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David E. Little (1987)
Voice, Music Theatre

B.M. Eastern Illinois
M.M. Illinois State
D.M.A. Indiana

David Little is the Voice Area Chairman and a Professor of Music at Western Michigan University where he teaches applied voice, Italian diction, and is music director and conductor of the opera productions and selected music theatre productions. He holds a Master of Music degree in vocal performance from Illinois State University and a Doctor of Music degree from Indiana University. His professional affiliations include Pi Kappa Lambda, Michigan School Vocal Music Association, and the Michigan Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, for which he is a board member having served as Treasurer for over 10 years.

A baritone, Little has received acclaim for his expressive and energetic singing. Coupled with his stage persona and charisma, Little is a delight to see and hear. His versatility as a performer has brought engagements in opera, oratorio, and music theatre productions. Richard Simon of the Sacramento Union described him as having "...a big and resonant voice that he colors effectively and a superb diction that heightens the drama of the texts."

Favorite operatic appearances have included Figaro in The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro; Marcello in La Boheme; Papageno in The Magic Flute; Danilo in The Merry Widow; Eisenstein, Dr. Falke, and Frank in Die Fledermaus; Dr. Malatesta in Don Pasquale; Dandini in La Cenerentola; El Dancairo in Carmen; and the title roles in Gianni Schicchi, Don Giovanni, and Rigoletto.

On the concert stage, Little has performed many works suited to his warm, rich voice including Handel's Messiah; Vaughan Williams' Hodie; Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass; the Requiems of Brahms, Durufle, and Faure; Rossini's Stabat Mater; and Mendelssohn's Elijah. Other appearances have included performances of Orff's Carmina Burana with the Sacramento Symphony, Fresno Philharmonic, Adrian Symphony, and the Traverse and Richmond symphonies, among others; Beethoven's 9th Symphony with the Grand Forks Symphony and the Boise Philharmonic; and Haydn's Creation with Robert Shaw conducting. Little's artistic skills have provided pleasure to audiences in many diverse styles of repertoire including recitals and pops concerts.

Email: david.little@wmich.edu