Dr. Blythe Cates
Voice and Voice Pedagogy
Dr. Blythe Cates joined the voice faculty of the University f Texas at El Paso in 2015. Blythe Cates was born and raised in Southern California to a very musical family. She learned to love music at an early age and began taking voice lessons when she was nine. From early junior high through high school, while studying with Patricia Gee of Redlands, Dr. Cates competed in many young artist singing competitions and scholarship programs, winning several events in the California region and across the nation. After completing high school, Dr. Cates went on to complete her Bachelor of Music at the University of California, Irvine, studying under renowned technician Nina Hinson. Dr. Cates then went on to study Opera Performance at the famed University of Texas, Butler Opera School with Rose Taylor and Dr. Robert DeSimone, and obtained her Master’s Degree in 2002. After exploring opportunities in arts fundraising, Dr. Cates found her passion and true gifts lie in teaching voice. Dr. Cates began teaching in 2007 and specializes in vocal health, age appropriate material, musical interpretation and applying classical vocal technique to many genres, including opera, classical, pop, folk and musical theater. She is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and the American Choral Director Association (ACDA). Dr. Cates has performed as a soloist with the Inland Master Chorale, the Austrian American Academy, Central Presbyterian Church of Austin, Concordia University Choir, and the Texas Early Music Ensemble. Dr. Cates has also performed opera roles from the operas of Lakmé, The Old Maid and the Thief, Summer and Smoke, The Rape of Lucretia, The Consul, Der Schauspieldirektor, Die Zauberflöte, Carmen and Il Pagliacci. She has extensive experience in performing musical theater and she continues to take lessons with famed Metropolitan soprano Ruth Ann Swenson and Darlene Wiley of The University of Texas at Austin.
Contact Info
Department of Music
Office: FFA M402
Email: bdcates@utep.edu
Office Phone: (915) 747-8756
