The National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and The Voice Foundation selected Dr. Rollings Bigler as the winner of the 2018 Van L. Lawrence Fellowship, awarded yearly to one singing teacher engaged in empirical research. She was also the first recipient of the NATS Clifton Ware Group-Voice Pedagogy Award and established the Center for Group-Voice Pedagogy and Research at CCU in 2023. Dr. Rollings Bigler was selected to be a NATS Master Teacher for the NATS Intern Program in 2025. She has also served as a Featured Clinician for the NATS Science-Informed Voice Pedagogy Intensive and completed residencies at Utah State University and Boston Conservatory at Berklee along with workshops at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, the University of Texas at San Antonio, Iowa State University, Collin College, Loyola Marymount University, and Shenandoah Conservatory. This summer, Dr. Rollings Bigler will be an instructor for the St. Andrews Vocal Pedagogy Course in Scotland and the Vocal Pedagogy Professional Workshop at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Dr. Rollings Bigler won the Edwards College Award for Distinguished Teaching at CCU in 2024.
for the NATS Intern Program in 2025. She has also served as a Featured Clinician for the NATS Science-Informed Voice Pedagogy Intensive and completed residencies at Utah State University and Boston Conservatory at Berklee along with workshops at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, the University of Texas at San Antonio, Iowa State University, Collin College, Loyola Marymount University, and Shenandoah Conservatory. This summer, Dr. Rollings Bigler will be an instructor for the St. Andrews Vocal Pedagogy Course in Scotland and the Vocal Pedagogy Professional Workshop at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Dr. Rollings Bigler won the Edwards College Award for Distinguished Teaching at CCU in 2024.
An active researcher in voice pedagogy, Dr. Rollings Bigler has presented her research in such refereed venues as The Voice Foundation Symposium, The International Phenomenon of Singing Symposium, The Singing Network, the Pan-American Vocology Association Symposium, the National Association of Teachers of Singing National Conference, the International Congress of Voice Teachers Symposium, the Fall Voice Conference, the Musical Theatre Educators’ Alliance, and the Ohio State Voice Forum. Her primary research interests include musical theatre and contemporary commercial music (CCM) voice pedagogy, small and large group-voice teaching, historical voice teacher certification and education, and the effects of shoe heel heights, head position, jaw opening and other aspects of body alignment on acoustic and perceptual measures of singing efficiency. Her publication on the effects of high-heeled shoes on singers can be found in the Journal of Voice, the world’s premiere peer-reviewed voice medicine and research journal. Other publications have appeared in The Oxford Handbook of Voice Pedagogy, Journal of Singing, Choral Journal, and Voice and Speech Review.
Dr. Rollings Bigler completed a singing voice health practicum experience through the University of Kansas Medical Center under the supervision of laryngologist, Dr. J. David Garnett. Dr. Rollings Bigler currently serves as past president of the Pan-American Vocology Association (PAVA) Board of Directors after serving as the organization’s president, membership director, and co-chair of the Credentialing/Specialization Committee.
In addition to her teaching at the university, she currently directs the Chancel Choir at First Presbyterian Church Myrtle Beach. She also maintains an active professional virtual voice studio and voice teacher mentorship and training program through her organization, The Phonation Company.
An active researcher in voice pedagogy, Dr. Rollings Bigler has presented her research in such refereed venues as The Voice Foundation Symposium, The International Phenomenon of Singing Symposium, The Singing Network, the Pan-American Vocology Association Symposium, the National Association of Teachers of Singing National Conference, the International Congress of Voice Teachers Symposium, the Fall Voice Conference, the Musical Theatre Educators’ Alliance, and the Ohio State Voice Forum. Her primary research interests include musical theatre and contemporary commercial music (CCM) voice pedagogy, small and large group-voice teaching, historical voice teacher certification and education, and the effects of shoe heel heights, head position, jaw opening and other aspects of body alignment on acoustic and perceptual measures of singing efficiency. Her publication on the effects of high-heeled shoes on
singers can be found in the Journal of Voice, the world’s premiere peer-reviewed voice medicine and research journal. Other publications have appeared in The Oxford Handbook of Voice Pedagogy, Journal of Singing, Choral Journal, and Voice and Speech Review.
Dr. Rollings Bigler completed a singing voice health practicum experience through the University of Kansas Medical Center under the supervision of laryngologist, Dr. J. David Garnett. Dr. Rollings Bigler currently serves as past president of the Pan-American Vocology Association (PAVA) Board of Directors after serving as the organization’s president, membership director, and co-chair of the Credentialing/Specialization Committee.
In addition to her teaching at the university, she currently directs the Chancel Choir at First Presbyterian Church Myrtle Beach. She also maintains an active professional virtual voice studio and voice teacher mentorship and training program through her organization, The Phonation Company.
I have a fabulous baritone husband, Eric, and three adorable pups, Henri (age 8), Coco (age 4), and Hugo (age 1.5). If you follow me, I'm sorry/not sorry for all the dog pics.
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I love tea, scones, cold weather, and tacos. (Not necessarily together, but why not!?).
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I read at least one book per week.
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I share a birthday with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Marilyn Horne, and Ethel Merman (three of my personal faves)!
