Soprano
Known for her "eloquent and moving" singing (Deseret News), Jill Dewsnup possesses the rare type of voice that has both power and agility. Her committed acting was praised by Salt Lake City Weekly: "In an art form that too often suffers from wooden acting, Dewsnup gave a surprisingly subtle and riveting portrayal." For the 2011-12 season: Miss Dewsnup will participate in the 2012 Caramoor Apprentice Artist Program and will be learning the role of Amira in Rossini's "Ciro in Babilonia." She will perform as the Konigin der Nacht for Opera Company of Brooklyn. She recently sang the Maria Callas Aria from Paul Salerni's "Tony Caruso's Final Broadcast" at concerts in Pennsylvania, and she has performed the Queen of the Night in two productions of "The Magic Flute" for dell'Arte Opera Ensemble. Jill also recently performed the role of Queen Elizabeth I in "Roberto Devereux" at the Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center, and performed the roles of Konstanze in "Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail," the First Witch in "Dido and Aeneas," and the role of Giada Di Lauria in Christof Bergman's "Piazza Navona."
Other recent performances included singing the Countess in "Le Nozze di Figaro" with dell'Arte Opera Ensemble, a recital at Manhattan School of Music, and she participated in Sherrill Milnes' "Opera as Drama" seminar at the Players Club in New York City, where she was a featured soloist in a Valentine's Day "Arias and Encores" Showcase Concert. Miss Dewsnup also performed the compelling title role of Anna Bolena in January 2010 with dell'Arte Opera Ensemble.
In Pesaro, Italy, she performed the title role of Lucia di Lammermoor under the baton of Joseph Rescigno. At the 2005 Astoria Music Festival, she sang Donna Anna in "Don Giovanni." Other operatic roles include: Angelica in Puccini's "Suor Angelica," Matilda in "William Tell," and Marenka in "The Bartered Bride."
Miss Dewsnup received the Lendon T. Munday Encouragement Award at the 2010 Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition, was the First Place Winner in the Young Artist Division of Classical Singer Magazine's 2007 Audcomps, was a finalist in the 2010 Liederkranz Opera Division Competition, has participated in Metropolitan Opera competitions, and has placed in several NATS competitions.
For concert appearances, she has performed as the soprano soloist in: Elijah, Verdi's Requiem, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Mozart's Coronation Mass, and Handel's Messiah. She also appeared as a guest soloist with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in a live television broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word."
Miss Dewsnup currently studies with David Jones. She studied voice at the Manhattan School of Music and at the University of Utah.
(Photo by Rick Stockwell)