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A Riveting Voice that Drives Straight to the Heart!
Praised for her "resplendent" instrument with its "fluid sensuous phrasing" and "intensity of dynamic range and emotional depth", Soprano - Beverley Hissam is a classical singer who embraces each moment with a vividly dramatic essence. Her sheer artistry and stage presence deliver with memorable and thrilling response from diverse audiences!
Ms. Hissam most recently performed in concert with the Pittsburgh chamber ensemble named SynchroniciTí. Beverley is the artistic director and creator of this newly formed Trio. She was showcased as the soprano soloist in collaboration with piano and cello to present the debut of their September 11, 2009 (911 Memorial Dedication). Ms. Hissam's repertoire included Rachmaninoff's Vocalize for Soprano, Op.34, No.14, the Vocalise for Voice, Piano and Cello by André Previn, the Pie Jesu from Fauré's Requiem Op.48, as well as The Four Last Songs, Vier letzte Lieder by Strauss.
Upcoming engagements include solo outreach concerts, promotional recital work, church engagements, a Spanish program with SynchroniciTí and a studio recording project with session musicians to include jazz standards in the style of Nina Simone and Diana Krall. In addition, Beverley has plans in progress for studying and performing abroad in Mercatello, Italy this summer of 2010 with The Professional Advantage Career Development Program.
A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Beverley has been engaged as an active and vibrant recitalist since the early '90s, presenting German Lieder, French mélodie, Italian art song, and operatic repertoire to audiences at Chatham College, Duquesne University, Seton Hill University, and numerous conventions and venues throughout the United States.
Ms. Hissam's repertoire preferences tend to gravitate toward contemporary opera, especially American composition, but this singer is just as equally comfortable diving into the standard repertoire. She willingly indulges the luxurious, sensuous phrasing and soaring vocal freedom found within Bellini, Puccini, Gounod and Verdi.... each providing in its own way,.... Wings for the Voice!
Her operatic roles include Mrs. Wingrave in Britten's Owen Wingrave, Cio-Cio-San in Puccini's Madame Butterfly, Eleonora in Wolf-Ferrari's Inquisitive Women and Susannah in Carlisle Floyd's Susannah. In addition, her professional Oratorio experience is quite extensive including three years as soloist/ensemble member with the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh, five years as soloist/quartet member with the First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood in Pittsburgh and other various sacred settings.
Beverley Ann Hissam holds a Master of Music/Vocal Performance from Duquesne University's School of Music and also a Bachelor of Music Education/Voice Performance from Seton Hill University. In addition, she also studied bassoon and was extremely active in ensemble performance and graduated with honors from Seton Hill...magna cum laude. Her vocal studies at Duquesne further developed her passion for operatic works and historical research in composition. Although grounded in the classical style, Ms. Hissam currently teaches and performs in varying genres including Jazz, Pop and Musical Theatre.
Beverley gives honorable mention to all her past and present vocal teachers, directors and coaches including former classical music critic Dr. Robert Croan, Maestro Rudolph Fellner, Dr. Curt Scheib, Dr. Brady Allred, Maestro Tito Capobianco, Ralph Zitterbart, Mija Novich, Claudia Pinza, Warren Jones, Margo Garrett, Scott G. Otto and Paula Signorino-Richter.
In addition, Beverley has participated with a Flamenco group named "Arabesque" and also freelances for recording studio projects. From 1998-2005, she held the position of adjunct voice faculty at Point Park University's Conservatory of Performing Arts in the Musical Theatre Department.
Beyond being a performing artist, Beverley maintains her own private voice studio in Pittsburgh and creates venues which enrich the lives of her students and bring artistic expression to the surrounding communities.