Fun Facts

What is a favorite moment of working with students at Ouachita?

Any time a student has an “ah-ha!” moment and grasps a concept that they then apply to their singing, resulting in a vocal, physical, or mental “breakthrough.”

What is your favorite place on campus and why?

When I have a little spare time, I love to take walks along the Ouachita River by the Speer Pavilion. It is so serene.

What are your hobbies?

Reading, traveling, coloring, and performing in local theatre productions.

Areas of Expertise

Courses taught

• Applied Voice
• Vocal Literature
• Vocal Diction
• Opera Workshop
• OBU Connections: Becoming the Beatles
• Revolutions and Revelations: The Beatles and Religion (Honors Seminar)

Research Interests

• Staging Art Song Cycles
• Vocal Literature by Female American Composers
• The Beatles
• Performance Psychology

Representative Publications/Presentations

• “Operatic Influences on the Hymn Tunes Used by John and Charles Wesley”, Amazing Love! How Can It Be: Studies on Hymns by Charles Wesley, ed. Chris Fenner and Brian G. Najapfour, Biblical Spirituality Press, 2020.
• Everything Changes: A Cabaret. Presented with John Alec Briggs at the National Association of teachers National Convention, Las Vegas, NV, 2018.
• Dissertation: A Director’s Guide to staging the Song Cycle, Songs of Fields and Prairies, by Jocelyn Hagen, 2008.

Involvement

• Southern Region National Association of Teachers of Singing o Site Host, Southern Region Auditions – 2023
• Auditions Chair – 2021-22
• Arkansas Chapter National Association of Teachers of Singing o Auditions Chair – 2017-21
• Secretary – 2014-16
• Opera in the Ozarks Board of Directors, Secretary
• Arkansas Federation of Music Clubs, Opera Chair

Artist Bio

A Tampa, Florida, native, Dr. Garrett has served as Professor of Music – Voice at Ouachita Baptist University since 2008. She brings expertise across diverse vocal styles including classical, musical theater, worship, pop/rock, jazz, and R&B to her teaching practice. Trained in the McClosky Vocal Technique and Alexander Technique, Dr. Garrett integrates psychology into voice training and performance. She draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness practices, and performance psychology to help students develop both technical skill and confident stage presence. Her students have achieved notable professional success, performing with touring companies, Sight & Sound Theatres, and Walt Disney World. They have distinguished themselves at the Arkansas District Metropolitan Opera Auditions, as well as on-campus competitions and NATS auditions. While some have released music on major streaming platforms, others serve as soloists with jazz bands, orchestras, and choirs, and contribute as worship leaders in schools and churches throughout their communities. As a performer, Dr. Garrett remains active in Central Arkansas theater. Recent credits include Sister Margaretta in The Sound of Music (Royal Players, Benton), Mrs. Alexander in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night (The Studio Theatre, Little Rock), the Evil Queen Grimhilde in Disney's Descendants (Studio Theatre), and Mrs. Phelps in Matilda (Studio Theatre). She has also served as Music Director for productions of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Little Women.

Dr. Garrett Playlist

Student Playlist

Selected Achievements By Dr. Garrett's Students

Professional Performances

• Actors Theatre of Little Rock (Little Rock, AR)
• A.D. Players at The George Theatre (Houston, TX)
• Arkansas Children’s Theatre (Little Rock, AR)
• Arkansas PBS (Conway, AR)
• Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas (Pine Bluff, AR)
• Biblical Times Dinner Theatre (Pigeon Forge, TN)
• Birmingham Children’s Theatre (Birmingham, AL)
• Courage and Kindness Character Entertainment (Springdale, AR)
• Disney College Program (Orlando, FL)
• Disneyland Paris (Paris, France)
• Fancyful Parties (Little Rock, AR)
• Good Day NWA (KNWA, Fayetteville, AR)
• Hawks Cay Resort (Florida Keys)
• Horn in the West (Boone, NC)
• Million Dollar Quartet National Tour
• Missoula Children’s Theatre (Missoula, MT)
• Murry’s Dinner Playhouse (Little Rock, AR)
• North Texas Performing Arts (Plano, TX)
• Ogunquit Playhouse (Ogunquit, ME)
• Once Upon a Fairytale (Branson, MO)
• The Phoenix Theatre Company (Phoenix, AZ)
• The Rev. Theatre Co. (Auburn, NY)
• Sierra Repertory Theatre (Sonora, CA)
• Sight & Sound Theatre (Branson, MO)
• Sight & Sound Theatre (Lancaster, PA)
• Silcock’s Winter Wonderland (Manchester, UK)
• Silver Dollar City (Branson, MO)
• Six Flags over Texas (Dallas, TX)
• South Arkansas Arts Center (El Dorado, AR)
• The Stephen Foster Story (Bardstown, KY)
• TEXAS Outdoor Musical (Canyon, TX)
• Trumpet in the Land (New Philadelphia, OH)
• Two River Theater (Red Bank, NJ)
• Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios (Orlando, FL)
  • The Great American Movie Ride
  • Indiana Jones Stunt Show (Marian)
  • Jedi Training Program (Nedriss)
• Wayside Theater (Middletown, VA)

Music Educators

• Bright Elementary School (St. Leon, IN)
• Burnet Elementary School (Galveston, TX)
• Como Montessori School (Fort Worth, TX)
• Conway Christian School (Conway, SC)
• Dripping Springs ISD (Dripping Springs, TX)
• Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School (Jacksonville, AR)
• Kilpatrick Bio-Medical Engineering Elementary School (Texarkana, TX)
• Lakeside School District (Hot Springs, AR)
• Little Rock Christian Academy (Little Rock, AR)
• Malvern Elementary School (Malvern, AR)
• Maumelle Charter Elementary School (Maumelle, AR)
• MicroSociety Magnet School (Jonesboro, AR)
• Noble Elementary School (Hamburg, AR)
• Noble-Reed Elementary School (Crandall, TX)
• Poyen School District (Poyen, AR)
• Prestonwood Christian Academy (Plano, TX)
• Springhill Elementary (Alexander, AR)
• Springtown High School (Springtown, TX)
• White Hall School District (White Hall, AR)
• Woodlawn High School (Woodlawn, AR)

Worship Leaders

• Fellowship Bible Church (West Little Rock, AR)
• Fellowship Worship (Northwest AR)
• Immanuel Baptist Church (Little Rock)
• Lake Valley Community Church (Hot Springs, AR)
• The Leland Church (Leland, NC)
• Lyndon Baptist Church (Louisville, KY)
• Prestonwood Baptist Church (Plano, TX)

Summer Programs/Study Abroad

• Broadway Artist Alliance Workshops (New York, NY)
• Musica nelle marche Opera in Italy Summer Program
• OBU’s NYC Professional Intensive for Musical Theatre (New York, NY)
• Opera in Concert’s Opera in Italy Summer Study Abroad Program
• Study Abroad at Liverpool Hope University (Liverpool, England)
• Study Abroad at the Mozarteum (Salzburg, Austria)
• University of Miami Salzburg Program (Salzburg, Austria)

Awards

• Arkansas District Metropolitan Opera Encouragement Award Winner
• Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Musical Theater Initiative (KCFTCF) Music Theatre Winner 
• Mary Shambarger Vocal Competition Winners
• NATS Arkansas Chapter Winners
• NATS Southern Region Winners
• Trinity Presents Collegiate Performance Showcase Winner (2013)

Graduate Program Acceptances

• Campbell University School of Divinity (Buies Creek, NC)
• Indiana University-Bloomington Early Music Institute (Bloomington, IN)
• Liverpool Hope University (Liverpool, England)
• New York University (New York, NY)
• North Texas University (Denton, TX)
• Northeastern Illinois University (Chicago, IL)
• Ouachita Baptist University School of Education (Arkadelphia, AR)
• Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (Wake Forest, NC)
• The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, KY)
• Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX)
• Tulane University (New Orleans, LA)
• University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL)
• University of Arkansas School of Law (Fayetteville, AR)
• University of Louisville (Louisville, KY)
• Yale University Early Music Institute Finalist (New Haven, CT)