Emily Nelson

Style: Opera; Folk; Classical

Bio: Emily Nelson's passion for music of all kinds has led her down diverse paths, from the ars subtilior to Milton Babbitt, Appalachian ballads, jazz, and the second Viennese school. In 2009, she co-founded Utopia Early Music, which has so far enjoyed seven concert seasons and increasing popular success. Emily's favorite use for her "clear, pure soprano" is in the portrayal of coloratura sidekicks and supernatural beings. For example, Emily appeared as The Fairy Godmother in Massenet's Cendrillon, Blonde in Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail at Oper im Park, St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria, Susanna from Le nozze di Figaro, the Queen of the Night from Die Zauberflöte with Utah Lyric Opera Ensemble, and as a mysterious ice siren in Vaughan Williams' Sinfonia Antarctica with Salt Lake Symphony. Emily recently sang with the Ohio Light Opera in The Mikado (Yum Yum), The Yeoman of the Guard (Elsie Maynard), Die Fledermaus (Adele), and as a braid-swinging Wagnerian soprano in Victor Herbert's Dream City and the Magic Knight (Elsa), which was released in 2015 by Albany Records. Emily holds degrees in voice, music history, and early music performance from Indiana University and the University of Utah, where she completed her doctorate in vocal performance. She recently joined the voice faculty at Westminster College.

Voice Type: Soprano

Music Styles Taught: Opera; Folk; Classical

Availability: I am available as a performer; I accept students through a college or university program

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