Abigail Rockhill-Beckler

Abigail Rockhill-Beckler is a soprano originally from Orange City, Iowa. She received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she was an undergraduate teaching assistant for the humanities and philosophy departments. During this time, she presented lectures on the music of Hildegard von Bingen and performed on Bethel’s stage as Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Suor Genoveffa (Suor Angelica), and as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah and Beethoven’s Mass in C Major. 

In her first two years of graduate school at the University of South Dakota, she has performed as June Jinkins (An Embarrassing Position), Nella (Gianni Schicchi), La Contessa (Le Nozze di Figaro), and as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah. She has performed with Varna International Music Academy’s (VIMA) Opera and Oratorio program in South Carolina as Mrs. Hildebrand (Street Scene) and a chorister in Verdi’s Requiem and J.A.C. Redford’s cantata, Homing. In the spring of 2024, she performed as Georges Sand and Maria Malibran in the world premiere of Notes on Viardot, an opera highlighting the life and works of Pauline Viardot, composed by Michael Ching for the University of South Dakota Opera. 

Abigail is a graduate student at the University of South Dakota where she teaches voice lessons and music appreciation. She is enthusiastic about researching underrepresented women composers before the 19th century, and her performance interests lie in early vocal music and 20th century English art song. She anticipates graduating in 2025 with a Master of Music in Vocal Performance and Music History.