Gene Ferguson, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, holds a Bachelors degree from Central Missouri State University, a Master's degree from Louisiana State University, and a professional diploma from Columbia University's teachers college. Mr. Ferguson completed postgraduate advanced study in Berlin, Munich, Rome, and Milano.

Mr. Ferguson performed in opera and concert houses of Europe from 1964 to 1980 as leading tenor with Deutsche Oper Berlin, Deutsche Oper am Rhine in Dusseldorf, and opera houses of Frankfurt, Mainz, Karlsruhe, Stuttgart, Augsburg, and Wiesbaden. His repertoire includes roles as Manrico in Trovatore, Rhadames in Aida, Cavaradossi in Tosca, Bacchus in Ariadne, Florestan in Fidelio, Calaf in Trovatore, Stolzing in Meistersinger, Kaiser in Frosch, Eric in Flying Dutchman, Parsifal, Lohengrin, and Tristan. His concert appearances have included the Verdi Requiem, Schoenberg's Gurrelieder, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde and The Symphony VIII, and Rossini's Stabat Mater.

Professor Ferguson began teaching at the University of South Carolina in 1976 and performed with the Columbia Philharmonic Orchestra in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and as Manrico in the Columbia Lyric Opera's production of Trovatore. While at USC, Mr. Ferguson's operatic assignments included major roles in Tosca, Madame Butterfly, and Pagliacci. He taught Applied Voice, Class Basic Voice, and University Chorus.

Following Professor Ferguson's retirement in 1996, he joined the Voice Faculty of Yale University for one year.

Ferguson's held the office of State President and Regional Governor of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, membership in Phi Mu Alpha, Pi Kappa Lambda, MONC SC Opera Guild, and the USC Friends of the School of Music.