Quick Facts
Biography
Dr. Lee Erin Snook, Associate Professor, baritone, is chair of the Vocal Division at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. He teaches Studio Voice, Vocal Pedagogy, and Enjoyment of Music. Snook holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice Performance degree from Michigan State University. He joined the Washburn University Music Department faculty in 1990.
Professional background
Snook was a member of the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists and was soloist with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, North Arkansas Symphony, Springfield (Missouri) Symphony, Jackson (Michigan) Symphony and Jackson Opera, Battle Creek Symphony, Saginaw Symphony, and Traverse City Symphony. In Topeka, he has performed with the Topeka Symphony Orchestra, Topeka Festival Singers, and the Topeka Civic Theatre.
Snook has taught at Michigan State University, Albion College, American Conservatory of Music (Chicago), Lansing Community College, and Southwest Baptist University.
Teaching
Snook's principal pedagogy is derived from the Bel Canto school of Italian singing, specifically the Metodo Pratico del Canto originally devised by Italian mastersinger Nicola Vaccaj and later edited for publisher Ricordi by pedagogue Elio Battaglia. In the summer of 2004, Snook and his wife, Dr. Ann Marie Snook, both studied with Battaglia in a summer session at the Mozarteum in Salzburg.
The Washburn University Wind Ensemble of 43 students visited China in May 2007, seeing the sites and cities of Beijing, Xi-an, Tianjin and Shanghai, accompanied by Dr. Kirt Saville, Dr. Lee Snook, five other faculty members and friends of Washburn University. The tour included performances of selections from both Eastern and Western repertoire. Snook is dedicated not only to his love of music but also to his students and their achievements. Snook's commitment to the department and its students is shown in his teaching style.
Performances
In the summer of 2005 Snook traveled with the Washburn University Choir to the Republic of South Africa. Snook performed with Choir on this trip and was one the chaperones.
"Trouble in Tahiti" starred the music faculty's married singing duo, Dr. Ann Marie Snook and Dr. Lee Snook, as a husband and wife. Snook traveled with the Washburn University Wind Ensemble to the People's Republic of China. Again Snook took part in this trip not only as a Professor but also as a participant, he accompanied the Wind Ensemble as one of its clarinet players.