Christine Poythress, soprano, holds a M. M. in Vocal Performance from Belmont University in Nashville, TN. While at Belmont, she participated in the Richard Miller Vocal Institute and worked in the Vocal Arts Lab. She attended California State University, Northridge, completing her B. A. in Music at Armstrong State College, in Savannah, GA in 1996. Since the spring of 2001, she has taught classes in the Musicology Department, Class Voice and Applied Voice lessons at MTSU. Before joining the faculty here, Poythress taught applied lessons at both Belmont and Cumberland Universities. In the 1970's she studied privately with Seth Riggs, and later, while in New York, NY she studied with Mr. Riggs' teacher Keith Davis. Additionally, she studied dance styles including ballet, tap, jazz and modern and studied acting at the Actor's Studio in Los Angeles

A Guest Soloist for the New York Knicks and Rangers Poythress sang the National Anthem in Madison Square Garden. She has been featured with The Savannah Symphony Chorale, The Brunswick Symphony, The Cumberland University Chorale and The Armstrong State College Percussion Ensemble in performances of Mozart's Requiem; Handel's Messiah; Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass; Bach's BVW 80; and Morris Lang's, Three Puerto Rican Songs. A frequent recitalist, she has presented programs at The Renaissance Center, Dickson, TN; The Arts at Ascension Series, The Lutheran Church of The Ascension, Savannah, GA; Music in the American Tradition--duet recital at Wesley United Monumental Methodist, Savannah, GA; and The East Los Angeles College Noon Recital Series.

Her leading roles in Musical Theater include Glenda, The Wizard of Oz (such fun to fly!); Bunny, Babes in Arms; the Snake, The Apple Tree; and The Hag, Narnia. Poythress played Agnes, in Agnes of God and was featured soloist in The Oscar Hammerstein Centennial Revue both presented by the City of Savannah Cultural Arts Society

During a 13 year detour from "serious" singing -- Poythress played "flattop" guitar in country bands, was the "girl" singer at the Silver Saddle in Atlanta, GA., played solo and duo gigs, and worked the Southeastern hotel circuit, nightclubs, occasional honky tonks and private parties. Additionally she was booking agent, manager and front person for her band and, although the majority of the time she sang country/western, pop and oldies she performed her own rendition of "Shout" -- the Isley Brothers tune.

Christine Poythress' website