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My Studio
MARISA DEL CAMPO BM4 (ALSO WITH BUSCHING)
Mezzo-Soprano, Marisa Del Campo, is currently in her third year at the Peabody Conservatory studying voice with Marianna Busching and Phyllis Bryn-Julson. Marisa has been a driven musician since she first joined the church choir at age 8. Her musical interest grew as she began to study the violin in elementary school. It was after singing a lead role in her first musical, The Wizard of Oz, that she realized her true passion for singing. Since then Marisa has performed in many musicals and dramas including The King and I, Fiddler on the Roof, Carousel, West Side Story, Neil Simon’s California Suite, and Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
In addition to her musical theater experience, Marisa has perfromed several recitals of arias, art songs, and musical theater material, and has also done a number cabaret-style performances with singer, Michael Gray and musical director, John Cook.
In 2006 Marisa was cast in her first opera: the world premier of The Furies at Catholic University. Other opera credits include Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte and Die Zauberflöte where she played the third spirit in Peabody Opera Theater’s production.
Last summer Marisa was found singing at The Amalfi Coast Music Festival in Vietri Sul Mare, Italy where she performed in Die Zauberflöte at the Serici Theater of the Royal Belvedere Palace - San Leucio (Caserta) as well as singing in numerous concerts. Marisa was also asked to sing in a musical review called Showtuners which was performed as a fundraising event for the Center for Aids Research in Manhasset, New York.
This year, she will be playing the role of Denise in Offenbach’s, Marriage by Lanternlight with the Peabody Opera Workshop. When not on a stage Marisa can be found dancing, doing yoga or is in the kitchen baking!
ELIZABETH DOW MM2 (ALSO WITH CORNETT)
Ms. Dow was recently chosen as an alternate for a master class with the legendary Marilyn Horne as part of the Marilyn Horne Foundation’s The Song Continues…2010 Festival at Carnegie Hall. She also was chosen to perform “Song to the Moon” from Dvorák's Rusalka in recital with conductor Karin Hendrickson. Ms. Dow is set to perform the role of Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus, with the Peabody Opera in March 2010, as well as performing a recital of Richard Strauss and Benjamin Britten in late spring.
Previous roles include Flora (La Traviata) and Marcellina (Le Nozze di Figaro), for which her performance was called, “particularly assured,” (Tim Smith, The Baltimore Sun). A fan of Britten, her performance as Mrs. Grose in The Turn of the Screw was, “particularly liked,” (Clayton G. Koonce, Operatically Inclined) by both audiences and by Ms. Dow herself. Scenes performed include Magda (La Rondine), Don Elvira (Don Giovanni), Annina (The Saint of Bleeker Street), and Female Chorus (The Rape of Lucretia).
Elizabeth made her orchestral debut in June 2006 as Mimi (La Boheme) with the Monterey Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Carl Christensen. A lover of new music, she was invited to perform the Peabody premier of David Bennett Thomas’s piece “Juliet” with Donald Sutherland, organ, in the recital “Organized Sound.” Ms. Dow also was hand chosen to perform the Florida State University premiere of “Laudamus te,” by composer Sarah Horrick.
She is the recipient of a Peabody Merit Scholarship and many awards, including the Paul Straney Award and the Bernstein Memorial Prize in Opera.
Equally at home in the cabaret and musical theatre world, Ms. Dow has performed the roles of Sarah Brown (Guys and Dolls), Mae Peterson (Bye, Bye Birdie!), Carrie (Carousel), Jack’s Mother (Into the Woods), and Fruma Sarah (Fiddler on the Roof), as well as performing in a series of cabaret oriented recitals.
In her spare time Elizabeth likes to read David Sedaris books, laugh as much as possible, and watch reality show marathons on Bravo.
CAROLE DORLIPO-MILES MM2
French-born singer Carole Dorlipo-Miles grew up in Guadeloupe, a butterfly-shaped island which floats in the Caribbean Sea. By the age of five, she started singing at church. At fifteen, she was already directing a youth choir “Jet de Lumière” and recorded an educational CD for young children. Later, she went to France to study and conducted a women’s chorus in Lyon.
Since she moved to the United States in 1999, Dorlipo-Miles has earned an Associate Degree in Voice and in Computer from Prince George’s Community College where she offered voice recitals and performed the lead roles in the musicals Cinderella and Once on this Island. She obtained her Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance at the School of Music of the University of Maryland College Park. She completed her Masters in Music/Voice at Peabody Conservatory of Music with teacher, Ah Young Hong praised by The Baltimore Sun for her “silken tone, limpid phrasing, and confident technique”.
Carole Dorlipo-Miles is a proud member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, the Psi Beta National Society of Psychology, Phi Eta Sigma and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Societies. She was nominated on Who’s Who among Students in American Junior Colleges for her outstanding academic achievements.
This November, Carole Dorlipo-Miles will be performing the role of Miss Jessel, in Peabody Opera Theatre performance of Benjamin Britten’s Turn of the Screw.
RACHEL GITNER MM2
When soprano Rachel Gitner was 13 years old, a friend bet her five dollars that she would one day become an opera singer. "I'll never do that! I don't even like opera!," she exclaimed, never having seen an opera before. Now when she remembers the many opera roles she has performed, she realizes her friend may have been correct about her future career.
As a young girl Rachel was given the opportunity to perform in the children's chorus with the Eugene, Oregon Opera's production of La Boheme. She was transfixed by the power of the character of Mimi, the coquettishness of Musetta. She realized that she wanted to create a similar sound, to develop her voice to its fullest potential. Her true motivation to sing professionally came when she sang with the Oregon Bach Festival Youth Choir. There she worked with noted conductors Helmuth Rilling and Anton Armstrong. She was inspired by her colleagues and set about deciding which music school to attend.
After an extensive search, she enrolled at the nearby University of Oregon which had offered her a full scholarship. At the University she was mentored by her voice teacher, Dr. Ann Tedards. As her skills improved, she became involved with the University Opera Theater and performed roles in several operas, including Puccini's Gianni Schicchi and Rossini's La Cambiale di matrimonio.
After her graduation she moved to Boston, where there seemed to be more opportunities for classical musicians. In Boston, she not only learned about the business side of the arts by working in fund-raising for a non-profit, but she also sang the role of Suor Osmina in Suor Angelica, and most notably the role of Sophie in Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier.
It was while learning this challenging role that Rachel determined that she needed further focus and more professional perspectives on her singing. She enrolled at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore where she currently studies under Phyllis Bryn-Julson with coaching from John Shirley Quirk and Robert Muckenfuss.
She has performed in the Peabody Opera productions of The Adventures of Sharp Ears the Vixen as the Grasshopper, and the role of Destino in the baroque opera, La Calisto. In October of 2009 she will give recitals across Europe and at Carnegie Hall, sponsored by La Gesse Foundation Music Festival.
In addition to singing, Ms. Gitner enjoys staying active by running, yoga, hiking and camping. She also likes to bake, cook Asian food and read.
JENNIFER EDWARDS GPD1
Soprano Jennifer Holbrook has recently garnered notice for her dynamic stage presence, warm, shimmering voice and keen musical intelligence. Last spring Jennifer appeared in concert at the Kennedy Center with members of the National Symphony Orchestra and as the lead role in Peabody Opera’s production of The Yellow Wallpaper. Of her performance in The Yellow Wallpaper The Baltimore Sun said, “Soprano Jennifer Holbrook inhabited the role of ‘The Woman’ with communicative power. Her sunny, flexible voice filled the space vividly; her astute acting caught the nuances in the character's vulnerability and slide.”
Already this year Jennifer has been chosen to sing the role of Violetta in Act I of La Traviata at the Peabody Institute of Music. She was also a featured soloist in the 2008 Peabody Millennia Celebration Gala, as well as the “Friends of Peabody” concert. Previous operatic roles include “The Woman” in The Yellow Wallpaper, “Lauretta” in Gianni Schicci; “Adele” in Die Fledermaus; and “Monica” in The Medium.
Jennifer began her musical studies with the piano at age seven. She studied piano and dabbled in flute and french horn until age eighteen when she heard soprano Renee Fleming. Jennifer was instantly inspired and fascinated by singing and opera and decided to take voice lessons. Her first voice teacher was dramatic mezzo-soprano Dr. Martha Antolik with whom she studied while earning her Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Central Arkansas. During this time Jennifer earned a full scholarship through good academics and accompanying. After graduating Summa cum Laude she was accepted into the studio of internationally acclaimed soprano Phyllis Bryn-Julson at the Peabody Institute of Music.
Jennifer has been the recipient of prizes in numerous competitions, including the 2008 Sylvia Green Competition, the Music Teachers National Association Voice Competition, and the 2007 Southern Regional National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition. She is also a two-time winner of the University of Central Arkansas Concerto/Aria Competition, resulting in performances as a featured soloist with orchestra in 2005 and 2007.
On the international scene, Jennifer was invited as the 2007 guest soloist with the Fujian Symphony Orchestra in Fuzhou, China. In June 2008 she appeared as the soprano soloist for the La Lointaine French Music Festival. While in France Jennifer had the opportunity to perform chamber music with other students from the Peabody Institute and the Singapore Conservatory. The culmination of this festival was two concerts, one given at La Lointaine and the other in Cambridge, England.
As an educator, Jennifer began teaching piano at age fifteen and has loved it ever since. She is currently teaching musical theater classes and private voice and piano lessons at the Maryland Conservatory of Music. Jennifer also enjoys her position as Director of Music at Loch Raven United Methodist Church in Baltimore.
In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys going home to Arkansas where she can water-ski on her parents’ supercharged ski boat and spend time with her five younger siblings.
ALANA KOLB MM2
Mezzo Soprano Alana Kolb is delighted to be starting her first year of graduate study at Peabody Conservatory. This season Ms. Kolb will be playing the "Witch" in Hansel and Gretel as a part of Peabody Conservatory's Opera Outreach Program.
Ms. Kolb graduated Magna Cum Laude with her Bachelors degree in Music, voice performance from Bowling Green State University where she studied voice with Dr. Jane Schoonmaker Rodgers. During her time at Bowling Green State University Alana performed the roles of “Public Opinion” in Orpheus in the Underworld, “Leucippe” in the North American premier of La virtu de strali d’Amore where she had the chance to work with Mr. Paul O’Dette from The Eastman School of Music, “Mere Jeanne” in Dialogues of the Carmelites, and the “The Spirit” in Dido and Aeneas. Ms. Kolb appeared in several BGSU Opera Scene workshops as Cherebino, Marcellina, Dorabella, and The Foreign Woman. At Bowling Green State University Ms. Kolb earned the Joseph C. and Zola Buford Music Endowed Scholarship, Robert and Leona Fellers Music Performance Scholarship, and the Bernice Ely Coulon Special Achievement Award in Voice. In the summer of 2007 Ms. Kolb spent the summer in Novafeltria, Italy as a studio artist of La Musica Lirica where she performed in numerous recitals. Ms. Kolb is thrilled to be working with Phyllis Bryn-Julson and pleased to be continuing her educational experience as a member of Peabody Conservatory.
LAURA KOZNAREK BM4 (ALSO WITH BUSCHING)
Laura is in her fourth year in the studio of Phyllis Bryn-Julson. Prior to coming to Peabody, she studied with Noriko Paukert. She was a member of the Cleveland Orchestra Children's Chorus for three years (2000-03), and a member of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Choir for three years (2003-06). She has been a participant in the Northwestern High School Music Institute for the past two summers and studied with Kurt Hansen in this program. Also, Laura was a participant in the Ohio All-State Choir in 2006 and the Ohio University Choir in 2005. She competed in the Ohio Music Education Association and the Classical Singer's competition in New York in 2005 and received the highest marks. Laura has sung many solo performances including three at the Northwestern High School Music Institute and seven in Noriko Paukert's studio. She has participated in multiple a cappella and chamber groups also while enrolled at the Northwestern High School Music Institute.
In Laura’s freshman year at Peabody, she received the role of Grace Ansley from Ward’s Roman Fever in the spring opera scenes. She also was in the spring’s main stage opera Les Contes D’Hoffman by Offenbach, as a chorus member. In the fall of her sophomore year she sang Le Loup in Milhaud’s Les Malheurs D’Orphee, as well as a chorus role in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. She also sang the role of the third Knaben in the opera department’s spring main staging of Die Zauberflote.
That summer she had the opportunity to sing with the Amalfi coast music Festival in Italy. She sang in two concerts in Italy. In their production of Suor Angelica by Giacomo Puccini, she was cast as La sorella infermiera. Laura then started her junior year and sang in the chorus of Riders to the Sea by Ralph Vaughn Williams, she also sang the small solo of the old woman. In the spring she was in a student directed scenes program of the early music opera La Calisto by Cavelli. She was cast as Natura and Fury 2. This summer she sang at the Vocal Arts Symposium of the Colorado College. She was in three scenes; Siebel from Charles Gounod’s Faust, she sang Mallika from Leo Delibes’s Lakme. She had the delight of singing la sorella infermiera from Suor Angelica again! This year is Laura’s final year in her undergraduate program! She looks forward to her senior recital, and the amazing operas that Peabody is to put on! She loves hiking and learning about new cultures. Laura recently visited the Amazon and cannot wait to go back and hike the Inca trail.
YUN KYONG LEE BM4-MM5 (ALSO WITH HONG)
EDUCATION
Ms. Lee was recently accepted into the 5 year BM/MM degree programs, having completed her undergraduate work at the high level needed to be accepted. Congratulations!
Yun has been cast often by the Peabody Opera Department, as the Third Lady in The Magic Flute runouts, as well as on the main stage production last season.
Korean National University of Arts School of Music (3/3 - 2/4)
Sun Hwa Arts High School, Seoul, Korea
MUSICAL BACKGROUND
Fall 2003 - Academic Scholarship - University of Seoul
Osaka International Music Concours - 2nd Prize
Music Concerous, College of Arts and Physical Educ. - 1st Prize
Award for Performing Excellence - 2002/2001
Commendation, conferred by Chief of Gwangjin-Gu - Korea - 3rd Prize
Music Concours - 1999 - 3rd Prize
Commendation - 1999 - Sun Hwa Arts School - Korea
PERFORMANCES
2003 - Opera Chorus in Marriage of Figaro - Seoul, Korea
2002 - Shin Young Ok Music Concours
Annual Concerts in High School
PATRICE LLEMOS BM4
Ms. Llemos is looking forward to her third year at Peabody, having completed a full recital this past season, as well as being cast in the undergraduate opera scenes.
Patrice E. Llemos, soprano, is a native of New Jersey. She began formal vocal training at age 11 under the tutelage of Barbara Urbine-Reidy and continued her studies with Urbine-Reidy for the next eight years. Ms. Llemos has enjoyed successful portrayals of Fay Templeton in George M. (Cohan), Kim MacAfee in Bye, Bye Birdie! (Strouse), Nancy in Oliver! (Bart/Green), and Maria in West Side Story (Bernstein). As a young guest artist, she sang the role of Cis in the New Jersey Opera Theater's 2004 Summer Vocal Institute production of Benjamin Britten's opera Albert Herring at Princeton University. Ms. Llemos was awarded first place in competition for her performance of lieder at the 73rd Annual Interscholastic Declamation Contest of the National German Honors Society at Rutgers University; she was also elected president of the National French Honors Society. Prior to her graduation from High School in June 2005, she appeared in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in solo recital.
Ms. Llemos has studied theater arts, dance, flute, piano and voice. Her sensitive interpretative abilities have proven her to be a skillful and effective performer to the delight of audiences in many venues. Ms. Llemos has appeared as guest soloist in several churches, and has performed with the renowned Palisades Virtuosi in concert to benefit Habitat for Humanity. June 23, 2006 marked her second solo recital in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York City. Ms. Llemos is a second year Undergraduate student at The Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University studying with Phyllis Bryn-Julson and is thrilled to be continuing her musical journey as a member of the Peabody community.
SOLEN MAINGUENE, BM4 (ALSO WITH CORNETT)
Lyric Soprano Solen Mainguené was born in Lyon, France in 1988. She started singing at the age of eight with the Choeur d'Enfants de Bretagne, performing as soloist for 10 years. She joined La Maitrise de Saint Vincent, a middle school chorus program, where she received vocal technique training from Anne Claire Blandeau, alumna of Le Conservatoire de Paris. She joined Le Conservatoire de Rennes at the age of 15, in the studio of Martine Surais from Le Conservatoire National de Paris, in addition to her high school studies. Ms. Mainguené moved to Virginia in 2005, where she studied with Amanda Balestrieri, alumna of the Royal School of Music. She was also part of the Charlottesville High School Orchestra (CHSO) program as a cellist.
Ms. Mainguené is starting her Junior year at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University in the studio of Phyllis Bryn-Julson and Stanley Cornett. She was awarded a scholarship from the Peabody Institute, the Vocal Arts Society of Virginia, the Virginia Lions Club Bland Memorial Music Competition, and the Keswick Studio. Her performances as soloist include The Ceremony of Carols by Britten, Messe de Minuit by Charpentier, Stabat Mater by Pergolesi, Les Litanies a la Vierge Noire by Poulenc, Beatus Vir by Vivaldi with the Choeur d'Enfant de Bretagne, as well as the Bachianas Brasileras by Villa Lobos with the CHSO. She made her recital debut at Peabody in the spring of 2007. Her Operatic performances include: the role of the Mother in Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors in 2006, the role of Susanna in an abridged version of The Marriage of Figaro with the Keswick Studios in 2007 and the role of Catherine in Marriage by Candlelight (upcoming production in October of 2009). Her performance of the role of Pamina in the Peabody Opera’s mainstage production of Die Zauberflöte last spring was declared “ bright, strong and expressive” by the Baltimore Sun. Solen was also a chorus member in Peabody’s Opera Production of Les Contes d'Hoffmann (in the spring of 2007) and La Traviata (upcoming production in the spring of 2009). Ms Mainguené was an invited guest artist to perform for the French Ambassador in Georgetown in the District of Columbia. During her free time, she enjoys playing the cello, and visiting her family living in Greece.
SARA MACKIMMIE MM2 (ALSO WITH HONG)
Sara MacKimmie, soprano, is a first year masters student at Peabody in the studio of Phyllis Bryn-Julson. She recently completed her bachelor’s degree in vocal performance at Michigan State University, where she studied with Melanie Helton. Sara made her MSU Opera Theatre debut as Cinderella’s wicked stepsister in Rossini’s La Cenerentola. In the fall of 2008, she will be performing the role of “Pepik” in Peabody’s mainstage opera, The Adventures of Sharp-Ears the Vixen. Sara’s professional orchestra debut was with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, performing Bach’s St. John Passion. A great lover of the oratorio literature, she has also been the soprano soloist in works ranging from Charpentier’s Litanies de la Vierge to Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, with ensembles including the MSU Chorale, Collegiate Choir, and Philharmonic Orchestra. In January of 2007, Sara was a member of the Carnegie Hall Festival Chorus, performing Bach’s St. Matthew Passion under the direction of Helmuth Rilling. She was soprano soloist at the Peoples Church of East Lansing for four years and was also a member of the early music ensemble Sine Nomine. In her free time, when she has any, Sara reads avidly and attempts to keep up her piano skills.
ANAïS NAHARRO-MURPHY
Born in Baltimore, MD, Anaïs Naharro-Murphy started her musical education at the Peabody Preparatory with piano lessons, ballet/contemporary dance, and Peabody's Children Chorus at the age of four. Anaïs' primary education extended to Europe, in Spain and France, as well as the Baltimore Public School System. While in Europe, Anaïs fully developed her understanding of both French and Spanish, as well as knowledge of European culture. Upon entering Baltimore City College High School, Anaïs discovered her love for music when joining the Baltimore City College Choir. Anaïs had prior musical experience, with various instruments (piano, clarinet, and saxophone), but apart from that she had no formal vocal training. The BCC Choir director, Ms. Linda R. Hall, is a great source of inspiration for Anaïs and has truly transformed her into the singer that she is today. Ms. Hall provided for amazing performance opportunities around Baltimore and introduced Anaïs to great choral works, different eras of music, and African American culture. Anaïs has also travelled with the BCC Choir to Spain, Carnegie Hall in New York City, ACDA conferences in Chicago and Hartford. Thanks to these marvelous experiences, Anaïs is now a double degree student, studying voice with Phyllis Bryn-Julson at Peabody and majoring in history at Johns Hopkins. Also Anaïs attended the St. Olaf Music Camp in 2008, participated in two musicals at Roland Park Middle School, including Annie and Into the Woods, was the Tri-M Music Honor Society Chapter President at Baltimore City College, and received the award of Choir Member of the Year of the Baltimore City College Choir in 2007 and 2009.
LISA PERRY MM1
Soprano Lisa Perry is a first year master’s student at the Peabody Conservatory under the teaching of Phyllis Bryn-Julson. Lisa recently completed her BM in Music Composition and Theory at Michigan State University, studying composition with Dr. Jere Hutcheson and voice with Professor Margaret Brand.
Specializing in performance of music of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, Lisa has studied and performed works by Webern, Argento, Harbison, Menotti, and Milhaud, among many others. She has premiered works in 2007 and 2009. Lisa took part in her first opera, Mozart’s Don Giovanni, in 2006. She was featured in the MSU Opera Galas of 2007 and 2008, and soloed with the MSU Philharmonic Orchestra in 2006, MSU Symphony Orchestra in 2008, and the Jackson Youth Symphony in 2009. She has also sung with the Lansing and Detroit Symphony Orchestras. Lisa has been the soprano soloist for a wide range of concert pieces, including Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Requiem, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, Brahms’ Requiem, Vivaldi’s Gloria, and Faure’s Requiem. In 2008 Lisa was the winner of the Michigan State University College of Music Honors Competition—the highest performance honor offered at MSU. She performed the aria “Grossmachtige Prinzessin” from Richard Struass’ Ariadne auf Naxos with the MSU Symphony Orchestra that spring.
As a composer, Lisa’s “vibrant, characteristic music” has been premiered in 2006, 2008, and was commissioned twice in 2009. She has written for a variety of venues including string quartets, percussion ensembles, and vocal ensembles. Lisa has collaborated numerous times—both as a performer and composer—and hopes to continue collaborating throughout her career.
EMILY SANCHEZ, BM4
Education:
Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University - BM 1
Academy of Our lady of Mercy Larualton Hall High School - Milford, Connecticut
Summer Institutes:
Tanglewood Institute at Boston University
Young Artists Vocal Program (2004), Lenox, Mass.
Rice Universtiy Sheppard Shcool of Music
Michael P. Hammond Preparatory Program - Houston, Tex.
Awards and Honors"
Concertmaster, Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestra
Arton Music Award, Larualton Hall
Outstanding Arts Award, Connecticut Association of Schools
Governor of Connecticut Letter ofCommendation for Music Performance, 2006
Performance Experiences:
Solo Freshman and Sophomore Recitals at Peabody
A member of the company in The ART OF BROADWAY
Cast in the undergraduate Opera Scenes in the spring of 2008
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
The Boston Pops (John Williams, Seiji Ozawa, Conductors)
Ozawa Hall, Tanglewood Music Center
Connecticut Southern Regional Choir
Connecticut All-State Choir
Lauralton Hall Choir 2004, 2005, 2006
Pirates of Penzance
Kiss Me Kate
Little Shop of Horrors
A Century of Song, Milford, CT.
Cantor, Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Fairfield, CT.
VIOLIN
Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestra
Lauralton Hall String Ensemble
Connecticut Alliance for Music, First Violin
ABIGAIL SEAMAN GPD2
Opera is gaining volume and nuance through the beautiful voice of soprano Abigail Leah Seaman. The aspiring artist has been heard in concert from Philadelphia to New York and halfway around the world in China. Now she will be expanding her musical repertoire, knowledge and love of opera through graduate studies at The Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University.
Abigail is a 2006 graduate of West Chester University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance with a minor in Music History. She moved to New York City after graduating to pursue private vocal study with American soprano Jen Aylmer.
Abigail began her musical career with the George S. Holmes Sr. Memorial Scholarship and the Parents Music Club Scholarship at West Chester University. She excelled at Opera Workshop, where she performed scenes in the roles of Nanetta in Falstaff, Despina in Così fan Tutte and Amy in Mark Adamo’s Little Women. She was awarded the title of Honor Soloist in 2005 and sang with the university’s top choir ensembles. She led a captivating performance as Mademoiselle Silberklang in Mozart’s The Impresario. Abigail was also invited to perform as an honorary soloist with WCU’s orchestra in the spring of 2006.
Summer of 2006 saw Abigail travel abroad with a select group of WCU students and faculty to participate in a series of master classes at Guizhou University in Guizhou, China. There she performed works by Gounod, Mozart, Brahms, Mendelssohn and Delibes as a soloist and with ensembles.
Abigail’s current pursuit of a Graduate Performance Diploma at the Peabody Conservatory includes private study with Phyllis Bryn-Julson, the role of Young Vixen in the Conservatory’s production of Leoš Janáček’s The Adventures of Sharp-Ears the Vixen, and a heavy workload of classes in opera study. She also is employed as a choir member at Old St. Paul’s Cathedral in downtown Baltimore. Abigail looks forward to a year full of new repertoire study and performing a recital in the spring.
LINDSAY THOMPSON BM4/MM5 (ALSO WITH SHIRLEY-QUIRK)
MS. THOMPSON MADE HER OPERA DEBUT IN HER SOPHOMORE YEAR AS SUSANNA IN PEABODY'S MAIN STAGE OPERA THEATRE PRODUCTION. Last season she was cast in one of the leads in The Turn of the Screw, also for the Peabody Opera Mainstage. She performed for the Johns Hopkins Board of Trustees Annual Meeting, as well as performed a joint recital in her sophomore year with her colleague, Madelyn Wanner.
She was just accepted into the 5 year BM/MM degree program, having fulfilled all academic and performance requirements for that honor. She has received numerous awards and prizes.
MELISSA WIMBISH GPD1
Melissa Wimbish, soprano received excellent reviews for her recent debut as Cunegonde in CU Opera’s production of Candide with former Broadway choreographer, Larry Fuller. Boulder, Colorado’s Daily Camera called her performance “simply incredible” and her aria “Glitter and be Gay” was noted as “the highlight of the entire evening.” Throughout her studies in Colorado, she was involved in several productions including Hänsel und Gretel, The Secret Garden, Amahl and the Night Visitors, and Poulenc’s La Voix Humaine, a one-act opera for soprano. She was selected to perform Mozart’s concert aria, “Vorrei spiegarvi O Dio!” with the MSCD Symphony Orchestra in the first vocal concerto competition at the college. In 2008, she was invited to Il Corsivo Estivo in Urbania, Italy, a summer opera and Italian language program for singers, under the direction of the renowned mezzo-soprano, Sylvia Stone. On the concert stage, she has performed as guest soloist with the MSCD Symphony Orchestra and Chorale in Orff’s Carmina Burana. Ms. Wimbish was honored to present the world premiere of “Venus Transiens: Trilogy for Harp, Cello and Soprano” by composer, Fran Pierson in 2007.
Ms. Wimbish has received various talent scholarships and scholarly recognition. These achievements include the L. Rudolph Quinn Scholarship (2005), Metro Scholars Award (2005), Dante Alighieri Music Scholarship (2008), and the Excellence in Musicology Award (2004), which recognized her research and writing achievements for an essay and public presentation on Béla Bartòk’s opera, Duke Bluebeard’s Castle. She was awarded second prize in the German art song division of the Graduate Vocal Arts Competition at the Metropolitan State College (2008) and was recognized as a semi-finalist in the international Competizione dell’ Opera in Dresden, Germany (2008). She has appeared in master classes with Daniela Candillari, Judith Christin, Kevin Class, Robert DeSimone, Gabriel Dobner, Uwe Heilmann, Rita Loving, William Matteuzzi, Patricia Miller, Leona Mitchell, Michael Schlüter von Padberg, George Shirley, Marietta Simpson and Robert Spillman.
Ms. Wimbish received her Master of Music in vocal performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder where she studied with Dr. Patti Peterson and Dr. Mutsumi Moteki. She received her Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from the Metropolitan State College of Denver under the direction of Dr. MeeAe Nam and Dr. Chris McKim. Currently, she is pursuing her Graduate Performance Diploma at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore under the direction of the distinguished, Dr. Phyllis Bryn-Julson. Upcoming events include her international debut as Queen of the Night in Mozart’s The Magic Flute with the first Seoul International Opera Festival in Seoul, Korea.
