Education

B.M. Vocal Performance, Brigham Young University Idaho
M.M. Vocal Performance, California State University Fullerton

Instruction

Amy has been privileged to study vocal performance extensively for the past thirty one years. She received her Masters Degree  at California State University Fullerton, where she studied vocal performance with an emphasis in opera. Her  vocal mentors include  Kristine Ciesinski at BYU-Idaho, Janet Smith and Mark Salters at CSUF, Karla Kniss in Huntington Beach CA, and Naomi Farr in Los Angeles CA. Additional studies include vocal master classes with coaches Brian Moll of University of Southern California, Donna Loewy of University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music , Katherine Ciesinski of The Moores Opera Center, and Diane Zola of Houston Grand Opera. Amy has also enjoyed working with various conductors including Choral conductors and Directors from all over the world.

Awards

While pursuing her degrees in music, Amy has had the opportunity to compete in several competitions and win many awards. She was awarded the Opera Theatre Overall Graduate Award two years in a row through CSUF as well as the recipient of the Birthe Burnett Vocal Scholarship. She was awarded First Prize in the Opera Reading Club of Hollywood competition. While at Cal State Fullerton she took First prize in the Musical Associates Competition, Vocal Division. Shortly after, she was the recipient of the Lotte Johnson Vocal Scholarship from CSUF. Upon completing her bachelors degree, Amy was selected second place overall winner in the National Association of the Teachers of Singing Competition for Southern California Division. While at BYU Idaho,  Amy was on a partial performance scholarship and won the concerto competition hosted by the Music Department, with the winner receiving the opportunity to perform Schubert’s Mass in E Minor with the Symphony Orchestra.

Performing Experience

In one summer semester of graduate school,  Amy had the opportunity to participate in the Opera Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca in Italy through the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music with a performance scholarship. She lived in the small Italian town of Lucca for six weeks, and had the opportunity to study with world renown singers, conductors, and teachers including opera singer David Malis, conductor Gian Franco Cosmi, and diction expert David Adams. During her time in Italy, Amy studied Italian extensively, and studied and learned the role of Amina in the opera La Sonnambula by Vincenzo Bellini, culminating in a performance of the role in it’s entirety.  Besides the Opera La Sonnambula, Amy has also performed the roles of Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Casilda in The Gondoliers, and the Title role in L’incoronazione di Poppea.