"An American artist at home in many vocabularies” (Chicago Sun-Times), young soprano Jo Ellen Miller is a versatile performer known for her “lovely, rounded tone” (New York Times) in her work as an interpreter of contemporary works. She was recently led by James Levine as the soprano soloist with the Met Chamber Ensemble at Carnegie Hall, singing Pierre Boulez’ Improvisations sur Mallarmé (To read the full review from Allan Kozinn of the New York Times, click here), and was asked by Maestro Levine to return in 2011 to sing Lukas Foss’ Time Cycle. In 2009, she made her Chicago Symphony Orchestra debut as the soloist in Elliott Carter’s A Mirror on Which to Dwell, conducted by Boulez himself. Miss Miller has sung extensive amounts of contemporary works at Tanglewood Music Center, Ravinia Festival, the Library of Congress, Harvard, Columbia University, the 92nd St. YMCA, and the Tenri Institute in NYC. She recently collaborated with composer John Aylward in recording the premiere of his song cycle written especially for her, Songs from the Wild Iris on his album entitled Stillness and Change, for Albany Records, which was released in 2011. Last season's engagements included a world premiere of Mohammed Fairouz' Sumeida's Song at the Ethical Cultural Center in NYC (a performance to be repeated at Carnegie Hall in April 2012); Mahler's 4th Symphony with Lubbock Symphony Orchestra in Texas, led by Jonathan Schiffman; a debut at the Rose Theater in Lincoln Center with Teatro Grattacielo (La Fantesca in I Compagnacci); and a debut at Avery Fisher Hall with Distinguished Concerts International (DCINY) singing the soprano solo in John Rutter's Requiem. In November 2011, she made an additional appearance at Avery Fisher Hall as the soprano soloist in the National Chorale's Beethoven's 9th Symphony. She worked extensively with composer Louis Karchin on his premiere recording as the title role in Louis Karchin's opera Jane Eyre. She also sang two concerts with ECCE of Elliott Carter's A Mirror on Which to Dwell (Jeffrey Means conducted). A singing actress with a long resume of classical roles, Miss Miller has sung Zerlina in Don Giovanni and Micaela in Carmen at Opera North, Giannetta in L’Elisir d’amore with Sarasota Opera, Gretel with Fargo-Moorhead Opera, and Juliette in Roméo et Juliette with Dell’arte Opera, conducted by Chris Fecteau. She covered Mimi at Virginia Opera, Gilda in Rigoletto, Musetta in La Boheme, and Lisette in La Rondine at Sarasota Opera, and Susanna with Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh. Other roles performed include Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro, Edith in Pirates of Penzance, Suor Genovieffa, Dorine in Kirke Mecham’s Tartuffe, and Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi. Miss Miller’s solo concert performances include Beethoven’s 9th Symphony at Carnegie Hall (June 2010, World Civic Orchestra), Mahler’s 4th Symphony with Lubbock Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Jonathan Schiffman), Handel’s Messiah, Fauré’s Requiem, and Bach's Coffee Cantata with Monmouth Civic Chorus (conducted by Mark Shapiro), Charles Wuorinen’s A Winter’s Tale (conducted by Wuorinen himself) at Washington D.C.'s Library of Congress, and featured solos of music by Leonard Bernstein with the Boston Pops, under the baton of Keith Lockhart. Additionally, she has been a featured soloist with Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, NJ Youth Orchestra, and Mark Morris Dance Group. A two-time winner of the Pittsburgh Concert Society scholarship, a 2nd place prize from the National Opera Association and recipient of the Grace B. Jackson Award for Vocal Fellows at Tanglewood, Miss Miller completed her training at University of Michigan- Ann Arbor and Carnegie Mellon University. She has studied with Mildred Miller, Martha Sheil, and currently Sally Wolf. |
"Jo Ellen Miller was the soprano soloist in
the first two of Mr. Boulez's 'Improvisations
sur Mallarmé'... She sang both works
powerfully and with a lovely rounded tone."
Allan Kozinn, New York Times
the first two of Mr. Boulez's 'Improvisations
sur Mallarmé'... She sang both works
powerfully and with a lovely rounded tone."
Allan Kozinn, New York Times
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| Jo Ellen as Zerlina at Opera North, Allen Boxer as Masetto. photo credit: Ricardo Velasquez |
Jo Ellen Miller Soprano |
Photo credit: Mark Bradley Miller
"My goodness, American
vocalist Miller, who began her
training at the University of
Michigan, is comfortably at
home throughout the
melodies and German lyrics
by Richard Strauss and
Mahler. She takes no mind of
gender, choosing to simply
become the character in each
song, no easy task... It works
because Miller stands out, and
with her more subtle vocal
approach, duplicates the
feelings of innocence and
wonder simultaneously
generated by the music."
-William Kerns, Lubbock
Avalanche Journal
vocalist Miller, who began her
training at the University of
Michigan, is comfortably at
home throughout the
melodies and German lyrics
by Richard Strauss and
Mahler. She takes no mind of
gender, choosing to simply
become the character in each
song, no easy task... It works
because Miller stands out, and
with her more subtle vocal
approach, duplicates the
feelings of innocence and
wonder simultaneously
generated by the music."
-William Kerns, Lubbock
Avalanche Journal
Jo Ellen's first commercial CD has recently been released
through Albany Records. She sings "Songs from the Wild
Iris" by composer John Aylward (poetry by Louise Gluck), with
Matthias Pintscher conducting. To hear a sound sample and
purchase this album, visit Albany Records' website. Other
musicians on the album include Curtis Macomber, violin; Chris
Finckel, cello; Bill Kalinkos, clarinet; and Samuel Solomon,
percussion.
through Albany Records. She sings "Songs from the Wild
Iris" by composer John Aylward (poetry by Louise Gluck), with
Matthias Pintscher conducting. To hear a sound sample and
purchase this album, visit Albany Records' website. Other
musicians on the album include Curtis Macomber, violin; Chris
Finckel, cello; Bill Kalinkos, clarinet; and Samuel Solomon,
percussion.
