bio Esther Costa Swink

About Esther

As a life-long Nashvillian, educator, and lover of reading and all things Italian, Esther earned a diploma from Nashville Central High, the A.B. degree in Education and English from Trevecca Nazarene University, the Master of Library Science degree from Peabody College, and the Doctorate in Education from Vanderbilt University. She taught first grade, served as librarian for elementary, middle, and high schools, as President of the Metro Nashville Education Association, and as the Director of Library Services for the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools.

Following her career in Metro, she served at Trevecca Nazarene University as library director, crafted and directed the library degree for educators, and was Dean of the School of Education, where she also taught and had oversight for the doctoral program.  Upon leaving Trevecca, she spent a summer in Italy with her father’s famiiy and engaged with an Italian language tutor, an effort she maintains as a current pursuit. Esther loves many genres of music, musical and theater performances, personal time at her own piano, and singing in her church choir and with a Women’s Chorus.

Esther has served as a volunteer with many community organizations.  Currently, she serves as the Co-Director for House2Home Nashville, a non-profit that provides new beds and furnishings to formerly homeless people who have been recently housed. She served as President and, for many years, on the board of the Friends of Nashville Opera, now as a Life Member and Parliamentarian.  She was honored, along with her husband Jeff, to receive the Friends’ Robinson/Couch Award for service. She also serves as a member of the Two Rivers Community Orchestra Board.  

She is a member of two women’s groups that engage in learning about historical and current issues and participates as a member of a Writing Group where she is challenged to write poetry and short stories.  Esther’s interest in Bel Canto is based in her strong desire to assist young professionals in their efforts to succeed in Opera careers.