Nancy Allen

Biography

Nancy Allen has been an instructor in the classical voice department for 15 years at Belmont University, and the coordinator of the nationally ranked, award-winning musical theatre program. She works primarily with musical theatre majors and has taught and performed in musical theatre for over 25 years.

After graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from Vanderbilt University, Ms. Allen attended The Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, MD where she studied with Ruth Drucker, Dr. Thomas Houser and Gordon Hawkins. She received a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree from the conservatory in voice performance and taught voice there before moving to Nashville. In addition to her classical voice training, Ms. Allen has worked on musical theatre and commercial techniques and styles with Marjorie Halbert, Chris Beatty, and Jeanie LoVetri.

Ms. Allen has performed leading roles with equity and non-equity theaters in the region and continues to enjoy performing when her teaching schedule allows. She has sung with the Billy Graham Organization, Nashville Symphony, the Waco Symphony and has performed featured roles with the Nashville Opera Association in their productions of “Surrender Road” by Marcus Hummon and Puccini’s “Turandot”, both under the direction of John Hoomes. In addition to opera and musical theater, Ms. Allen continues to do studio work and has three CD recordings: “Distant Melody”, which won a Parent’s Choice Award of Approval, “Shall We Gather”, and “A Christmas Kiss”.

At Belmont, Ms. Allen enjoys blending her love of classical vocal technique with the challenges of performing musical theater repertoire. She believes all music is communication and the singer must find the story and emotion in every piece, no matter the style. She uses science and imagery to help students realize the fullness of their potential and encourages good vocal hygiene for vocal beauty and longevity. Ms. Allen is certified in Somatic Voicework™, The LoVetri Method - a “body-based method of vocal training which draws from many disciplines” – and incorporates these principles in her teaching and personal performing. Ms. Allen has students currently performing on Broadway, in Broadway National Tours, with Disney and other cruise lines, non-equity national tours, Off Broadway and in excellent regional equity and non-equity theaters. Her students have received top honors in NATS competitions.

Nancy Allen lives in Nashville, where she continues her vocal training as a student of Marjorie Halbert and Jeanie LoVetri. She is an active member at Brentwood United Methodist Church as well as a member of The Woman's Musicale, The League of Professional Theater Women, The National Association of Teachers of Singing, The Musical Theatre Educators Alliance, Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Society, and Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society. Favorite roles include “Eliza Doolittle” in My Fair Lady, “Josephine” in I’ll Be Seeing You (originated the role), “Arlene” in Baby, “Velma von Tussle” in Hairspray, “Lady of the Lake” in Spamalot and “Jenny” in Company with the Tennessee Repertory Theater. Dream Role: “Desiree Armfeldt” in A Little Night Music.