Rochelle Hart - Spinto Soprano

About Rochelle

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Having been told she has the "voice for Verdi", American spinto soprano Rochelle Hart uses her wide vocal range and emotioanlly driven artistic interpretation to get the most from any role she faces. This has allowed her to explore both mezzo soprano and soprano roles of a lyric and dramatic nature throughout her career, both in Opera and Musical Theatre.

She began singing at the age of 5, when she played a singing tree in her elementary school's adaptation of Snow White. This sparked a passion for performing which led her to study with Lisa Mooyman. By the time Rochelle graduated High School, she already had several stage roles and solo performances under her belt, including an orphan in Annie, Belle in Beauty and the Beast, soprano solos for Handel's Messiah and the performance of several arias for professional chamber ensembles and repertoire companies. She also frequently participated in State-wide opera competitons, consistantely earning the highest grades available for her performance and interpretation. Her experiences afforded her the opportunity to study with the prestigious Oregon Repertory Singers, and allowed her to tour Europe with the Oregon Ambassadors of Music, singing in several noteworthy locations including Westminster Abbey.

She went on to study music at University of Oregon and Portland State University, participating in Opera and Jazz groups. She also performed in Musical Theatre Productions both at University and with local theatre companies. After graduating, she relocated to the United Kingdom, where she continued to be active in voice whilst pursuing other academic interests, obtaining an MA in Roman Archaeology from the University of Liverpool.

She has sung under the baton of several world-renowned conductors, and has studied with several highly regarded classical singers and musicians. Rochelle is also listed on the deputy soloists list for the Chelsea Opera Group. She most recently performed at Her Majesty's Theatre in Sunday Night Live!, a musical theatre showcase, at Cadogen Hall in Alceste (Gluck) with the Chelsea Opera Group and at Queen Elizabeth Hall in La Traviata (Verdi), also with the Chelsea Opera Group. In upcoming months she will be performing in Guillame Tell (Rossini) and will be giving a recital of arias and sacred songs.

As well as performing, Rochelle is part of a recruitment and casting sub-committee for the Chelsea Opera Group, helped set up the White City Singers - a BBC club choir, and also works as a private vocal coach and mentor to aspiring vocalists. She has been working as a vocal coach to children and adults both privately and at local Community Schools across the US and UK for over 10 years.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Selected Credits
Upcoming
Guillaume Tell, Chelsea Opera Group, Queen Elizabeth Hall

Opera
Chorus, La Traviata, Chelsea Opera Group, Queen Elizabeth Hall
Chorus, Alceste, Chelsea Opera Group, Cadogan Hall
Ach, Ich Fühl's, Die Zauberflöte,Portland State Opera Recital
O Mio Babbino Caro, Gianni Schicchi, Portland State Opera Recital

Classical Crossover/Oratorio
Soprano, Carmina Burana, Choral Cross Ties
Soprano, Christmas Oratorio, Clackamas Chamber Choir
Soprano, Music of Estonia, Clackamas Chamber Choir
Soprano, Handel's Messiah, Oregon Repertory Singers
Ave Maria (Bach/Gonoud), Christmas Concert, Clackamas Chamber Choir
Soprano, Festival Sanctus (OAM Chamber Choir), Domkirche zu St. Jakob, Munich
Soprano, Oregon Ambassadors of Music Concert, Westminster Abbey
Dirait-on, Summer Solstice Concert, Theatinerkirche St. Kajetan, Innsbruck
Spirate Pur, Spirate (Donaudy), Oregon State Opera Festival
Warnung (Mozart), Oregon State Opera Festival
I (Who Have Nothing), Secrets: Export Quality, Southwark Playhouse

Musical Theatre
*Joanna, Sweeney Todd for Secrets: Export Quality, Southwark Playhouse
*Tracy Turnblad (Hairspray), StarEFX - Sunday Night Live!, Her Majesty's Theatre
Principle Female, StarEFX - Sunday Night Live!, Her Majesty's Theatre
*Christine, Phantom of the Opera, Portland State University
Janet, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Clinton Street Theatre Company
Maria, West Side Story, Y.M.A. Theatre Group
Belle, Beauty and the Beast, MLC Theatre Program
Orphan, Annie , Roosevelt Theatre
*Denotes scene

Notable Conductors: Vladamir Minin, Nicholas Collon, Gianluca Marcianò
Notable Chorus Masters: Gil Seeley, Bruce Brown, Deborah Miles Johnson, Robin Newton

Selected Education and Training
Spring 2010: CityLit Opera Performance Workshop
Nov 2009: Opera vocal/stagecraft master class with Jeremy Silver (NOS)
2004: Completed BA in Anthropology and Classical Music (emphasis on voice) at Portland State University, Portland Oregon
1999-2001: Attended several workshops and master classes on Opera Performance and Dramatic Studies at University of Oregon, Eugene Oregon
1997: Completed Oregon Repertory Singers training programme
1992: Completed Talented and Gifted (TAG) young actors programme
Vocal Coaches: Lisa Mooyman, Sean Jeffrey

Languages (Spoken): Conversational German, basic Italian
Languages (Singing): German, Italian, Latin, French, Spanish, Russian, Romanian

Vocal Fach: Spinto (jugendlich-dramatisch) Soprano (Range: C3-D6; Tessitura: D3-C6)

Special Skills: Dance background including ballet, jazz, tap and cheerleading; some martial arts training (tae kwon do and aikido); horseback riding; ice-skating; yoga; linguistics; Alexander Technique; Acoustic guitar, Alto (Eb) Saxophone