Melanie Emelio

Style: Opera; Folk; Classical; Musical Theatre

Title: Professor Emeritus of Voice, Pepperdine University

Bio: Soprano Melanie Emelio is a versatile performer, having appeared in opera, oratorio, and recitals throughout the United States and Germany. Dr. Emelio has served as Professor of Voice at Pepperdine University since 2000, after earning a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Maryland. She also earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Abilene Christian University, and a Master of Music degree from Rice University. Emelio has performed in master classes with Gérard Souzay, Mignon Dunn, Richard Miller, Craig Bohmler, and Helen Yorke. Operatic roles include Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflöte), First Lady (Die Zauberflöte), Abigail (The Crucible), Kathleen (Riders to the Sea), Serpina (La Serva Padrona), Mother (Amahl and the Night Visitors), Frasquita (Carmen), Yum-Yum (Mikado), Lucy (The Telephone), and Zita (Gianni Schicchi). Emelio has directed mainstage productions of The Merry Widow and The Old Maid and the Thief and has also served as the vocal director for Ragtime, Curtains, Big Fish, Crazy for You, Three Penny Opera, Les Misérables, Sweeney Todd, Hello Dolly, Brigadoon, Xanadu, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Damn Yankees. Over the course of 37 years, Professor Emelio has applied her training and love of teaching in the private studio, the classroom, and the rehearsal hall. Before her tenure at Pepperdine, she taught in public schools and at Rice University, Western Texas College, Houston Baptist University, Washington Bible College, and the University of Maryland. The result of her teaching may be measured by the success of her students hailing the stages at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, San Francisco Opera, Los Angeles Opera, and Atlanta Opera. Students have been accepted to prestigious graduate programs at Yale University, Cincinnati Conservatory, Bard Conservatory, Mannes School of Music, Northwestern University, University of Maryland, Rice University, Boston Conservatory, San Francisco Conservatory, Loyola University, Brooklyn College, Lamont School of Music, University of Illinois, University of Missouri Kansas City, University of North Texas, and University of Houston. Dr. Emelio has been privileged to witness her students’ thriving careers as professional singers and actors, voice teachers, lawyers, university professors, recording artists, singing coaches, medical doctors, psychologists, public school teachers, therapists, producers, and managers. Committed to the study and performance of art song, Dr. Emelio has published two recordings of song by American composers – Jean Berger and Alva Henderson – both released by Albany Records. She is currently working on a new recording of French Mélodie by Hedwige Chrétien. Emelio retired from Pepperdine University in July 2022. She continues to teach private lessons in Dallas area and Branson, Missouri.

Voice Type: Soprano

Music Styles Taught: Opera; Folk; Classical; Musical Theatre

Availability: I am available as a performer; I am currently accepting private students; I am available as a clinician or presenter; I accept students through a college or university program

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