William Koehler, DMA
Voice
Dr. William Koehler received a Bachelor of Music Degree and a Master of Arts Degree in speech/theatre from the University of Wisconsin-Superior. He also holds a Master of Music Degree in vocal performance from the University of Kentucky where he studied with Everett McCorvey and a Doctoral of Musical Arts Degree in vocal performance from the University of Minnesota where he studied with John DeHaan.
Active both on the opera stage and in concert, Dr. Koehler’s most recent performances were as the Rev. Winemiller for WVU’s Opera Theatre production of Summer and Smoke, and as a soloist in WVU’s performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.
Other performances include Cadmus/Somnus in Handel’s Semele, Bottom in Britten’s Midsummer Nights Dream, Bartolo in The Marriage of Figaro, Commendatore in Don Giovanni, the Wolf in the Three Little Pigs, Melchoir in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, Rocco in Fidelio, Papageno in the Magic Flute, and Don Alfonso in Così Fan Tutte.
As a concert soloist, in addition to Beethoven’s Ninth at WVU, Dr. Koehler has sung the title role of the oratorio, Elijah, has been a soloist for the Brahms Requiem and muliple performances of Messiah.
He is currently also on faculty at Frostburg State University, where he teaches voice, diction and vocal pedagogy. He has taught at Eastern Kentucky University, Transylvania University, the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, the University of Minnesota Morris and the University of Wisconsin-Superior.
Besides his solo work, Dr. Koehler sings with the the American Spiritual Ensemble, a group that performs all over the world and whose mission is to keep the American Negro Spiritual alive and vibrant.
Dr. Koehler is also a stage director, music director and stage speech instructor, having recently directed Rain in the Hollows for E. M. Pockets Theatre. He has stage directed and music directed productions such as The Good Doctor, Oliver, Thurber Carnival, and When Pigs Fly. He has taught workshops on the speaking voice for the WVU Community Arts Program.
Audio of William Koehler singing the role of the Commendatore in the final Act of Don Giovanni:
Koehler - Don Giovanni - clip01.mp3
Koehler - Don Giovanni - clip02.mp3
Koehler - Don Giovanni - clip03.mp3