Hailed by Opera Wire as a “powerful stage presence” with “real star potential,” Joylýn Rushing has performed with various opera houses and symphony orchestras including Opera Birmingham, Opera North, Operafestival di Roma, and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Joylýn has also won several competitions, placing first in the Beethoven Club Savell Vocal Competition, as well as the Delta Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition and the Conway Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition. Some of her favorite roles she has performed are Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, Lucy in The Telephone, and Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance. She completed her undergraduate degree at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, and her Master’s degree at the University of Central Arkansas. Joylýn moved to Philadelphia two years ago and is excited about getting more involved in the area and sharing her skills as a teacher, whether you want to learn to sing opera, musical theater, or you just love singing!
“My approach to voice teaching is to connect the student with their own unique artistry by incorporating physical movement and playful exercises — trying to achieve excellence through exploration rather than perfectionism. I care deeply about my work, and it’s very important to me that my students are empowered with new skills instead of trapped by expectations.
I also have a strong acting focus. I think embodying a character or a poem goes a long way toward singing well and meaningfully. And I bring that element in when working on repertoire.”