Versatile Soprano
Marie is an operatically trained soprano who specializes in contemporary classical music, early music, bel canto, and contemporary pop singing. Marie has performed under the baton of many greats such as Marin Alsop and John Williams, and she has sung contemporary music alongside icons such as Susan Boyle, and Peter Yarrow.
Below you can find recordings, as well as her vocal biography.
Recordings
Classical Recordings
Contemporary Recordings
Vocal History: Classical Beginnings
La Rondine, Peabody Institute, 2020
Suor Angelica, Peabody Institute, 2019
Marie’s background as a vocalist has led her to comfortably performing new works by living composers, and being able to perform her own music as well. Marie has 15+ years of experience as a trained opera singer, having worked with prestigious vocal masters such as Luciano Pavarotti’s vocal coach, Enza Ferrari, and Joan Patenaude-Yarnell of the Curtis Institute. Marie’s most recent opera production (which got canceled due to the spread of Covid-19), was to perform the role of Prince Orlafsky in Johann Strauss’ production of Die Fledermaus, conducted by Metropolitan Opera conductor, Gregory Buchalter.
With extensive opera training beginning with voice lessons from Duke University Professor, Dr. Elizabeth Linnartz, Marie has been in a number of operas for such a young person. She was seen as Miss Bingley in the world premiere of Kirke Mechem’s Pride and Prejudice, as well as covering for the lead mezzo soprano role of Elizabeth Bennet. She also recently performed the role of Hansel in Peabody Opera's Hansel and Gretel, and La Maestra delle Novizie in Puccini's Suor Angelica. She has worked with local opera company, Bel Cantanti Opera, and was seen as “Dunyasha” in their 2019 production of the Tsar’s Bride. Marie also has vast experience in musical theater and in 2018 performed the role of Ninotchka Yoschenko in the musical Silk Stockings in Washington, D.C.
Even with years of extensive operatic training, this is not Marie's origin story with music. Before entering the world of opera, Marie began picking out little tunes on piano at age 3, which led to her interest in music overall. Her first real musical training began with choral work at age 8. By age 16, Marie had already sung with a variety of choirs, from quartets all the way to 60+ member ensembles, and she had already sung with several icons including the Fisk Jubilee Singers, The Tanglewood Chorus, and the Broadway cast of Matilda. At age 14, she soloed with the Choral Society of Durham and the Durham Symphony, and at age 16 she had sung under the baton of John Williams with the Boston POPS for a crowd of over fourteen thousand.
Performing for the Arlene Shrut Masterclass, with pianist, Indiria Everett, Classical N.A.T.S. North Carolina Division
Chamber Group Performing Debussy's The Songs of Bilitis, Peabody Institute
To honor the substance of her work, Marie has won many awards in fields such as classical and musical theater singing, such as winning first place in the state-wide National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition every year from 2012 all the way up to 2016. Marie is also an alumna of the prestige program YoungArts, as well as being the first place winner of the International MasterPlayers voice competition in 2018.
Post-Classical Music lending itself to Contemporary Music
Album Cover: Hipster Genocide, by Alluvium Ensemble
Now with a wider understanding of the capabilities of the human voice, Marie wanted nothing other than to continue to add to her arsenal of vocal skills. Marie began learning the techniques of belting, and singing contemporary music. Since 2021, Marie has performed with several cover and original bands in Baltimore, DC, Virginia, and the surrounding areas. She currently is the lead singer of the band, Get Steady, which covers old R&b, soul, funk, and rock hits. She also performs in a pop duo ensemble with guitarist and bassist, Carl Pfanstiehl. In the past year, Marie has sung and played keys with original Indie band Alaska's Angels, D.C. based cover band called Driven to Clarity, and another DMV based cover band called Simpli Rhythmic. The other local musicians she has performed with in the past year as part of pick-up bands and other small ensemble gigs include The Honest Thief (Grey), and Nick Gurf Music.
When in undergrad, Marie developed a major interest in working with living composers. She began learning extended vocal techniques, and working on more challenging repertoire under the guidance of greats like soprano, Tony Arnold, and baritone, Michael Manganiello. She began performing music by living composers, and soon after graduating, became part of a New Music Collective based in New Orleans called Alluvium Ensemble. Alluvium is led by composer, Ben Zervigon, who has written music for Marie to perform. Marie has contributed to a sound art installation at the New Orleans Center for Contemporary Art, and has sung on an album Alluvium has produced titled Hipster Genocide.
Performing with Get Steady at Tin Roof, Baltimore, MD, 2022
Get Steady performing for the Riverside Park Concert Series, Summer of 2023
What's Next
Album Cover: Laugh Like Birds
To Listen to Laugh Like Birds,
Now, Marie's musical goal is to expand what the voice can do in vocal music as much as possible by blending genres and techniques that would otherwise not be seen together so frequently. In October of 2023, Marie created an album entirely for her voice, and electronic effects. Some of the songs on the album are composed beforehand, some are improvised. In this album, the voice acts as the melody, accompaniment, as well as sound effects. The effects placed on the voice include mostly filters, gates, and pitch bending, while all other vocal sounds you hear are things that the human voice can already do. This album was written, sung, edited, and produced by Marie. In 2024, Marie is looking for more ways she can expand on what vocal music currently does. She has just finished writing a new song cycle for voice and piano that includes only extended piano techniques, and she plans on writing another one in the coming year which would include pre-recorded and live electronics. This cycle will then be premiered at Source Song Festival in Minneapolis, MN, in 2025.