Michelle DeYoung

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Michelle DeYoung
Michelle with Sir Patrick Stewart after performing together at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Born
Michelle DeYoung

1968 (age 55–56)
Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
NationalityAmerican
OccupationOpera singer (mezzo soprano)
Years active1992–present

Michelle DeYoung (born 1968 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States) is an American classical vocalist who has an active international career performing in operas and concerts.[1][2]

Early life and education

While born in Michigan, DeYoung was raised in Colorado and California, the daughter of a minister.[3] DeYoung is a graduate of the Metropolitan Opera's Lindemann Young Artists Development Program.[4] She won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 1992 and has been a regular performer at the Met ever since.[5] In 1995, she was the recipient of the Marian Anderson Award. In 2009, she completed her Bachelor's Degree (that she had to put on hold after going to The Met's Young Artist Program) in Music from California State University, Northridge.[3] Prior to graduation, Michelle sang in the adult choir every Sunday at Our Lady of Lourdes in Northridge, CA, under the direction of Sterling Branton. In May 2010, the University honored her with a Doctorate in Fine Arts for her contributions to the music industry.[3][6] Past recipients include Michael Eisner and Carol Vaness.

Career

Early in her career, DeYoung sang with

La Damnation de Faust, and the title role in The Rape of Lucretia. Outside the Wagner roles she has become the premiere Judith in Bluebeard's Castle. She has performed this role with conductor James Levine at Tanglewood, and conductor/composer Pierre Boulez at the Barbican in London, and also with The Cleveland Orchestra. She also performed the role in Salzburg. The role of Judith is one of the most taxing for a mezzo as it goes all the way up to a high C. Michelle DeYoung's range as a singer is three octaves.[3] She also portrayed the role of the Shaman in the world premiere of Tan Dun's The First Emperor at the Metropolitan Opera on December 21, 2006.[8][10]
Ms. DeYoung is also a favorite singer for newer composers like John Adams and Elliot Carter, having premiered several pieces.

In 2008, DeYoung made her debut at

Grammy award in the Best Classical Album Award.[3]

Conducting projects

In addition to her singing career, she made her debut as a conductor with the Boulder Symphony at the Boulder Theater in Colorado on May 15, 2021. After that experience she created Ensemble Charité, a not-for-profit organization with both charitable and musical ambitions, in which she sings and conducts. The first concert took place on March 23, 2022,[11] and the second one took on September 20, both in Broomfield, Colorado[12]

Selected recordings

References

  1. ^ Cummings, David, ed. (2003). International Who's Who in Classical Music. Routledge. p. 191.
  2. ^ Osborne, Cary (September 8, 2015). "A Powerful Voice Returns to CSUN". CSUN Today. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e Holmes, Leslie (November 2012). "A Conversation with Michelle DeYoung, Part 1". Journal of Singing. 69 (2): 225–229.
  4. ^ Eder, Bruce. "Michelle DeYoung". AllMusic. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  5. ^ "BiblioTech PRO V3.2a : Name Search For: DeYoung, Michelle [Mezzo Soprano]". Archives.metoperafamily.org. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  6. ^ "Michelle DeYoung: Mezzo-Soprano Opera Star". California State University. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  7. ^ Barrera, Sandra (November 12, 2015). "Mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung returns to her CSUN roots at Valley Performing Arts Center". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c Holmes, Leslie (January–February 2013). "A conversation with Michelle DeYoung, Part 2". Journal of Singing. 69 (3): 361.
  9. ^ Tommasini, Anthony (October 9, 2015). "Review: James Levine Conducts 'Tannhäuser' at the Met". The New York Times. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  10. ^ a b Morrone, John (December 2007). "An American Abroad". Opera News. New York.
  11. ^ Bolander, Linda. "BAL SWAN BENEFIT CONCERT BY MICHELLE DEYOUNG, WORLD-RENOWNED OPERA SINGER".
  12. ^ McDonald, Sydney (August 4, 2022). "Local Grammy-winning opera singer conducting second charity concert".

External links

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