August 2019

Lots of updates to share on the site! I’ve been busy rehearsing and performing with the Grant Park Music Festival Chorus this summer – some standard symphonic repertoire like Beethoven Missa Solemnis and some lesser known works such as Frederick Delius’ A Mass of Life based on the text of German philosopher Nietzsche’s work “Thus spake Zarathustra”. As always, it has been a pleasure and a privilege to sing (for my 10th year!) with this wonderful group in the most beautiful outdoor setting.

As the school year ramps up, I’m looking forward to returning to Valparaiso University and my hard-working students. I will be performing a faculty recital on Sunday, October 6th at 2pm with my colleague, Dr. Joseph Bognar. I’m very excited about the program, entitled “Marriage and Music” and featuring the works of Robert and Clara Schumann, as well as modern works by Valparaiso’s own music theory professor, Dr. Sky Macklay and her husband, Dr. Sam Pluta.

I’m also looking forward to a brand new adventure this fall: I will be joining the Adjunct Faculty at the University of Notre Dame! I’m very excited to join another vibrant musical community and continue to mentor college students on their vocal journeys.

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March 2018

I’ve been busy rehearsing with Music of the Baroque for our upcoming performances of Bach’s St. John Passion. If you’ve never had the opportunity to hear this glorious work, I highly recommend it! It tells the Passion story in a thrilling way: through dramatic narrative, contemplative arias, and in standard Bach fashion, with Chorales that were meant to draw in the congregation with familiar hymn tunes. There’s really nothing like it, and singing it under the baton of Jane Glover (this will be my second time) is an unforgettable experience. Here is the final chorus, Ruht wohl ihr heiligen Gebeine (rest well, holy bones).  I truly believe Bach could make a believer of even the most skeptical of us: singing his music always restores my spirit and my faith.

I’ve been on “Spring Break” from my teaching for the past two weeks (I joke about this because it doesn’t feel like much of a break to me because teaching is the least difficult part of my day as a mother of two young children). I’m looking forward to getting back to it next week; the second half of the term always flies by and then it’s jury and recital time before we know it. I’m looking forward to my first appearances in May with the VU Symphonic Band and Windiana (Northwest Indiana’s professional wind ensemble) in their annual Sousa Concert. I’ll be singing Charpentier’s Depuis le jour and Adele’s Laughing Song from Die Fledermaus (Sousa always had a soprano sing an aria on his concerts, a fact I recently learned!). Then I will make my first appearance with the VU Symphony Orchestra as soprano soloist in Barber’s Prayers of Kierkegaard. More information about these concerts can be found in the Upcoming Engagements tab.

Spring is in the air, and summer is on the horizon, which means outdoor concerts, which means Grant Park Music Festival! I’ve been engaged for three programs with this fantastic group, so I’m looking forward to another summer of wonderful music-making and picnics in the park with my kids! They love coming to my concerts but can’t always sit still for the duration, so outdoor venues are perfect!

Happy Spring!

Emily