Voice Central

A native of Laurel, Mississippi, Dr. Katrina L. Cox is an accomplished vocalist, director, and educator whose artistry spans opera, jazz, gospel, and musical theatre. She currently serves as Associate Professor of Music at William Carey University’s Winters School of Music, where she teaches voice, musical theatre, and directs the university’s historic vocal ensemble, Carpenter’s Wood.

Dr. Cox earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from William Carey University, where she studied under Dr. Connie Roberts. As a student, she was a featured member of Carpenter’s Wood and the Chorale, won the prestigious Jenkins-Chastain Award (WCU’s highest student honor), served as president of Delta Omicron, and appeared in productions such as The Boor and Into the Woods. She went on to win state and regional honors at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Competition.

She later completed a Master of Music in Vocal Performance (Opera) at Binghamton University (SUNY) as a Clark Fellow, studying with soprano Mary Burgess. While in New York, she performed extensively with Tri-Cities Opera, Harpur Jazz, and the Big Band Jazz Ensemble, and worked with world-class artists including Nico Castel. Dr. Cox earned her Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance at The University of Southern Mississippi, studying with soprano Dr. Kimberley Davis.

Dr. Cox’s performance career reflects her versatility across genres. She has appeared in opera roles such as Carmen (Carmen), Octavian (Der Rosenkavalier), Dame Doleful (Too Many Sopranos), and Principessa (Suor Angelica). Her theatre credits include Muzzy van Hossmere (Thoroughly Modern Millie) and Shug Avery (The Color Purple).

As a concert and jazz artist, she has performed at the Natchez Festival of Music, FestivalSouth, the Partners for the Arts Gala, the Mississippi Opera Gala, and the Miss Hospitality Mississippi Pageant. She founded the jazz band The New Standard while living in New York and has been featured nationally, including at the Delta Omicron International Conference.

Her directing credits include Stephen Schwartz’s Pippin (2022), Jekyll & Hyde (2023), and The Children of Eden (2024) as music director at William Carey University. In 2025, Dr. Cox made history as the first Black director at Laurel Little Theatre with her acclaimed production of The Color Purple, which also featured the theatre’s first all-Black cast.

Dr. Cox is widely recognized as a teacher who skillfully cross-trains singers in multiple genres, preparing students for careers in opera, musical theatre, jazz, and contemporary styles. She has presented masterclasses, mentored faculty, and led recruitment efforts nationally and internationally. Following the COVID-19 hiatus, she relaunched Carpenter’s Wood’s mission initiatives, including a week-long trip to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where she led masterclasses, mentorships, and international outreach.