Performing Experience | Works Performed | Teaching Experience

EDUCATION

M.M. with academic honors in vocal performance, New England Conservatory of Music, December 1991. Student of Mark Pearson.

B.M. in vocal performance, North Carolina School of the Arts, May 1989. Student of William Beck.

Additional training in Dance (non-majors) and Laban Movement Analysis, Butler University, 1997-1999.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Voice Teacher, Broad Ripple High School, Indianapolis, IN; 2003-present
Teach private voice lessons to students accepted into the music magnet program
as part of their graded curriculum. Provide instruction in all aspects of vocal
production and prepare students for juries, contests, and college auditions.

Voice Teacher, Earlham College, Richmond, IN; 2001-present
Coordinate voice program, teach studio voice to majors and non-majors,
present voice master classes, and prepare students for recitals, concerts, and
graduate school auditions.

Voice Teacher, Fairview Studios, Indianapolis, IN; 1997-present
Provide private instruction in technique, repertoire, diction, musicianship,
languages, and styles for beginning to advanced students ages 11-adult
with a focus on classical technique. Prepare students for recitals, auditions,
and performances with community and school groups.

Voice Teacher, Taylor University, Upland, IN; 1999-2001
Taught private college studio voice to voice majors, minors, and non-major
students, served as judge for auditions and vocal juries, prepared students
for recitals, auditions, and juries.

Voice Teacher, The Dance Refinery, Indianapolis, IN; 1996-2001
Teach private lessons to students ages 8-adult with instruction on technique,
musicianship, styles, and preparation for classical, musical theater, and chorus
auditions and competitions. Students have appeared as soloists with school
choirs and in lead roles in community and school musical productions.

Voice Teacher, Musical Arts Studio, Indianapolis, IN; 1995-1997
Provided private instruction for beginning to intermediate students ages
14-adult, with a focus on classical technique.

Voice Teacher, Durham, NC; 1992-1995
Instructed beginning to intermediate students ages 11-adult in private lessons from
home studio, working on technique, musicianship, diction, languages, and styles for
solo and choral repertioire. Students included members of Duke University Chapel Choir.

Member of ArtSchool Faculty, The Arts Center, Carrboro, NC; 1993-1994
Taught three sessions of Singing Skills, a self-designed course on the basics
of vocal technique for adult beginners. Course evaluations, which reflect an
overall average grade of '4.86' on a scale of 1-5, are available upon request.

Student Voice Teacher, New England Conservatory, Boston, MA; 1992
Taught beginning students and gave lessons in front of class for evaluation
as part of vocal pedagogy course.

Teaching Assistant, Music History Dept., New England Conservatory, Boston, MA; 1990-1991
Taught weekly required laboratory sessions analyzing music studied in
class for Medieval-Classical survey courses, prepared and graded exams,
developed study plans to improve students' listening skills.

PERFORMING EXPERIENCE

Singer/Dancer, Ameritech's Yuletide Celebration Indianapolis, IN; 1998-1999
Member of 12-voice singing ensemble and dancer in month-long run of
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's holiday variety show. Participation
included the role of Fan (Scrooge's sister) in A Christmas Carol.

Member and Soloist, Indianapolis Festival Singers, Indianapolis, IN; 1998-present
Member and soloist of professional chamber choir in residence at Christ
Church Cathedral under the direction of Frederick Burgomaster. Repertoire
has included soprano solos in Handel's Chandos Anthems #6 & 9 and in the
Mozart Vespers.

Cover, Indianapolis Opera Ensemble, Indianapolis, IN; 1997-2004
Prepared and covered roles for the 1997-2004 Ensemble season school tours,
performing in absence of ensemble soprano. Repertoire has included
Figatroll and the Three Billygoats Gruff with music from Rossini's operas
Cenerentola and Barber of Seville and the role of Gretel in a
condensed version of Hansel und Gretel.

Member of Indianapolis Opera Chorus, Indianapolis, IN; 1996-present
Member of professional opera chorus for the 1996-01 seasons under the
directionof John Schmid. Repertoire has included Carmen, Lucia di
Lammermoor, Otello, The Magic Flute, and The Rake's Progress.

Soloist, Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, Indianapolis, IN; 1996-present
Serve as soprano for solo quartet providing service music for Shabat and
Bar/Bat Mitzvah services and lead soprano section of choir for High Holy
Days services under the direction of Cantor Janice Roger.

Cantor, St. John's Catholic Church, Indianapolis, IN; 1995-present
Vocal soloist, providing leadership for choir, assisting with the music program,
and leading congregational singing of hymns, chants and responsorial psalms
for Sunday and special occasion masses.

Member of Mon Choeur, Indianapolis, IN; 1995-1996
Member and soloist of 24-voice resident chamber ensemble of the University of
Indianapolis under the direction of Paul Krasnovsky. Repertoire included works
by Brahms, Poulenc, Durufle, Gorecki, Bach and Kirke Mechem.

Soloist/Section Leader, Duke University Chapel Choir, Durham, NC; 1992-1995
Served as soloist, led responsive singing of psalms, provided leadership for section,
and led sectional rehearsals and warm-ups for 150-member choir under the direction
of Rodney Wynkoop. Choral works included Britten's War Requiem, Handel's Messiah,
and soprano solos in Mendelsshon's Elijah.

HONORS AND AWARDS

Recipient of Individual Artist Grant from the Indiana Arts Commission, 2002-2003.
Encouragement Award, North Carolina District Metropolitan Opera National Council, 1992.
Member of New England Conservatory Opera Studio under the direction of John Moriarty, 1989-1990.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Full member of National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) since 1998
Individual member and singer forum member of Opera America since 1998
Member of American Association of University Women since 1999
Member of Indianapolis Matinee Musicale since 2000

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

Chair, Indianapolis Matinee Musicale High School Scholarship Awards, 2001
Judge and concert soloist, Midwest Regional NATS Student Auditions, 2000
Judge, Indianapolis Matinee Musicale High School Scholarship Awards, 2000
Judge, Indiana NATS Student Auditions, 2000
Judge, Midwest Regional NATS Student Auditions, 1999
Judge, Indiana NATS Student Auditions, 1998

REVIEWS

"The soprano [Ellen Denham] held forth with steady rhythm, clear tone and effortless ornamentation..." -Whitney Smith, The Indianapolis Star

"Ellen Denham displays a beautiful voice, which she uses with consummate skill and taste." -Alwin Tonkonogy, The Durham Herald-Sun

"Ellen Denham played Patience with a soaring, seemingly effortless soprano that filled the building." -V. Cullum Rogers, The Spectator

"[A] gifted singer." - Charles Epstein, The Jewish Post and Opinion

RELEVANT COURSEWORK

Acting; Dance/Movement; Laban Movement Analysis; Italian, German, and French Language,
Diction, and Literature; Vocal Pedagogy; Music Theory and Analysis; Opera Workshops; Opera
History; Opera Production, and Music History from Medieval through Twentieth Century.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

VOICE

William Shriner (present), Mark Pearson, William Beck, Anna Matthews

Debra Knapp, Melli Hoppe, Cynthia Pratt, Gyula Pandi, Melinda Sullivan

Beth Bostic, Martin Rader, James Robinson

Scott Brumit, Louise Houghton, Norman Johnson, David Levy, John Moriarty, Matilda Nickel, Randolph Umberger

WORKS PERFORMED

Opera/Operetta Roles Performed

Partial Roles Performed

Selected Solo Oratorio and Concert Experience

Opera Chorus

RELATED EXPERIENCE

Assistant Stage Director, Opening Ceremonies, Gathering of the Fellowship, Toronto, ON; 2003
Coordinated casting, staged portions of 10-minute pantomime/dance production, and provided
technical assistance for the opening of this international Lord of the Rings convention.

Dramaturgist, Butler Ballet, Butler University, Indianapolis, IN; 1998-present
Assist in the development of story lines and selection of music for new ballet productions.
This has included writing an original libretto for the ballet The Willow Maiden.

Asst. Student Performance Coordinator, New England Conservatory, Boston, MA; 1991-1992
Counseled clients seeking musical entertainment for special events/functions,
matched appropriate Conservatory students and alumni with available paid
performance opportunities, advised students on all aspects of performance
employment; monitored and evaluated contracts.

Student Stage Director, New England Conservatory Opera Studio, Boston, MA; 1990
Staged opera arias and scenes for class projects as part of Opera Studio course.

Technical Assistant, Opera Department, New England Conservatory, Boston, MA; 1989-1990
Assisted with props, scenery, and makeup for opera productions. Duties included
prop selection and construction, scenery construction, and makeup design.

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(c) 1998-2005 Ellen Denham. All rights reserved. Last updated 1/22/05.