WHEELING — Linda Cowan will be the entertainer for the Thursday Music Club at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Gathering Place, Woodview, which has been renamed the Charhouse.

Soprano Linda Cowan holds the Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Indiana State University, and the Doctor of Musical Arts from Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts, where she studied with Judith Nicosia and Faith Esham.

She has had many opportunities to perform in the genres of opera, musical theater, theater, oratorio, and the concert hall. Some of her major roles have included the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro, Micaela in Carmen, Bellamy in The Fantasticks, M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias, the Baker’s Wife And Witch in Into the Woods, and Domina in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Her directing experience includes the musicals Mame, The ThreePenny Opera, Seussical, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Sweeney Todd.

Cowan created Hilltop Opera at West Liberty University, where she has staged The Magic Flute, Speed Dating Tonight, and Hansel and Gretel, along with opera scenes programs. For Hansel and Gretel, she partnered with Triadelphia Middle School choirs, under the direction of Mrs. Joyce Jingle.

She served as vocal director for West Liberty productions of Scrooge, Spring Awakening, Godspell, and A Little Night Music. She held the dual roles of performer and music director for three summers at the ISU Summer Stage Cabaret, an Actors Equity company.

Cowan made her New York City debut singing the Brahms Requiem at the church of St. Luke’s in the Fields in Greenwich Village. Other oratorio performances include Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Haydn’s Creation, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, the Durufle and Mozart Requiems, Handel’s Messiah, Poulenc Gloria, and Dubois’ Seven Last Words of Christ. She has concertized extensively in NJ, IN, PA and West Virginia.

At West Liberty, Cowan teaches private and class voice, diction, vocal literature and pedagogy, and musical theater/opera workshop classes. She is the Chair of the Music and Theater department. Her Hilltop Opera students have performed outreach to local elementary and middle school students, teaching opera and creating opera improvisation. She has served as Judge and Clinician for festivals, solo and ensemble contests, masterclasses, and various competitions. She has led many middle school choral/vocal summer camps. She is a member of NATS, the national association of teachers of singing, previously serving as the governor of West Virginia, and president of the TriState Chapter. She also maintains a small private voice studio.