Alumnus tenor Lawrence Brownlee, a student of Chancellor’s Professor of Music Costanza Cuccaro, received a glowing review in the New York Times, April 1, for his recent performance with pianist Martin Katz in Zankel Hall.

“Mr. Brownlee, who has earned a strong reputation in thebel canto repertory, with his agile voice and lustrous top notes, sang potently in the selections, which he hasrecorded for release later this year.”

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Alumna Kiri Deonarine, a student of Professor Carol Vaness, found herself in an extraordinary situation on March 20.

With just four hours notice, the soprano was invited to sing the role of Gilda in the Chicago Lyric Opera’s production of Verdi’s Rigoletto, replacing Russian soprano Albina Shagimuratova, who was unable to sing.

Deonarine performed her debut of a major role at the Lyric without the luxury of rehearsing with any of the cast members — and was met with a standing ovation. Her performance followed a recent European audition tour that included stops in Paris, London, and Vienna.

About Kiri Deonarine

Jacobs School of Music alumna Kiri Deonarine is a second-year Ryan Opera Center member at the Chicago Lyric Opera, and previously spent two seasons as a member of the Houston Grand Opera Studio. While at HGO she appeared in The Elixir of Love (Adina), Peter Grimes, Dead Man Walking, Così fan tutte (Despina), The Marriage of Figaro, and Ariadne auf Naxos (Najade). She also participated in the Apprentice Singer Program at The Santa Fe Opera in 2009 and 2010. Originally from Fair Lawn, New Jersey, the soprano earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Baylor University and studied at the Technische Universität Dresden Institute of Advanced Studies before pursuing a master’s degree in vocal performance at Indiana University. Honors include selection as a Grand Finalist in the 2009 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, a 2010 George London Vocal Competition Award, and, in 2012, awards from the American Opera Society and the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation. She recently sang the Fauré Requiem with the Milwaukee Symphony under the baton of Edo de Waart and Teutile/Vivaldi’s Motezuma with Mercury Baroque (Houston), and was featured in concerts with the Grant Park Music Festival and as part of the live broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion at the Ravinia Festival. In the 2011-12 season, Deonarine made her Lyric Opera debut as Echo/Ariadne auf Naxos, later performing Pamina/The Magic Flute student matinees and A Siren/Rinaldo. This season at Lyric she will appear in Elektra, Werther (as Sophie), and Hansel and Gretel.

Congratulations to sopranos Abigail Mitchell, BM’ 07, and Paloma Friedhoff Bello, MM’ 12, for their recent performances at the 60th annual Washington International Competition for Singers. Abigail Mitchell, a former student of Patricia Wise and Carol Vaness, took 2nd place honors. Paloma Friedhoff Bello, a former student of Sylvia McNair, took 3rd place.

Mitchell completed her Artist Diploma at the Royal College of Music International Opera School, where she was the first recipient of the Georgina Joshi International Fellowship. Professional highlights include Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte at Tacoma Opera and Marzelline in Fidelio with the Oxford Philomusica in the UK. This summer she joins the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Artist Program, where she will cover Countess Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro.  

Friedhoff Bello was recently the First Prize Winner at the 8^th International Singing Competition “Villa de Colmenar Viejo” in Madrid, Spain. In 2012 she made her debut at the Teatro Real in Madrid performing Shostakovich’s Seven Songs for soprano and piano trio, and Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5.