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American Music Teacher, Feb-March, 2003 by Ann Milliman Gipson

Neal Boyd

While many musicians dream of a Carnegie Hall recital, at the tender age of 27, one young singer enjoys reliving the experience. Although Neal Boyd, lyric tenor, still marvels at how a young man from Sikeston, Missouri, could find his way to Carnegie Hall, his March 24, 2001, appearance in that famed venue will most likely be the first of many recital appearances awaiting this emerging artist.

As a youth growing up in Sikeston, Neal had a wide variety of interests in addition to music. He was an avid sports enthusiast playing football and baseball, and was selected as an all-star baseball player during his junior high and senior high school years. Writing poetry and short stories was and remains a passion Neal enjoys. He also has an interest in politics and public service, serving as president of his high school and later being on the student senate of the first college he attended. He contributes his interest in music and politics to the fact that he feels comfortable on stage in front of an audience. His lack of stage fright is combined with an equal desire to inspire audiences, either through a motivating speech or a stirring song.

Musical influences came from a variety of sources. Although he grew up in a single-parent home with his mother, both parents were singers. She would play records by the Beatles and John Lennon, and Neal also listened to Lionel Richey, James Taylor and Motown groups. Growing up in the boot hill of Missouri, country music was a part of his musical influence. Even today, although he spends considerable time singing operatic arias and musical theater numbers, one might just as easily catch him singing an Alan Jackson song. He admits that while "you can take the boy out of the country, you can't take the country out of the boy"--he loves listening to and singing country music.

In junior high school, his choir teacher suggested Neal join the choir as a way to nurture his singing ability and hopefully draw his interest away from football. A friend in his school choir owned a recording of the Three Tenors Greatest Hits. Driving around town after school, Neal and his friends would listen and attempt to emulate the great singers. As a result, Neal's perception of great music and singing was kindled and became a strong influence leading him toward classical music and the desire to sing these tenor arias. Early successes in junior and senior high district contests served as motivators to continue studying music in college. His mother was a big inspiration as well, encouraging him to set no limitations on himself while pursuing his vocal studies.

After high school, Neal entered Southeast Missouri State University to pursue a music degree and studied voice with Christopher Goeke. Neal's interest in politics and public service created doubts about music study, and he decided to change his major to speech and communications. While he hadn't lost his love for music, Neal's decision to change majors was due to his overwhelming desire to do something in politics.