Dona D. Vaughn

2003 District Judge

Dona D. Vaughn is Director of Undergraduate Opera Theater and The Opera Workshop at Manhattan School of Music, Stage Director/Acting Coach for the Metropolitan Opera's Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, and Resident Stage Director for Portland Opera Repertory Theater. Directing credits include New York City Opera, The Kennedy Center, Michigan Opera Theater, Lincoln Center, Berkshire Opera, Anchorage Opera, Dayton Opera, Ensemble Studio Theater, New York City Repertory Theater, Minerva Productions, Peterloon Festival and DiVivreVoix.

Ms. Vaughn directed the premiere of Roberto Hazon's L'Agenzia Matrimoniale, Francis Thorne's Mario and the Magician, Ray Luc's Droane's Wooden Image and The Bullfrog, the New York premiere of Milton Granger's Talk Opera, Off-Broadway production of Murphy Guyer's World of Mirth and the European premiere of Carlisle Floyd's The Flower and the Hawk. She has been Artist-in-Residence and Guest Director for many colleges and universities across the country, and is well-known for her Master Classes and adjudicating of vocal competitions in the US and Europe.

A native of Brooksville, Florida, she received her degree in voice from Brevard College (where she currently serves on the Board of Trustees), a BA in Music from Wesleyan, and the MA in directing from Hunter College. She studied acting with Lee Strasberg and Uta Hagen, and dance with Martha Graham.

Return to Judges from Previous Years