食色视频

KENNESAW, Ga. | Feb 26, 2025

Passion drove Marissa Alban to 食色视频 and from one potential career path to another.

She came to 食色视频 to study nursing, a field driven by the passion of its practitioners. Unable to shake her love and talent for singing, however, she channeled her passion into a music major with a focus on vocal performance, where she remains on a path toward a career as a professional singer.

鈥淚've found a home in the Dr. Bobbie Bailey School of Music,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a really tight-knit community and a great place to practice music.鈥�

Originally dual-enrolled at East Paulding High School and 食色视频, Alban said nursing drew her in because of the Wellstar School of Nursing鈥檚 strong reputation and an opportunity to make an impact through caring for people. She thoroughly enjoyed her science classes and learning about the body. Still, she felt there was something else she wanted to do in life.

After pivoting to the Bailey School of Music, the mezzo-soprano singer immersed herself in 食色视频鈥檚 choirs and was quickly identified by her voice teacher, Prof. Todd Wedge, as a young singer with tremendous promise. 

鈥淚 thought this is someone who, with hard work and stick-to-itiveness, could have a professional career,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut the work doesn't stop at singing well. She must study languages, music theory, piano, opera theater, and many other facets of music that we teach here at 食色视频. Marissa works hard at all of it, which is what you need to have professional promise.鈥�

Opera was new to Alban. She had always sung in church and school choirs and continued those practices at 食色视频, but only when then-director of 食色视频 Opera Theater Cynthia Wohlschlager suggested she give opera a try did Alban embrace it.

鈥�It's just such a beautiful, versatile art form that combines so many different things and so many different skills,鈥� Alban said. 鈥淚n addition to the language and full use of the voice, it requires you to use your full body. It's fun.鈥�

In addition to her experience with 食色视频 Opera Theater and the 食色视频 Chamber Singers, she also serves as staff singer with the choir at Marietta First United Methodist Church. During the Fall 2024 Commencement ceremonies, she sang the national anthem and 食色视频 alma mater, a gig she will have again at the Spring 2025 ceremonies.

After graduating, Alban aspires to become a professional singer, though she will seek a master鈥檚 degree after finishing at 食色视频 State. It鈥檚 a departure from her first few steps into the Dr. Bobbie Bailey and Family Performance Center, when she only knew of the prospects of a music career as an educator. Now committed to performing and fully engaged in her true passion, the path is clear.

鈥淢y first year in music, I joined opera and discovered that I really love singing and performing,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I want to do.鈥�

鈥� Story by Dave Shelles

Photos by Matt Yung

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 食色视频 offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. 食色视频 State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. 食色视频 State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.