Singing with Riley C.

I am a professional operatic soprano and voice teacher based in Minneapolis, MN with degrees in music education and performance from South Dakota State University and Indiana University. I have been teaching and performing globally since 2010. In 2011, after receiving my undergraduate degree in music education from South Dakota State, I was awarded a full scholarship to study opera at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where I completed studies for a Master of Music degree in summer 2013 under the tutelage of soprano Costanza Cuccaro. While there, I performed three mainstage roles for Indiana University Opera Theater. In the fall of 2013, I made my professional main stage debut with the Florida Grand Opera and performed three mainstage roles there in addition to many outreach and educational performances as a young artist. In 2015, I was invited to participate in the young artist program at Sarasota Opera in Florida, where I performed two mainstage comprimario roles and many outreach and educational performances. Since moving to Minneapolis in 2015, I have been a frequently heard soloist with many musical organizations, including The Schubert Club, MacPhail’s Sonomento, the Kenwood Symphony, Source Song Festival, St. John’s Lutheran Church, the South Metro Chorale, Bethel University, and Southwest Minnesota Orchestra; performing in Handel’s Messiah and Chandos Anthem No. 4 & 6, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Mozart’s Grand Mass in C minor, Vaughan-Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem, Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas (title role), Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, Bernstein’s Candide (Cunegonde, excerpts) and Mendelssohn’s Psalm 47. In 2020 I will be premiering the role of the Angel of Mercy in Craig Carnahan's "Requiem for Frankie Silver" with Sonomento choir and MacPhail Center for Music. I currently have two studio locations in the Twin Cities Metro, in addition to online lessons and classes. Here are some things to expect with voice study: 1. I suggest weekly study to start for all students, regardless of level. These regular sessions will allow us to check in and tweak things as needed, and they really help in building confidence as you start to grow your repertoire. 2. I strive to give my students the tools they need to be successful, confident singers. With time, work, and study, you can fill a vocal "toolbox" that you can use anytime to see, isolate, and fix problems to maintain healthy singing as you approach new musical experiences. 3. We work together to define your musical goals, and from there every lesson is geared toward reaching those goals step by step. I'll help you every step of the way with language, music theory, reading skills, breathing techniques, vocal coordination, and acting. Let's sing!