Fei Ma

Biography

About Fei

Fei Ma, DMA, is a soprano and a member of the voice faculty at Bakersfield College, where she teaches voice classes at all levels, from beginning to advanced, as well as Musicianship, Music Appreciation, and voice classes for lifelong learners.

Dr. Ma is passionate about vocal and music education and is dedicated to helping students develop their individual strengths as singers and musicians. At the heart of her teaching philosophy is: “No one is left behind.” Her approach reflects a commitment to meeting students where they are and helping them grow as confident, expressive, and independent musicians. Prior to joining Bakersfield College, Dr. Ma held voice teaching positions at Iowa Central Community College, Graceland University, and Drake University.

An active performer and educator, Dr. Ma has performed extensively in opera and concert settings throughout the United States, Europe, and China. Her professional experience includes performances with Minnesota Opera and at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, as well as solo appearances at Carnegie Hall in New York and the Wiener Musikverein in Vienna. Dr. Ma has received numerous awards and honors in national and international vocal competitions, including First Prize at the Artist International Music Competition in Canada, Third Prize at the 40th Vincenzo Bellini International Vocal Competition in Hong Kong, and a Silver Medal at China’s Peacock Prize Vocal Competition. She was also a semifinalist in the Mildred Miller International Voice Competition in the United States. Dr. Ma has participated in young artist programs, including Curtis Institute of Music and the CoOPERAtive program. She has also been involved in the administration of the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, where she presented master classes.

Dr. Ma earned her Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice from the University of Minnesota, a Graduate Performance Diploma in Voice from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, and a Master of Music in Voice from The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. She also holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in music education from Shandong Normal University in China.

Her scholarly interests include vocal pedagogy, opera, art song, and gender in music. Her research includes Gender in Art Song Composition, Maria Callas in Tosca, and the development of bel canto in China.