Dr. Reginald Pittman
Professor
Voice
Director of Opera
Email: pittman@k-state.edu
Office: 231 McCain Auditorium
Biography
Dr. Reginald Pittman teaches undergraduate and graduate voice and directs the Opera Scenes Concert and full opera productions. In addition, he serves as advisor for the Friends of K-State Opera. Dr. Pittman served as President of the National Opera Association from 2016 – 2018, and Governor of the West Central Region of NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) from 2014 – 2017.
He has performed with the opera companies of Dallas, New Orleans, San Diego, Mississippi, Arizona, Des Moines, Shreveport, Lyric Opera of Dallas and several symphony orchestras. From 2003-2008, Dr. Pittman was resident artist with the Wichita Grand Opera performing Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Don José in Carmen, Benvolio in Romeo and Juliette, Parpignol in La Bohème, and soloist in the Stars of Kansas Gala Concert. Dr. Pittman was a regional finalist of the Metropolitan Opera Auditions and received the Luciano Pavarotti Award. In addition, he was finalist in the MacAlister Vocal Competition in Indianapolis, Southern Regional Opera Competition in Birmingham, and semi-finalist for the Vera Scammon Vocal Competition in Denver, and the Frederich Schorr Memorial Vocal Competition in Michigan.
Dr. Pittman is a recipient of the Boris Goldovsky Fellowship in Opera Stage Direction. At Kansas State University, he’s directed over twenty opera productions. The Opera Theatre has been invited to perform at the National Opera Association’s National Conference in Kansas City, Missouri and Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Pittman’s students have been chosen to participate in several European and American Opera Programs and music theater companies. His voice studio has produced six national finalists in the past eight years in the NATS National Student Auditions. In 2020, a student was the national winner in the Lower Tenor/Baritone/Bass Category, and in 2022 a national winner in the Upper Men's Musical Theatre Category.
Dr. Pittman served as director of the Flint Hills Masterworks Chorale from 2002-2014. The Chorale performed in Budapest, Hungary, Vienna and Salzburg, Austria, Prague in the Czech Republic, and Venice, Rome, and Florence, Italy. Dr. Pittman sung as soloist at the Vatican and St. Francis of Assisi in Italy, and concerts in Austria, Czech Republic, and Hungary.
Dr. Pittman received the Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music from The University of North Texas, and the Doctor of Music Degree from Indiana University. He studied voice with Dr. Ed Baird and Metropolitan Opera Soprano Margaret Harshaw. He received extensive operatic training at Indiana University performing nine leading roles in the Opera Theatre and received the Rancho Bernardo Vocal Award at the San Diego Opera Center under the leadership of Tito Capobianco.