Singing with Michelle M.

Michelle is active as both a performer and voice instructor. After a recent performance, Opus Colorado raved that “She has an absolutely enormous voice that is full of power and emotion.” As a soloist, Michelle has performed with such professional organizations as the Denver Philharmonic, the Salem Chamber Orchestra, and the Willamette Master Chorus. In November 2012, Michelle sang the role of Die Mütter in Hänsel und Gretel with the Lamont Opera Theatre. That previous May, she was featured as the soprano soloist for the Ralph Vaughan Williams Sea Symphony with both the Lamont Chorale and the Lamont Symphony Orchestra, and she also sang the role of Madame Pompous in Edwin Penhorwood’s Too Many Sopranos. In February 2012, she performed in a master class for world-renowned baritone Paolo Gavanelli. In 2010, Michelle participated in the northwest premiere of Ned Rorem’s Our Town. In March 2009, the Grace Goudy Distinguished Artist Series of Willamette University sponsored Michelle to sing the role of Fiordiligi as a guest artist in Così fan tutte. In February 2007, she sang the title role in Puccini’s Suor Angelica. Michelle previously sang the role of The Countess in Act II of Le Nozze di Figaro and performed with the Salem Chamber Orchestra as a winner of the Willamette Solo & Aria Competition in both 2005 and 2006. In March 2006, Michelle sang selections from Songs from Jewish Folk Poetry for a festival honoring the works of Dimitri Shostakovich. In April 2006, her composition Two Sketches for String Quartet was debuted by the Oregon Symphony Quartet. The following month, she performed in Carnegie Hall as a member of the Willamette University Chamber Choir. Michelle graduated from Willamette University in May 2007 with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education, where she studied voice with Allison Swensen-Mitchell, choral conducting with Dr. Wallace Long, and composition with Dr. John Peel. In June 2013, Michelle graduated with a Master of Music from the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver and her May 2013 graduate voice recital was honored as a Recital of Distinction by the voice faculty. Michelle is currently a voice student of Larry Glenn and Sara Bardill while pursuing a Performance Certificate in Vocal Performance at the Lamont School of Music. She was recently a voice instructor for Keizer Academy of Music & Arts in Keizer, Oregon and taught voice as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the Lamont School of Music. Michelle also recently took a step behind the scenes to work as the Assistant Stage Manager for the Lamont Opera Theatre’s wildly successful production of Oklahoma! First a native of the Philadelphia suburbs and then a long-time resident of the Pacific Northwest, Michelle now resides in the Denver Metro Area. *** Lesson Details *** Expectations: 1. Please arrive on time for your lesson. If you are late, I cannot guarantee that the time will be made up. 2. Come prepared! Practice the previous lesson’s assignment, bring assigned materials to your lesson, and complete your journal entries (if applicable). 3. Order new materials as soon as they are assigned. The sooner you have the materials, the sooner we can forge ahead in learning activities! If you are worried about costs, try your local library or a local college/university library. 4. Have fun! Learning to sing is a crazy adventure. I guarantee you will face adversities, but do not let it get you down. Every singer must learn to forge through roadblocks and will ultimately gain a great deal of strength and experience. If you find something to be particularly agonizing, do not hesitate to bring it up at your next lesson, and we will work through it together! *** Specialties *** I teach classical singing methods to students of all ages. I specialize in teaching through use of age-appropriate art songs, folk songs, and arias. I also offer beginning students the chance to learn essential musicianship skills like note-reading, terminology, and the basics of rhythm. Classical singing is demanding and requires both physical and mental maturity. Although each student is different, I believe that most students should not consider private voice lessons before the age of 13. Lessons offered to younger students will teach and reinforce basic musicianship skills, while offering a healthy introduction to vocal singing that does not ask too much of the singer too soon.