Dr. Norman Spivey

Biography

Norman Spivey joined the School of Music faculty in 1992, where he teaches singing courses in voice pedagogy. He is an active member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), having served on its board and as president of the Allegheny Mountain Chapter. He has also held positions as governor of the Pennsylvania District, governor of the Eastern Region, and national vice-president of NATS Workshops. In 2010, he was selected as a master teacher for the NATS Intern Program, where he has participated in various roles including intern, local coordinator, and national director. His writings focus on teacher development in musical theatre singing and have appeared in the NATS Journal of Singing. Spivey has collaborated extensively with Penn State Professor Emeritus Mary Saunders Barton, co-writing the book 'Cross-Training Voice Studio: Balancing Act.' He holds degrees from Southeastern Louisiana University, the University of North Texas, and the University of Michigan. His career includes significant performance achievements, such as singing Schubert’s 'Winterreise' at Carnegie Hall and participating in tours of France and Canada. He has received multiple prestigious fellowships and was awarded the Van L. Lawrence Fellowship. In recognition of his teaching excellence, he received the 2012 Penn State College of Arts and Architecture Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching and was invited to join the American Academy of Teachers of Singing in 2011.

Research Interests