|
American mezzo-soprano Rachel Anne Abbate, obtained her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (2015), where she studied voice with Dr. Lori Bade; and her earned her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Rice University and the Shepherd School of Music in Houston, Texas (2016-2018), where she studied voice with Julie Simson. In addition, she was Emerging Professional, Angels Vocal Art. Los Angeles, California (2016); and Young Artist with Red River Lyric Opera in Wichita Falls, Texas (2017, 2018), Harrower Opera Workshop in Atlanta, Georgia (2018), and Opera in the Ozarks in Eureka Springs, Arizona (2019). She has received several awards from competitions and organizations. Most recently, in 2017, she won 1st Place in the National Federation of Music Clubs' collegiate auditions in the category of Women’s Voice. In 2014 and 2015, she was a national semi-finalist in the Classical Singer Magazine Vocal Competition. She was also a recipient of the Louisiana Federation of Music Clubs' Past Presidents State College Award. She is also the recipient of the Nancy D. and Robert J. Carney Endowed Scholarship in Voice.
Abbate enjoys an exciting musical career, having performed in venues throughout the USA and Western Europe. Equally comfortable on the operatic and concert stages, she performs works spanning from George Frideric Handel to today’s leading composers in contemporary music as well as musical theatre repertoire. Her notable operatic roles include Jo March in Adamo's Little Women with Opera in the Ozarks (2019), the title role in G.F. Handel's Giulio Cesare in Egitto with Red River Lyric Opera (2018), Ruggiero in G.F. Handel's Alcina with Red River Lyric Opera (July 2017), Carole/Natalia in the Southern California premiere of Adam Gorbs’ opera Anya17 with Angels Vocal Art (2016), Mercédès in Georges Bizet’s Carmen with CCM Summer Opera (2015), Eva in Martinů’s Veselohra na mostě (Comedy on the Bridge) with LSU Opera (2015), and Dinah in Leonard Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti with LSU Opera (2013). She has performed on the concert stage as the alto soloist in a number of works, including Schubert's Mass in A-flat Major at St. Louis Cathedral (2017), J.S. Bach's Magnificat in D (BWV 243) with LSU A Cappella Choir (2014), and W.A. Mozart's Requiem. at First United Methodist Church Lake Charles, Louisiana (2014).
With an ability and passion for crossing over into musical theatre repertoire, Rachel Abbate has portrayed roles such as Lily Craven in The Secret Garden with NOCCA (2011), Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown: The Musical with NOCCA (2010), Lady Thiang in Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I, and the Witch in Sondheim's Into the Woods. |
