Mary Beard

Style: Opera; Classical; Musical Theatre

Bio: Mary Beard has lived in Sonoma County for 45 years. She has a BA in music from Stanford Univ. and also studied voice for 2 years in Germany. Previous teachers include Helen Olheim (NY Met), Maria Welzelsberger (Stuttgart Germany), Larra Browning (SF Conservatory), Thelma Dare Ahner (private studio). Current teacher: Ruth Ann Swenson Mary has performed German Lieder in Germany and throughout the SF Bay Area. She sang for years with the Baroque Sinfonia, Santa Rosa Baroque Ensemble, and Festival Consort specializing in Baroque ornamentation and performance practice. She was a soloist in Christian Science Churches for many years. She has sung a variety of roles in local opera productions (including: mother, Amahl and the Night visitors; mother, Riders to the Sea; Zita, Gianni Schicchi; Mrs. Grose, The Turn of the Screw; the Spinster, The Old Maid and the Thief; Florence, Albert Herring). She is also a member of the Sebastopol Savoyards (Giilbert and Sullivan) and has sung the role of Ruth in Pirates of Penzance and Pitti-Sing in The Mikado. She is a member of the Music Teachers Assoc. of California and is chair of the voice section of the Certificate of Merit program for Sonoma County. She was president of the Redwood Empire Chapter of NATS for many years and is still on the Board.

Voice Type: Mezzo-soprano

Music Styles Taught: Opera; Classical; Musical Theatre

Availability: I am currently accepting private students

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