About Abigail
bigail Rockhill Beckler is a soprano originally from Orange City, Iowa. She has performed as a concert soloist with the University of South Dakota Symphony and Bethel University Symphony orchestras and has sung with the esteemed Bethel Choir at the Lorenzo de Medici International Choral Festival and with the Varna International Music Academy Oratorio Chorus.
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On the operatic stage, she has performed as Suor Genoveffa (Suor Angelica), June Jinkins (An Embarrassing Position), Nella (Gianni Schicchi), La Contessa (Le Nozze di Figaro), Mrs. Hildebrand (Street Scene), and Casilda (The Gondoliers). In 2024, she performed as Georges Sand and Maria Malibran in the world premiere of Notes on Viardot, composed by Michael Ching for the University of South Dakota Opera. Also in 2024, she performed the leading role of Daphne in What Was, a modern micro opera composed by Connor Gibbs.
Abigail has sung competitively for many years, winning in upper classical divisions for both regional and state competitions.
Abigail received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Bethel University in 2022 where she studied with Carrie Henneman Shaw and Dr. Marcus Simmons. She received her Master of Music in Vocal Performance and Music History in 2025 at the University of South Dakota where she studied with Dr. Tracelyn Gesteland.
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Teaching Philosophy
ith experience teaching in both classroom and private studio settings, Abigail has a distinctive understanding of different teaching methods and different needs in students.
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She is passionate about learning through discovery whether it be in a lecture hall of music history students or individual voice lessons.
In her own words,
"I believe that freedom in creative expression is vital to the art of singing, and so is accurate technique. It is crucial to me that my voice students understand the gift of their voice, their value as a human, and their ability to accomplish amazing musical things."
Research Interests
bigail is enthusiastic about researching underrepresented women composers before the 19th century, and her performance interests lie in early vocal music and 20th century English art song.
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In 2024, she presented a lecture on the solo works of bel canto prima donna Isabella Colbran for Minneapolis SourceSong's inaugural MNScholar program, and her thesis research on singer-composer Barbara Strozzi earned her the University of South Dakota Graduate Research and Creative Scholarship Grant, which allowed her to present at the College Music Society Central Conference in 2025. Her thesis, Barbara Strozzi (1619-1677): Empowerment in the Life and Madrigals of the Venetian Virtuosa, published in May 2025.