Billye Brown Youmans

Billye Brown Youmans

Billye Brown Youmans is a versatile singer, active recitalist, clinician and conductor whose voice has been recognized for “her silvery high notes to her warm middle register” (The Virginian Pilot).  A proponent of American music, she has premiered songs for numerous composers including Lee Hoiby, Joelle Wallach, Andrew Bleckner and Jean Berger (1909-2002), with whom she toured and who considered her the foremost interpreter of his music. Her orchestral guest appearances include the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra and the Czech Virtuosi Orchestra in the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Symphonicity, Nashville Symphony, Pensacola Symphony, Gulf Coast Symphony, and the Chattanooga Symphony in addition to various choral arts societies throughout the southern United States.  Throughout Hampton Roads in Virginia, she has appeared numerous times as guest artist with the Norfolk Chamber Consort, Virginia Chorale and the Cantata Chorus.  

As a conductor, she is acclaimed for the choral sound she achieves.  The diversity of her conducting encompasses music from the Baroque to more contemporary repertoire including such works as BWV 4 Christ Lag in Todesbanden by J.S. Bach, Messa C-dur, Op.86 by Beethoven, Te Deum by Franz Joseph Haydn, Requiem by John Leavitt and Requiem by John Rutter.  A frequent clinician, she offers workshops and training on diction, effective choral techniques, development of choral tone, and vocal pedagogy. 

Ms. Youmans is the Director of Music at Great Bridge Presbyterian Church and is the founder of the widely respected Candlelight Concert Series at the church. In June 2007, she conducted the Great Bridge Presbyterian Chancel choir on their concert tour of Germany and Austria.  The choir will be touring Scotland in June 2012.

She holds a graduate degree in voice performance and pedagogy from George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University and an undergraduate degree in voice performance from Belmont University.  Her teachers include Florence Kopleff, Louis Nicholas and Dr. Jerry Warren.  She has been an Applied Music Specialist on the music faculty of Virginia Wesleyan College since 1994.  Ms. Youmans maintains an active private studio and is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. She was a recipient of the 1999 YWCA South Hampton Roads Outstanding Woman of the Year Award and has received numerous distinctions for her contributions to the arts.