School of Music
Melissa Jean Ch谩vez, D.M.A.
Instructor
Email: MJ-Chavez2@wiu.edu
Soprano Melissa Jean Ch谩vez has been acclaimed by the Washington Post for her 鈥渧oluptuous voice鈥� and 鈥渃ooly exemplary production.鈥� DC Metro Arts writes, 鈥渁s an actress, Ch谩vez commands the stage and uses the tremendous range of her gorgeous soprano to full advantage.鈥� Melissa has performed in over 35 operas including Michaela in "Carmen", Fiordiligi in 鈥淐os矛 fan tutte,鈥� Laurie in 鈥淭ender Land,鈥� the title role in 鈥淎driana Lecouvreur,鈥� Beatrice in 鈥淏eatrice et Benedict,鈥� Maddalena in 鈥淎ndrea Chenier,鈥� Mother in 鈥淎mahl and the Night Visitors,鈥� Carmela in 鈥淟a Vida Breve,鈥� Donna Anna in 鈥淒on Giovanni,鈥� Beatrix in 鈥淟es Bavards,鈥� Libby Norton in the premiere of 鈥淣orton: A Civil War Opera,鈥� Donna Elivira in 鈥淒on Giovanni,鈥� Desdemona in 鈥淥tello,鈥� Giorgetta in 鈥淚l Tabarro,鈥� Rosalinda in 鈥淒ie Fledermaus,鈥� Hannah in 鈥淭he Merry Widow,鈥� Geraldine in 鈥淭he American Maid,鈥� Adina in 鈥淟鈥橢lisir d鈥檃more,鈥� Giulietta in 鈥淟es contes d鈥橦offmann,鈥� Countess in 鈥淟e nozze di Figaro,鈥� Anna Maurrant in 鈥淪treet Scene鈥� and Helena in 鈥淎 Midsummer Night鈥檚 Dream.鈥�
She did her apprenticeship for four years as young artist at the prestigious Castleton Festival, directed by Lorin Maazel where she has covered Britten鈥檚 鈥淟es Illuminations鈥� and understudied Desdemona in 鈥淥tello,鈥� among other singing opportunities.
Melissa is equally at home on the concert stage. She recently performed as a soprano soloist in Beethoven鈥檚 Symphony No. 9, Mozart鈥檚 鈥淩equiem,鈥� Handel鈥檚 鈥淕loria,鈥� Villa Lobos鈥檚 鈥淏achianas Brasilieras No. 5,鈥� Handel鈥檚 鈥淢essiah,鈥� Bach鈥檚 鈥淢agnificat,鈥� and in a touring recital of Schubert and Wolf Goethe-Lieder and with United States Army Chorus as a soloist. Additional recent performances include the soprano soloist in Webber鈥檚 鈥淩equiem,鈥� Barber鈥檚 鈥淜noxville Summer of 1915,鈥� Copland鈥檚 鈥淥ld American Songs鈥� and Mahler鈥檚 鈥淒es Knaben Wunderhorn鈥� with orchestra.
Melissa is a winner of the Bach-Handel Competition, and a finalist in the American Prize for Opera, Classical Singer Competition, MidAtlantic NATSAA, Shenandoah Concerto Competition, Philadelphia Lieder Society Competition, Opera at San Nicola Competition, and has received multiple grants for recital performances.
She holds degrees from Penn State University and Shenandoah Conservatory and has studied with Susanne Mentzer, Debra Lawrence, Stanford Olsen, Aim茅 Sposato and Richard Kennedy.
Melissa's collegiate teaching experience includes Shenandoah Conservatory and Pennsylvania State University. She is on the faculty of the Virginia Summer Regional Governor's School, and most recently taught for three years at the Washington Waldorf School as the vocal music instructor for the upper school. Melissa is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, holding several leadership positions including regional board member, as well as president and vice president of her state chapter. She is a member of National Association of Music Education and Music Teachers National Association, Sigma Alpha Iota and Pi Kappa Lambda.
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