Handel’s Messiah is the undisputed favorite of the holiday season, featuring the Syracuse University Oratorio Society, Symphoria, and spectacular soloists.
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FEATURED ARTISTS
ELENA PERRONI | soprano
Ms. Perroni made her professional opera debut with Opera Philadelphia, singing the role of Doris Parker in Charlie Parker’s Yardbird, at the legendary Apollo Theatre in New York City.
She reprised the role in her English National Opera debut, in the summer of 2017. This past season Elena ...
She reprised the role in her English National Opera debut, in the summer of 2017. This past season Elena ...
Ms. Perroni made her professional opera debut with Opera Philadelphia, singing the role of Doris Parker in Charlie Parker’s Yardbird, at the legendary Apollo Theatre in New York City.
She reprised the role in her English National Opera debut, in the summer of 2017. This past season Elena made her MainStage Carnegie Hall debut as the soprano soloist in Schubert’s Mass in G major, Brahm’s Ein deutsches Requiem with Maestro Asher Fisch and West Australian Symphony Orchestra and her role debut as Iolanta in Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta with West Australian Opera.
In past seasons she has appeared in concert scenes with the Philadelphia Orchestra as Rusalka (Rusalka) 2017, Tatyana (Eugene Onegin) 2018, Berlioz’s Les Nuits D’été in 2019 and was due to join them as Iolanta (Iolanta) in 2020 (canceled due to covid)*. Elena made her home debut as Mimi in La Boheme and returned for her role debut as Violetta in Verdi’s La Traviata for West Australian Opera.
Other engagements include Mimi in La Boheme with West Australian Opera, Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra, Juliet in Tchaikovsky’s Romeo & Juliet with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Maria in Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story, with the Reno Philharmonic and guest appearances with Wyoming Symphony Orchestra, and Philadelphia Independence Sinfonia.
She reprised the role in her English National Opera debut, in the summer of 2017. This past season Elena made her MainStage Carnegie Hall debut as the soprano soloist in Schubert’s Mass in G major, Brahm’s Ein deutsches Requiem with Maestro Asher Fisch and West Australian Symphony Orchestra and her role debut as Iolanta in Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta with West Australian Opera.
In past seasons she has appeared in concert scenes with the Philadelphia Orchestra as Rusalka (Rusalka) 2017, Tatyana (Eugene Onegin) 2018, Berlioz’s Les Nuits D’été in 2019 and was due to join them as Iolanta (Iolanta) in 2020 (canceled due to covid)*. Elena made her home debut as Mimi in La Boheme and returned for her role debut as Violetta in Verdi’s La Traviata for West Australian Opera.
Other engagements include Mimi in La Boheme with West Australian Opera, Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra, Juliet in Tchaikovsky’s Romeo & Juliet with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Maria in Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story, with the Reno Philharmonic and guest appearances with Wyoming Symphony Orchestra, and Philadelphia Independence Sinfonia.
DAWN PIERCE | mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano Dawn Pierce is a native of Olean, New York, and currently an Assistant Professor of Voice at Ithaca College. Praised as both an exceptional performer and an empowering teacher, Ms. Pierce is devoted to promoting a deep understanding of artistry and self-expression. Reviewers laud her as “vocally impressive and ...
Mezzo-soprano Dawn Pierce is a native of Olean, New York, and currently an Assistant Professor of Voice at Ithaca College. Praised as both an exceptional performer and an empowering teacher, Ms. Pierce is devoted to promoting a deep understanding of artistry and self-expression. Reviewers laud her as “vocally impressive and dramatically convincing,” while students describe her teaching as “innovative,” “energetic,” and “inspiring.” Through her work in the US and Europe, she has quickly been gaining recognition as a visionary leader. She is the creator and director of the Opera Company of Middlebury Young Artist Program, an upcoming teacher for The Great Courses, and a former voice teacher and current board member for the International Performing Arts Institute in Kiefersfelden, Germany.
Ms. Pierce abounds with experience in a wide variety of styles and venues. On the operatic stage, she recently performed the title role in Carmen with Opera Ithaca, Charlotte in Werther with Mobile Opera, Beatrice in Beatrice et Benedict with Asheville Lyric Opera, Olga in Eugene Onegin w ith Opera Carolina and Opera Company of Middlebury, and Madelon and Bersi in Andrea Chenier with Nashville Opera. Ms. Pierce is equally comfortable in musical theatre, where she portrayed Franca (The Light in the Piazza), The Grand Duchess (The Student Prince), and Anita (West Side Story) . On the concert stage, she has earned rave reviews for her interpretation of the alto solos in Verdi's Requiem and Handel's Messiah. Recently, she delivered a moving performance as Maria von Wedermeyer in McElyea's TENEBRAE: The Passion of Dietrich Bonnhoeffer. She has been a featured soloist with Asheville Symphony, Syracuse Symphony, York Symphony, Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, Charleston Symphony, and with the Binghamton Downtown Singers, Hamilton Masterworks Chorale and Ithaca College Orchestra.
An innovative recital programmer, Ms. Pierce performs frequently in collaboration with renowned artists such as Charis Dimaras, Emily Newton, and Christopher Zemliausekas. Ms. Pierce most recently presented The Four Types of Love, a mixed-genre recital exploring four types of love through song. She was a featured recitalist at the 2018 Middlebury Song Festival, performing an American Art Song program titled "Wild and Wonderful." Other notable programs include Written in My Heart, an interactive recital exploring standard operatic literature in conjunction with technology, fine art, literature, and audience participation; My Native Land, a non-traditional, solo recital featuring five commissioned works and exploring American genres, including folk, art, opera, musical theatre, and spirituals; The Soprano Sisters, a humorous, narrated program exploring the mezzo-soprano relationship in opera and musical theatre, and Your Opera in a Trunk, a one-hour, improvised opera with plot and characters determined by audience suggestion.
Ms. Pierce has extensive experience as a private teacher, musical director, and master class presenter. At Ithaca College, her students describe her as an “extremely passionate, thorough, empathetic, and innovative professor, mentor, and technician.” Her teaching philosophy incorporates the prominent pillars of empowerment, individuality, community, and excellence as the foundation for inspired lifelong learning. In addition to teaching vocal technique, dramatic intention, musical interpretation, and body awareness to undergraduate level singers.
Ms. Pierce invests in the mental well-being of her students as an integral part of their artistic education. Over her nine years at Ithaca College, she has created a four-year series of written artist assignments designed to synthesize artistry, academia, and self-understanding. Recently, Ms. Pierce revised the instructional format for first-semester freshman, creating a course specifically designed to help give them the essential tools necessary to succeed academically over their four years. In her unceasing efforts to best prepare students to be independent artists, she established a course for students preparing recitals, in which they had additional weekly opportunities for performance, instruction, feedback, and support. Furthermore, she developed a curriculum for Opera Workshop, a collaborative and interdisciplinary performance course designed to improve the skill level, confidence, and self-awareness of the singing actor. As part of Ms. Pierce's mission to honor individuality within community, she designed, developed, and taught a first-year seminar called “Yes, and...realizing self through improvisation.” She encourages her students to perform frequently and at a wide variety of venues, from professional establishments to local retirement communities. In 2017, Ms. Pierce designed and directed the inaugural Voice Intensive, a semesterly, week-long performance series for young singers. In Spring 2019, this expanded to the Arts Intensive, which incorporated the entire music school and included over 100 hours of workshops.
Not only is Ms. Pierce deeply committed to teaching healthy vocal technique as a balance of art and science, but she is equally invested in both the artistic and personal growth of young artists, ranging from the undergraduate to professional level. Ithaca College selected her to serve as one of three faculty members on the Strategic Planning Committee in 2018-2019 to rewrite the vision, mission, and goals for the college. She currently serves as a board member for the International Performing Arts Institute in Kiefersfelden, Germany, where she participates in value, vision, and strategy for the program; previously, she served as Director of Voice. Ms. Pierce consistently distinguishes herself as a visionary leader for lifelong learning. The Great Courses selected her from the top 1% of college professors in the world to write a twenty-four lesson course called “How To Sing,” to be released in spring of 2020. For nearly 20 years, Ms. Pierce has designed numerous entrepreneurial workshops and programs examining a variety of issues related to artistry and technique. In 2014, she created the Opera Company of Middlebury Young Artist Program and currently resides as their director. In 2010, she founded the Ithaca Opera Studio in Ithaca, NY, and continues to present workshops designed to create well-rounded singers at the collegiate level. Recent topics include acting, score preparation, fitness, nutrition, mental well-being, effective practice skills, and recital preparation. She has also designed curriculum for and presented master classes on topics including audition techniques and improvisation for singers.
Ms. Pierce has training in a number of dance styles, stage combat, and opera improvisation. She earned a Performing Artist Certificate and a Master's in Opera Performance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and holds Bachelor's degrees in Vocal Performance and Music Education from Ithaca College.
Ms. Pierce abounds with experience in a wide variety of styles and venues. On the operatic stage, she recently performed the title role in Carmen with Opera Ithaca, Charlotte in Werther with Mobile Opera, Beatrice in Beatrice et Benedict with Asheville Lyric Opera, Olga in Eugene Onegin w ith Opera Carolina and Opera Company of Middlebury, and Madelon and Bersi in Andrea Chenier with Nashville Opera. Ms. Pierce is equally comfortable in musical theatre, where she portrayed Franca (The Light in the Piazza), The Grand Duchess (The Student Prince), and Anita (West Side Story) . On the concert stage, she has earned rave reviews for her interpretation of the alto solos in Verdi's Requiem and Handel's Messiah. Recently, she delivered a moving performance as Maria von Wedermeyer in McElyea's TENEBRAE: The Passion of Dietrich Bonnhoeffer. She has been a featured soloist with Asheville Symphony, Syracuse Symphony, York Symphony, Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, Charleston Symphony, and with the Binghamton Downtown Singers, Hamilton Masterworks Chorale and Ithaca College Orchestra.
An innovative recital programmer, Ms. Pierce performs frequently in collaboration with renowned artists such as Charis Dimaras, Emily Newton, and Christopher Zemliausekas. Ms. Pierce most recently presented The Four Types of Love, a mixed-genre recital exploring four types of love through song. She was a featured recitalist at the 2018 Middlebury Song Festival, performing an American Art Song program titled "Wild and Wonderful." Other notable programs include Written in My Heart, an interactive recital exploring standard operatic literature in conjunction with technology, fine art, literature, and audience participation; My Native Land, a non-traditional, solo recital featuring five commissioned works and exploring American genres, including folk, art, opera, musical theatre, and spirituals; The Soprano Sisters, a humorous, narrated program exploring the mezzo-soprano relationship in opera and musical theatre, and Your Opera in a Trunk, a one-hour, improvised opera with plot and characters determined by audience suggestion.
Ms. Pierce has extensive experience as a private teacher, musical director, and master class presenter. At Ithaca College, her students describe her as an “extremely passionate, thorough, empathetic, and innovative professor, mentor, and technician.” Her teaching philosophy incorporates the prominent pillars of empowerment, individuality, community, and excellence as the foundation for inspired lifelong learning. In addition to teaching vocal technique, dramatic intention, musical interpretation, and body awareness to undergraduate level singers.
Ms. Pierce invests in the mental well-being of her students as an integral part of their artistic education. Over her nine years at Ithaca College, she has created a four-year series of written artist assignments designed to synthesize artistry, academia, and self-understanding. Recently, Ms. Pierce revised the instructional format for first-semester freshman, creating a course specifically designed to help give them the essential tools necessary to succeed academically over their four years. In her unceasing efforts to best prepare students to be independent artists, she established a course for students preparing recitals, in which they had additional weekly opportunities for performance, instruction, feedback, and support. Furthermore, she developed a curriculum for Opera Workshop, a collaborative and interdisciplinary performance course designed to improve the skill level, confidence, and self-awareness of the singing actor. As part of Ms. Pierce's mission to honor individuality within community, she designed, developed, and taught a first-year seminar called “Yes, and...realizing self through improvisation.” She encourages her students to perform frequently and at a wide variety of venues, from professional establishments to local retirement communities. In 2017, Ms. Pierce designed and directed the inaugural Voice Intensive, a semesterly, week-long performance series for young singers. In Spring 2019, this expanded to the Arts Intensive, which incorporated the entire music school and included over 100 hours of workshops.
Not only is Ms. Pierce deeply committed to teaching healthy vocal technique as a balance of art and science, but she is equally invested in both the artistic and personal growth of young artists, ranging from the undergraduate to professional level. Ithaca College selected her to serve as one of three faculty members on the Strategic Planning Committee in 2018-2019 to rewrite the vision, mission, and goals for the college. She currently serves as a board member for the International Performing Arts Institute in Kiefersfelden, Germany, where she participates in value, vision, and strategy for the program; previously, she served as Director of Voice. Ms. Pierce consistently distinguishes herself as a visionary leader for lifelong learning. The Great Courses selected her from the top 1% of college professors in the world to write a twenty-four lesson course called “How To Sing,” to be released in spring of 2020. For nearly 20 years, Ms. Pierce has designed numerous entrepreneurial workshops and programs examining a variety of issues related to artistry and technique. In 2014, she created the Opera Company of Middlebury Young Artist Program and currently resides as their director. In 2010, she founded the Ithaca Opera Studio in Ithaca, NY, and continues to present workshops designed to create well-rounded singers at the collegiate level. Recent topics include acting, score preparation, fitness, nutrition, mental well-being, effective practice skills, and recital preparation. She has also designed curriculum for and presented master classes on topics including audition techniques and improvisation for singers.
Ms. Pierce has training in a number of dance styles, stage combat, and opera improvisation. She earned a Performing Artist Certificate and a Master's in Opera Performance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and holds Bachelor's degrees in Vocal Performance and Music Education from Ithaca College.
ETHAN BURCK | tenor
“Promising young tenor” (Seen and Heard International) Ethan Burck from Aurora, Illinois, begins his Master of Musical Arts at the Yale School of Music in the fall of 2022, after finishing his Masters of Music at the Curtis Institute of Music. This season with the Yale Opera, he will perform in ...
“Promising young tenor” (Seen and Heard International) Ethan Burck from Aurora, Illinois, begins his Master of Musical Arts at the Yale School of Music in the fall of 2022, after finishing his Masters of Music at the Curtis Institute of Music. This season with the Yale Opera, he will perform in Benjamin Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia, as well as in scenes where he will sing the roles of Lensky from Eugene Onegin, Nadir in Les pêcheurs de perles and Hoffmann in Les contes d’Hoffmann. During his time at the Curtis Institute of Music, Ethan had the pleasure of performing a variety of roles including Ferrando in Cosí fan tutte and Tito in Mercy, a filmed adaptation of Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito, and “nicely traced” (OperaWire) the title character of Albert Herring. While at Curtis, Ethan “heroically stepped in '' (parterre box) to make his Opera Philadelphia debut in the role of the Shepherd in Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex, learning the role for the dress rehearsal with only three hours notice and performing the role the next day. Ethan spent the summer of 2021 with the Santa Fe Opera as an apprentice artist. He received his Bachelors in Vocal Performance from Baldwin Wallace University in 2019. Selected roles he performed at Baldwin Wallace include Tom Rakewell in The Rake’s Progress, Young Jim in Glory Denied, and Paolino in Il matrimonio segreto.
EVAN GRAY | baritone
Evan Gray is a young Bass-Baritone from Zurich, Switzerland currently pursuing his bachelor's degree at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. As part of the Curtis Opera Theater he has performed roles such as "Don Alfonso" in "Così fan tutte" and "Fiorello" in "Il barbiere di Siviglia". As a ...
Evan Gray is a young Bass-Baritone from Zurich, Switzerland currently pursuing his bachelor's degree at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. As part of the Curtis Opera Theater he has performed roles such as "Don Alfonso" in "Così fan tutte" and "Fiorello" in "Il barbiere di Siviglia". As a part of Saluzzo Opera Academy he has performed roles such as "Bartolo" in "Le nozze di Figaro" and
"Leporello" in "Don Giovanni". As a soloist he has performed in various sacred works by F. Haydn, W. A. Mozart and C. P. E Bach with Orchestras in Switzerland. As a recitalist he has performed for "FaktorMusik" in Zurich as well as performing the song cycle "Winterreise" by F. Schubert as part of the 21/22 school year student recital series. Evan is entering his senior year at the Curtis Institute where he studies with Mark Schnaible. In the past he has studied with David and Jane Thorner, as well doing masterclasses with singers such as Robert Holl and Gerald Finley.
"Leporello" in "Don Giovanni". As a soloist he has performed in various sacred works by F. Haydn, W. A. Mozart and C. P. E Bach with Orchestras in Switzerland. As a recitalist he has performed for "FaktorMusik" in Zurich as well as performing the song cycle "Winterreise" by F. Schubert as part of the 21/22 school year student recital series. Evan is entering his senior year at the Curtis Institute where he studies with Mark Schnaible. In the past he has studied with David and Jane Thorner, as well doing masterclasses with singers such as Robert Holl and Gerald Finley.
JOHN WARREN | conductor
John F. Warren is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Syracuse University, where he conducts choirs, and teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses in conducting, choral literature, and rehearsal techniques.
During his fifteen-year tenure, Syracuse choirs have performed at two state and three Eastern Region ...
During his fifteen-year tenure, Syracuse choirs have performed at two state and three Eastern Region ...
John F. Warren is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Syracuse University, where he conducts choirs, and teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses in conducting, choral literature, and rehearsal techniques.
During his fifteen-year tenure, Syracuse choirs have performed at two state and three Eastern Region American Choral Director Association Conferences, including Rochester, New York in 2020, and toured throughout the Northeast United States and Canada, as well as Europe and South America. In 2017, the Syracuse University Singers performed for the National Conference of the National Collegiate Choral Organization in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 2015, Singers won the Grand Prix at the Florilegé Vocal de Tours in France, which entitled them to compete in Varna, Bulgaria in May 2016 as a finalist in the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing. Dr. Warren travelled back to Varna to judge the 2017 International Choir Competition. The choir’s first album, Mysteries and Wonders is available on ITunes and Amazon.com. Dr. Warren is a regular guest conductor with Symphoria, the professional orchestra of Syracuse, New York, having most recently conducted a program of music by J. S. Bach, C.P.E. Bach, and Mahler.
He was the NYACDA Choral Director of the Year in 2016 and is a 2011 recipient of the Outstanding Faculty Award from the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University. Prior to coming to Syracuse, Dr. Warren was the Director of Choral Activities at Erskine College in South Carolina, where he was awarded the Younts Excellence in Teaching Award in 2005.
Dr. Warren serves ACDA on the Standing Committee on International Activities, and is NYACDA Vice President. Dr. Warren has lectured, adjudicated and conducted festival choirs throughout the Eastern United States, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cuba and France, and has published research in the Choral Journal and the International Choral Bulletin.
During his fifteen-year tenure, Syracuse choirs have performed at two state and three Eastern Region American Choral Director Association Conferences, including Rochester, New York in 2020, and toured throughout the Northeast United States and Canada, as well as Europe and South America. In 2017, the Syracuse University Singers performed for the National Conference of the National Collegiate Choral Organization in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 2015, Singers won the Grand Prix at the Florilegé Vocal de Tours in France, which entitled them to compete in Varna, Bulgaria in May 2016 as a finalist in the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing. Dr. Warren travelled back to Varna to judge the 2017 International Choir Competition. The choir’s first album, Mysteries and Wonders is available on ITunes and Amazon.com. Dr. Warren is a regular guest conductor with Symphoria, the professional orchestra of Syracuse, New York, having most recently conducted a program of music by J. S. Bach, C.P.E. Bach, and Mahler.
He was the NYACDA Choral Director of the Year in 2016 and is a 2011 recipient of the Outstanding Faculty Award from the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University. Prior to coming to Syracuse, Dr. Warren was the Director of Choral Activities at Erskine College in South Carolina, where he was awarded the Younts Excellence in Teaching Award in 2005.
Dr. Warren serves ACDA on the Standing Committee on International Activities, and is NYACDA Vice President. Dr. Warren has lectured, adjudicated and conducted festival choirs throughout the Eastern United States, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cuba and France, and has published research in the Choral Journal and the International Choral Bulletin.
SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY ORATORIO SOCIETY | chorus
Founded in 1975, the Syracuse University Oratorio Society is a mixed vocal ensemble comprised of Syracuse University students and community members that regularly collaborates with Symphoria, Central New York’s professional orchestra, to perform choral-orchestral masterworks. The Oratorio Society has been directed by John Warren, associate professor of music and director ...
Founded in 1975, the Syracuse University Oratorio Society is a mixed vocal ensemble comprised of Syracuse University students and community members that regularly collaborates with Symphoria, Central New York’s professional orchestra, to perform choral-orchestral masterworks. The Oratorio Society has been directed by John Warren, associate professor of music and director of choral activities, since 2011.
