Sharmay Musacchio, Contralto

Contralto Sharmay Musacchio, has been the featured alto soloist with the San Francisco Conservatory Orchestra, Sarasota Opera, Portland Opera/IVAI, California Opera Association, and the San Diego Chamber Orchestra. Ms. Musacchio has performed the roles of: Dido in Les Troyens, Meg Page in Falstaff, Pauline in The Queen of Spades, Tigrana in Edgar, and Tisbe in La Cenerentola with Sarasota Opera. She recently performed the roles of Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, and Queen Andromache in the world premiere of The Silver Swan. She was the cover for the role of The Dragon in Grendel with the Los Angeles Opera and recently made her debut as a Maiden of Mahagonny in Los Angeles Opera's production of The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, which won two Grammies in 2009.

During her studies at the San Francisco Conservatory, under the vocal guidance of Wendy Hillhouse, Ms.Musacchio performed the roles of: Rebecca Nurse in The Crucible, Ragonde in Count Ory, and Antonia's Mother in The Tales of Hoffmann. Ms. Musacchio has been recognized for various honors and awards including: Grand Prize Winner of the Art Song of the Americas, Best Career Mezzo Soprano with the California Opera Association, as well as being a participant in two young artist programs with the Sarasota and Portland/IVAI Opera companies. Ms. Musacchio has worked with many renowned conductors and directors, most notably: Kathyrn Cathcart, James Conlon, Victor De Renzi, Willene Gunn, Kevin Murphy, John Norris, Dean Rhodus, Steven Sloane, Julie Taymor, Martin Wright and William Yannuzzi. She currently studies with Martin Wright of the Netherlands Opera. Ms. Musacchio will make her Carnegie Hall debut in spring of 2009 with the Vivaldi Gloria, with the New England Symphonic Ensemble