Dr. Anne Jennifer Nash is a light-lyric soprano with an “uncommon beauty of expression and musicianship.” — Anthony Tommasini, The New York Times
Opera highlights include appearances with Opera Philadelphia, Florentine Opera, Opera New Jersey, Opera Saratoga, Pine Mountain Music Festival, Lancaster Opera, Fargo-Moorhead Opera, National Opera Company, Interlochen Arts Festival and Bard SummerScape, in the roles of Susanna, Zerlina, Pamina, Despina, Nanetta, Alice Ford, Laurie, Adina, Armide, Bea, and Anne Trulove, among others.
A sought-after performer of new music, Dr. Nash has premiered several works including Dr. René Clausen’s 2017 oratorio The Passion of Jesus Christ at Orchestral Hall in Minneapolis. She is a regular collaborator with Indiana-based composer Allen McCullough, and in 2015 she premiered his award-winning song cycle and Lotte Lehman Foundation commission, The Blue Symphony. Dr. Nash has also worked with Libby Larsen on the 2011 premier of Donal Oge, commissioned for Dr. Nash by SongFest and the Sorel Foundation. Her recording of the work with pianist Nathan Salazar can be found on the CD “New American Song@SongFest.”
As a guest clinician and graduate of the 2015 NATS Intern program, Dr. Nash has presented master classes and recitals at Skidmore College, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Washington State University, University of Idaho, University of Michigan, Elon University, Hope College, Adrian College, College of St. Rose, and Dickinson College. Her students are Fulbright scholars, consistent competition winners, and attend premier summer programs and graduate schools. Dr. Nash continues to study vocal pedagogy through programs such as The CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute at Shenandoah University and has begun study in the Alexander Technique at the Minnesota Center for the Alexander Technique in Minneapolis, MN.
Selected conference performances and presentations include “Transforming Art Song into Music Theatre-the creative process of Sister Show me Eternity” at the 2018 NATS National Conference, and “Cusqueño Compositions: Life and Works of Armando Guevara Ochoa,” at the 2017 College Music Society International Conference in Sydney, Australia.
Dr. Nash is proud to be a founding artist-faculty member of the Brancaleoni International Music Festival in Piobbico, Italy, where she continues to teach and perform in the summer.
Dr. Nash holds a DMA in Voice Performance from the University of Michigan where she was the Elise Choy Lee Scholar for Exceptional Merit, Commitment, and Promise. Her mentors include Martin Katz and Freda Herseth. She is currently an Associate Professor of Voice at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, where she teaches studio voice and classes in advanced vocal performance and the creative process. She holds MM and GPD degrees from the Peabody Conservatory, and BA degrees in Music and French literature from Dickinson College, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.
A native of Pittsford, New York, Dr. Nash can be found (when not teaching or performing) rehabilitating retired racehorses and volunteering at local animal shelters.