Dana Ayers

Adjunct Professor of Voice
405-744-8995
SCPA 104

 Dana Daniels Ayers holds the Bachelor of Music Education in Vocal/Choral Music from the University of Central Arkansas and a Master of Music in Opera Performance from the acclaimed OCU School of Music, where she studied voice with the legendary Inez Silberg and Florence Birdwell.  She is currently pursuing her PhD in Humanities - Aesthetic Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas.  Professor Ayers has worked and coached with Master Teachers Arrigo Pola, Stephen Dickson, Beverly Wolff, John Wustman and Benita Valente.  Prior to coming to OSU, she taught voice at the University of Maine and Oklahoma CityUniversity, and assisted in the creation of new Musical Theatre degree programs at SoutheasternOklahomaStateUniversity and EastCentralUniversity. 
A frequent soloist, Professor Ayers has performed musical theatre, opera, oratorio and recitals with such companies as the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, the Bangor Symphony, the Little Rock Symphony, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera Company, Lyric Theatre, and Symphony Space productions.  She has sung numerous roles in THE MEDIUM, LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD, SWEET BETSY FROM PIKE, PATIENCE and LE NOZZE DI FIGARO and has performed professionally in ANNIE GET  YOUR GUN, MAN OF LA MANCHA, THE MUSIC MAN, THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, THE WORLD GOES ‘ROUND, ALWAYS PATSY CLINE, THE SECRET GARDEN, I DO! I DO!, and SWEENEY TODD, to name a few.  In addition to her experience as a performer, Professor Ayers has directed opera, musical theatre, and theatre productions.  She has students who have become outstanding teachers, and those who have performed in China, Europe, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Great Britain, on Broadway, in National Tours, and in a wide variety of regional theatres.
She is an active clinician and adjudicator and member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Regional Committee, Sigma Alpha Iota, Who’s Who in America, Pi Kappa Lambda, and the 2009-2010 President-Elect for the Oklahoma Speech, Theatre and Communication Association.
Professor Ayers lives in Stillwater with her husband, Richard, Vice-President of Development for Academic Affairs at OSU, and daughter, Delanie.