biography

bio	A semi-finalist in the 2003 International Opera Singers
reviews	Competition in New York, soprano Nanette McGuinness
events & engagements	performed the title role (written for her) in the
athena trio	world premiere of William Ludtke's Gaia Sophia.
discography	She also sang the roles of Mimì at the Silesian State
photo gallery	Opera in the Czech Republic and Musetta at the Società
resume & repertory	dei Concerti di Santa Margherita Ligure in Italy.
audio
voice lessons	Fabulous Femmes, her highly-acclaimed CD of music by
athena translations	19th & 20th century women composers, was released on
contact	Centaur Recordings in July, 2000 with the ATHENA Trio.
home	Fabulous Femes just went into its econd pressing in 2007. A versatile musician whose repertory ranges from 17th century music to pieces hot off the press,Ms. McGuinness made her stage debut performing the role of Nino in the American premiere of Semiramide by Marc'Antonio Cesti, conducted by Alan Curtis, and her rofessional debut in opera as Cis in Albert Herring with the Berkeley Opera Company. She has sung with Mission City Opera, Trinity Lyric Opera, West Bay Opera, Livermore Valley Opera, Pacific Repertory Opera, Opera San Jose (Opera in the Schools), Pocket Opera, Oakland Opera, Lamplighters, and North Bay Opera. Her performances include the Countess Almaviva, First Lady and Pamina (The Magic Flute),Fiordiligi and Despina (Così fan Tutte), Lauretta and Nella (Gianni Schicchi), Anna (Le Villi by Puccini), Pertelote (Chanticleer by Seymour Barab), First Nymph (Rusalka), and Mother (Amahl and the Night Visitors). Solo concert engagements include the world premiere of William Ludtke's Christmas Suite with JoAnn Falletta and the San Jose Symphony, JoAnn Falletta, the West Coast premiere of Ned Rorem's Homer, The Lord Nelson Mass with the Solano Community Symphony and Choral Society, highlights from both Handel's and Purcell's Ode to St. Cecilia with the Contra Costa Chorale, and Messiah with the Solano Choral Society, as well as the Monterey Peninsula Choral Society. Ms. McGuinness has premiered Ludtke's Four Songs (soprano and guitar) and also his song cycles Trees (clarinet, guitar, and soprano) and Li Bai Songs (soprano, flute and string trio), which Ludtke dedicated to her. She was soprano soloist for the San Lorenzo Community Church's Sing-it-Yourself Messiah for a number of years, and she also covered the soprano soloists of the 1990-1 season of the Berkeley Symphony (conducted by Kent Nagano), the highlight of which was the West Coast premiere of the Suite from Messiaen's St. Francois d'Assise. She has concertized throughout California and also on the East Coast, and is often heard in recital with pianist Kathryn Cathcart, in the chamber ensemble, the ATHENA Trio. Ms. McGuinness began her musical education at the organ, adding piano, musicological, and vocal studies while at Cornell University. She received a MM in voice from Holy Names University and a PhD (specializing in musicology) from U.C. Berkeley. Her principal voice teachers have been Jane Randolph, Elizabeth Mannion, Julia Monroe, Vicky Van Dewark, and Diane Gilfether. Other competitions include a First Prize at the Martinez Opera Competition and a First Prize at the Santa Clara University Art Song Festival Competition. She maintains a private voice studio in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Photo by Russ Fischella