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Dawn Pierce is a young mezzo soprano with a unique quality that has been described as "deep liquid velvet." She is a rare performer who combines vocal artistry with advanced acting abilities and training in dance, including jazz, modern, ballroom, swing, and salsa.
It might be said that Dawn came into the world singing. She was raised in a small town in western New York where her grandmother conducted the junior church choir. By the time Dawn was two years old, she would accompany Gramma Jo to the choir rehearsals. It soon became apparent that Dawn knew all of the words and could sing every song that the teenagers had been practicing. She was given a tiny robe and made an official member of the choir. Soon after, she stood up and sang a solo, "Jesus Loves Me," for the entire congregation. Singing has been a major part of her life ever since.
Dawn began her formal education in music at Ithaca College in New York where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with Bachelor degrees in Vocal Performance and Music Education. While a student at Ithaca, Dawn earned numerous honors. Consistently on the Deans List, Dawn was named the Presser Scholar Musician and received the Roberta Peters Vocal Excellence Scholarship. While pursuing her degree, Dawn's talents were showcased with Ithaca College Opera, Ithaca City Opera, and at Brevard Music Center. Her teachers included Carol McAmis, Dr. Janet Galvin, Lawrence Doebler, and Dr. Verna Brummett. After graduation, Dawn began her years of study with the world renowned voice teacher, Elizabeth Mannion.
Ms. Pierce has experience in a wide variety of styles and venues. She has performed numerous solo recitals in cities across New York State in collaboration with pianist Christopher Zemliauskas. Her roles at Ithaca included Dido in Dido and Aeneas, Fosca in Sondheim's Passion, and the Old Lady in Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George. After her time in New York, she relocated to Minnesota. Here she performed with the Institute of Vocal Artistry, where she was received with enthusiasm as Hansel in Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel. She performed Anita in West Side Story with the Dillingham Players and sang with the Minnesota Opera Chorus. At North Carolina School of the Arts Dawn was featured as Lucretia in Britten's Rape of Lucretia, Idamante in Idomeneo, Irene in Donizetti's Belisario, and Elmire in Mechem's Tartuffe. In addition she performed in their outreach program as Maria in Siebert's Butcher of Seville and Emily in Barab's Fortune's Favorites. In the summer of 2004, Dawn performed her first Carmen with Opera in the Ozarks in Eureka Springs and Fayetteville, Arkansas. In 2004, her talents were recognized as she won the Metropolitan Opera District Competition.
Dawn's favorite performances are those in which she plays strong and heroic women. Her first leading role in a musical production came during her junior year in high school where she performed Winnifred in Once Upon a Mattress. This role set the tone for the characters that define the essence of Dawn's work today. Her present repertoire includes Carmen, Isabella (L'Italiana in Algeri), Lucretia (Rape of Lucretia), and Charlotte (Werther). A highlight of Dawn's performance experience was her portrayal of Jo in Mark Adamo's opera, Little Women at Opera in the Ozarks in 2002. She received nightly standing ovations for her characterization of this demanding role. Her performance was described as "vocally impressive and dramatically convincing."
Ms. Pierce is equally credentialed as an administrator, voice teacher and treble choir conductor. Dawn served as the assistant conductor with the nationally renowned Ithaca Children's Choir and taught voice at the Community School of Music and Arts. She worked for the New York State Summer School of the Arts as head counselor of the Choral Studies Program. Immediately following graduation, Dawn began conducting and teaching at the Spence School, a private girls school in Manhattan known for its excellent arts program. Here Dawn conducted three choirs, taught classes in graphic notation and history, and gave private lessons in voice.
In 1998, she was appointed the Artistic and Administrative Director of the Bel Canto Voices, a voice training nonprofit organization for girls in grades two through twelve located in Minneapolis. There she developed the voice program and repertoire, organized performances and tours, conducted the three high school choirs, and oversaw the elementary and junior high school choirs. During this time she also was employed at St Stephen's Episcopal Church in Edina where she served as soloist, first alto section leader, and youth music associate.
In Minnesota, Dawn maintained a private voice studio and held regular Master classes for her students. Her teaching has been described by her students as "creative", "energetic," and "inspiring". During her five years of private instruction, she has sent dozens of students to top music schools throughout the country. In addition, she has produced numerous original workshops and retreats examining a variety of issues related complete artistry including complete preparation, stage fright, health and wellness, characterization, and body awareness.
In her free time, Dawn enjoys making jewelry, reading, dancing and weight training.