Teacher

Kayla Liechty is in her twentieth year as Vocal Coach and Collaborative Pianist at Eastern New Mexico University, where she coaches voice students, teaches Music Appreciation, and collaborates in Stagecraft for Singers, operatic and musical theatre productions, and student, faculty and guest artist recitals. Prior to coming to New Mexico, she was a full-time collaborative pianist at the University of Oklahoma (2002-2005) and Director of Accompanying at Stetson University (1992-2002).

Ms. Liechty received a BME in piano from Stetson University (1990), an MM in Accompanying and an MME from The Florida State University (1992).

Ms. Liechty has collaborated with some of the finest musicians of our time, including Marilyn Horne, Sherrill Milnes, Jennifer Larmore, Martina Arroyo, Leona Mitchell, and Fred King. She has accompanied choirs for five performances in Carnegie Hall, China, Newfoundland, Norway, and throughout Europe, spending two seasons as pianist for the Santa Fe Desert Chorale. Kayla served a decade as a vocal coach and pianist for Sherrill Milnes summer opera workshop, VOICExperience, and was National Auditions Pianist for Walt Disney World Entertainment.

In the area of scholarly and artistic endeavors, Ms. Liechty's contributions include Bach to Bix, a CD collaboration with tubist Ted Cox, The French Connection, a CD collaboration with hornist Eldon Matlick and an 80-accompaniment CD companion to Roberto Mancusi's textbook, Voice for Non-Majors. Academic presentations she has made include Professional Music Teachers of New Mexico Annual Conference, Rocky Mountain CMS Conference, National NAfME Conference, SWACDA Conference and National ACDA Conference. She has recently been named Music Editor for the soon-to-be-released voice anthology of the art songs of the esteemed Mexican composer, Manuel Ponce.

Ms. Liechty's publications include articles in the Neurocase journal (2003; 9: 493-503), entitled, Musical Skill in Dementia: A Violinist Presumed to Have Alzheimer's Disease Learns to Play a New Song; the MTNA journal, American Music Teacher; the American Choral Directors Association journal, Choral Journal; and a book chapter, entitled "Nurturing Vocal Talent," in the book, The Nurturing of Talent, Skills and Abilities.