Graduate Studies, UNL

 

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

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First Advisor

Kevin Hanrahan

Degree Name

Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.)

Committee Members

Alessio Olivieri, William Shomos, Zhigang Shen

Department

Music

Date of this Version

5-5-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Citation

A dissertation presented to the faculty of the Graduate College at the University of Nebraska in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree Doctor of Musical Arts

Major: Music

Under the supervision of Professor Kevin Hanrahan

Lincoln, Nebraska, May 2026

Comments

Copyright 2026, Binbin Ni. Used by permission

Abstract

This doctoral portfolio documents the artistic, scholarly, and pedagogical work completed during my Doctor of Musical Arts studies in Vocal Performance at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The portfolio includes materials from two doctoral recitals, one doctoral lecture recital, and supporting teaching and professional documents that together reflect the integration of performance, research, and pedagogy.

The first doctoral recital is accompanied by a research paper examining Maurice Ravel’s song cycle Don Quichotte à Dulcinée. The study explores how Ravel uses musical elements such as rhythm, tonality, accompaniment texture, and melodic gesture to portray different emotional aspects of the character of Don Quixote, including romantic devotion, religious solemnity, and humor.

The second doctoral recital focuses on the theme of longing for home. The accompanying analytical study examines how composers from different cultural traditions express nostalgia, memory, and emotional belonging in art song. By bringing together Chinese, English, and German repertoire, the recital demonstrates how the universal theme of longing is shaped through different musical and poetic approaches.

The doctoral lecture recital investigates the articulation of Mandarin retroflex consonants (zh, ch, sh, r) in classical singing. Through the analysis of four representative Chinese art songs—Xiao Youmei’s Wen, Shi Guangnan’s A Land of Deep Affection, Ulan Tuoga’s The Horizon, and Lu Zaiyi’s I Love This Land—the study examines how Mandarin diction interacts with legato singing, resonance stability, and breath coordination, and proposes practical pedagogical strategies for singers performing Mandarin repertoire.

In addition to the recital materials, the portfolio includes a teaching demonstration video, teaching philosophy statement, and reflective self-assessment that illustrate my pedagogical approach to vocal instruction. Together, these materials reflect my commitment to integrating performance, scholarship, and teaching in the field of vocal music.

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