Stella dayrit roden
Biography
Stella Dayrit Roden, Professor of Music, teaches Vocal Arts and Vocal Pedagogy at the University of Central Missouri. Along with teaching and an active solo recital schedule, she's a member of KCVITAs, a chamber ensemble dedicated to performing new choral and solo vocal music. She has performed as a featured soloist with countless symphony orchestras and choral societies and served as a Resident Artist with the Wichita Grand Opera. Notable opera performances include her roles as Violetta Valery in Verdi’s La Traviata, Pamina in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, and Marguerite in Gounod’s Faust. Dr. Roden has concertized several times in Florence, Italy, and collaborated with artists from across the globe in the Barcelona Festival of Song and at the acclaimed SongFest Summer Institute, Professional Division, at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, California.
Recognition / Awards
Stella Dayrit Roden has won numerous first prizes from the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competitions at the Virginia State, Mid-Atlantic Region and Connecticut State Levels. Dr. Roden has also been a finalist at the Connecticut Opera Guild, the Austin Lyric Young Artist's Competition, and the NATSAA New England Regional Division Competition. More recent, she received second place in The American Prize, Friedrich and Virginia Schorr Memorial Award, Women in Art Song, Professional Division competitions in 2023 and 2016. She has also been named a national finalist in the Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for the performance of American Music in 2023. Dr. Roden has also been named the Phi Kappa Phi Artist for 2024-2026.

Education
Doctor of Musical Arts
Vocal Performance, 2008
University of Connecticut
Storrs, Connecticut
Master of Music
Vocal Performance, 1996
New England Conservatory
Boston, Massachusetts
Bachelor of Music Education
Voice Emphasis, 1991
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

Student Accomplishments
Dr. Roden’s current and former students have been named winners or finalists in various competitions, including the NATS Kansas City Chapter Student Auditions, Missouri State and West Central Divisions of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City Collegiate Concerto Competition, Naftzger Young Artists Auditions, Quistorff Opera Aria Prize competition and the UCM Concerto Aria competition. Dr. Roden's students have gone on to study voice at Boston Conservatory, Florida State University, The Hartt School, Manhattan School of Music, University of Connecticut, University of Kansas, University of Missouri Kansas City, and many others.