Victoria Vaughan (Stage Director) holds an honors degree in conducting from the University of Surrey, England, the Master of Science in Opera Directing from Indiana University, and a Ph.D. in Performance Analysis from the University of Southampton, England. Current research interests focus on empirical studies of rubato in opera performances and the “anxiety of influence” of listening to recordings during role-preparation. Dr. Vaughan's production credits in England and the United States include: Carmen, La Traviata, The Rake's Progress, The Love of Three Oranges, The Rape of Lucretia, Salvator Rosa, L'Heure espagnole, The Boor, Thomas and Sally, H.M.S. Pinafore, Iolanthe, The Sound of Music, Grease, West Side Story, and Little Shop of Horrors. Production credits as Assistant Director of the Oberlin Opera Theatre include Coyote Tales, La Cenerentola and Die Fledermaus. Dr. Vaughan is the Assistant Director and Young Artists Co-ordinator for Opera North.