The Art Song Discovery Series
Washington area singers are presented at venues around the community in this series. They are selected via juried competition each spring. The programs are introduced by the Vocal Arts Society Education Coordinator, Elizabeth Daniels.

The Vocal Arts Society invites you to attend one of our Discovery series concerts to explore the world of art song and the vocal recital.

Audition Winners for 2010 recitals

Soprano Jennifer Holbrook has recently garnered notice for her dynamic stage presence, warm, shimmering voice and musical intelligence. Last spring Jennifer appeared in concert at the Kennedy Center with members of the National Symphony Orchestra and as the lead role in Peabody Opera's production of The Yellow Wallpaper. Of her performance in The Yellow Wallpaper, the Baltimore Sun said, "Soprano Jennifer Holbrook inhabited the role of 'The Woman' with communicative power. Her sunny, flexible voice filled the space vividly; her astute acting caught the nuances in the character's vulnerability and slide."

In 2009 Jennifer sang as soprano I soloist in Mozart's Mass in C Minor as well as the role of "Violetta" in La Traviata at the Peabody Institute of Music. She was also a featured soloist for the 2008 Peabody Millennia Celebration Gala, performing scenes from Act III of La Traviata. Previous operatic roles include `The Woman" in The Yellow Wallpaper, "Lauretta" in Gianni Schicci; "Adele" in Die Fledermaus; and "Monica" in The Medium. Later this year, Jennifer will be a part of New Jersey Opera's 2009 Summer Opera Festival as a studio artist.

Jennifer began her musical studies with the piano at age seven. She studied piano and dabbled in flute and french horn until age eighteen when she heard soprano Renee Fleming. Jennifer was instantly inspired and fascinated by singing and opera and decided to take voice lessons. Her first voice teacher was dramatic mezzo-soprano Dr. Martha Antolik with whom she studied while earning her Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Central Arkansas. During this time Jennifer earned a full scholarship through good academics and accompanying. After graduating Summa cum'Laude she was accepted into the studio of internationally acclaimed soprano Phyllis Bryn-Julson at the Peabody Institute of Music.
Jennifer has been recipient of prizes in numerous competitions, including the 2009 Russell C. Wonderlic Voice Competition, the 2008 Rhode Island Bel Canto Competition, the 2008 Sylvia Green Competition, the 2007 Music Teachers National Association Voice Competition, and the Southern Regional National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition in 2005-2007. She is also a two-time winner of the University of Central Arkansas Concerto/Aria Competition, resulting in performances as a featured soloist with orchestra in 2005 and 2007.

On the international scene, Jennifer was invited as the guest soloist with the Fujian Symphony Orchestra in Fuzhou, China. In June 2008 she appeared as the soprano soloist fora French music festival in La Lointaine. While in France Jennifer had the opportunity to perform French chamber music with other students from the Peabody Institute and the Singapore Conservatory. The culmination of this festival was two concerts, one given at La Lointaine and the other in Cambridge, England.
As an educator, Jennifer enjoys teaching musical theater classes and private voice and piano lessons at the Maryland Conservatory of Music. She began teaching piano at age fifteen and has loved teaching ever since. Jennifer also enjoys her position as Director of Music at Loch Raven United Methodist Church in Baltimore. In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys waterskiing on her parents' supercharged ski boat and spending time with her five younger siblings.

Aundi Marie Moore is quickly establishing herself as one of America's leading young sopranos. She is a recent alumna of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program with Washington National Opera. The Washington Post hails her as possessing a voice of "clarion beauty. " Ms. Moore has received high accolades from audiences and critics alike, both in the United States and internationally.

Concert engagements for Aundi Marie Moore during the 2008-09 season include MESSIAH with the Virginia Symphony, the NAACP Inaugural Ball for the Metropolitan Area of Washington/Northern Virginia Area's, as well as a GALA CONCERT for the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington D.C. Also during the 2008-09 season, Ms. Moore has been chosen as a finalist in Operalia (PlAcido Domingo's internationally renowned world-opera competition), and was named first-place winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions for the District of Puerto Rico.

As an alumna of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program with Washington National Opera, Ms. Moore has had the opportunity to perform a variety of roles, including Nella in GIANNI SCHICCHI, Fiordiligi in COST FAN TUTTE, the Mother in HANSEL UND GRETEL, Wanda (cover) in SOPHIE'S CHOICE, Lady in Waiting in MACBETH, Fifth Maid in ELEKTRA under the baton of Maestro Heinz Fricke, and Donna Elvira in DON GIOVANNI under the baton of Maestro PlAcido Domingo. In February of 2008, Ms. Moore traveled to Monaco to make her international debut reprising the role of Donna Elvira in DON GIOVANNI with L'Opéra de Monte Carlo. In addition to Washington National Opera, she has participated with the Chautauqua Opera Young Artist Program, Cento Studi Lirica, and La Musica Lirica.

Ms. Moore excels in the concert repertoire as well. She recently sang Samuel Barber's KNOXVILLE: SUMMER OF 1915 with the New World Symphony under the baton of Maestro Steven Jarvi in Miami, Florida. In December of 2007, she was the featured soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra in their CHRISTMAS POPS concert with Marvin Hamlisch conducting. During this concert, Ms. Moore was the first to debut Hamlisch's new original composition entitled "Chanuka Lights," for which she received rave reviews from NBC4.com: "Moore's powerful voice and graceful stage presence made a lasting impact... "
In addition to her successes as an opera and concert artist, Ms. Moore has been the recipient of numerous prizes and awards: from the National Opera Association, the Bel Canto Vocal Competition, the West Palm Beach Opera Competition, the Rocca della Macie International Voice Competition, the Florida Grand Voice Competition, and the Leontyne Price Vocal Competition. Ms. Moore completed her Masters of Music degree at the University of Michigan and her Bachelor's of Music degree at George Mason University. She participated in the first season of the Salzburg Music Festival Young Artist Program in 2008, and covered the roles of Donna Anna in DON GIOVANNI and the title role in RUSALKA with the Salzburg Music Festival. Also with the Salzburg Music Festival 2008, Ms. Moore appeared as featured soloist in a GALA CONCERT conducted by Maestro Ivor Bolton. She is increasingly recognized as an emerging artist of great distinction.

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R. Timothy McReynolds is the pianist for the Discovery Series recitals.

Pursuing a career that embraces art song, opera, chamber music, and cabaret, pianist R. Timothy McReynolds is also active as a teacher and vocal coach.  He is a full-time Vocal Coach on the faculty of the University of Maryland School of Music, and the former Music Director of Towson University’s Music for the Stage.  He has participated as vocal coach/pianist for the Washington National Opera’s Opera Institute and the Aspen Music Festival.  He was Instructor of Piano at American University in Washington, D.C. and Loyola College of Maryland, where he remains as pianist for the Vocal Masterclass Series. 

Dr. McReynolds received his B.M. from Indiana University, M.M. from the University of Michigan, and completed his D.M.A. at the University of Maryland.  His teachers have included Edward Auer, Martin Katz, Robert McCoy and Rita Sloan.  He has participated or served as pianist for the masterclasses of John Wustman, Margo Garret, Steven Blier, Brian Zeger, Suzanne Mentzer, Vinson Cole, Vivica Genaux, William Bolcom, John Musto and Richard Hundley.

He has toured internationally with concerts, cabarets, and masterclasses in Mexico, Germany, and Austria, as well as across the United States.  He also performed in recital with acclaimed bass-baritone, the late William Warfield.  He continues his close association with the Washington (D.C.) Vocal Arts Society and their Discovery Recital Series.  Recent concert venues include the Kennedy Center and the Embassy of the Netherlands in Washington, D.C., the Maryland Arts Festival in Baltimore, a state tour of Maryland with the Annapolis Symphony, the Egyptian Embassy Concert Series in Vienna, Austria, and the Washington Arts Club Gala Opening with Delores Ziegler.  His recent schedule includes concerts in Virginia, Ohio, Tennessee, New Mexico, Florida, Arkansas, and Pennsylvania.