Spotlight Sunday - Kelly Hill
Happy Sunday, opera fans! We are pleased to introduce you to this Sunday's spotlight artist, Kelly Hill! Kelly was Elizabeth Proctor in last year's performance of The Crucible and was nominated for a Broadway World Connecticut Award for Best Actress in a Musical Production. Here is what Kelly is up to this season.
Kelly Hill, mezzo-soprano, graduated with a Master’s Degree and Artist Diploma from the Yale School of Music as a student of Doris Yarick-Cross.
This summer, Kelly returned to the Opera Theater of Connecticut as Carmen in their 30th anniversary production. Other Connecticut credits include Elizabeth Proctor in Robert Ward's The Crucible with the Hartford Opera Theater, Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus with OTC, and Mrs. Sedley in Peter Grimes with Madison Lyric Stage.
Recently, she performed the role of Dinah in Trouble in Tahiti with the Yale Cabaret. Previous Yale credits include the roles of La Zelatrice in Suor Angelica, Arnalta in L’incoronazione di Poppea, Lucretia in The Rape of Lucretia, Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Dido in Dido and Aeneas, and Marta in Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta.
This fall, Kelly performed on two New Music New Haven concerts with the Yale School of Music singing the music of student composers Krists Auznieks and Ben Wallace. She also collaborated with the New Haven based Elm City Consort bringing to life the music of Medieval composer Francesco Landi with the early music ensemble.
Recent concert work includes performances of Mendelssohn’s Elijah as well as the program Grand and Glorious Opera Choruses with the Hartford Chorale. She’s performed Handel’s Messiah with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Hartford Symphony Orchestra, and the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Yale Philharmonia, as well as Magna Opera, a concert of Yale Opera Scenes with The Hartford Symphony Orchestra.
During the summer of 2014, Kelly had the privilege of singing the title role in Bizet's Carmen at the Aspen Music School and Festival. As a recipient of the Charles Wall Fellowship, Kelly sang in a master class given by world-renowned soprano, Debbie Voigt, and collaborated with AMFS CEO and President, Alan Fletcher, on his original composition, Psalm 23.
Previously, Kelly has worked as a Young Artist with the Cedar Rapids Opera Theater, spent two summers as a Studio Artist at Central City Opera, as well as two summers as an Apprentice Artist with the Santa Fe Opera. Kelly is a native of Iowa, and received her Bachelor’s of Music degree from the University of Northern Iowa. She currently studies with Braeden Harris of Greenwich, CT.
We asked Kelly what "opera without borders" means to her and this was her response:
Borders are dumb. Opera is for everyone. Art is for everyone. Music is for everyone. Theater is for everyone. Break down your walls and get out of your comfort zone. Attend a performance that challenges you. Challenge yourself. Try something new and allow yourself to be bored. YOU ARE ALLOWED TO BE BORED. Then, remind yourself to travel back to the moment. Allow yourself to be curious. YOU ARE ALLOWED TO BE CURIOUS. Search for something that reels you in. Listen for something you've never heard before and LET. IT. SPARK. Let it scare you, let it anger you, let it confuse you, let it take your breath away. Let it mean something. We wouldn't do what we do if there wasn't meaning, and to do what we do we need you.We'll perform for anyone - we'll perform for no one. We just want to share the story, the music, and the emotions with someone, ANYONE, without fear, without hesitation, and without borders. Borders are dumb.
Thank you, Kelly and check back next week for our next featured artist!
