Dr. Jessica M. Riley

Assistant Professor of Music

D.M., Indiana University
M.M., Indiana University
B.M., Indiana University

Academic Areas: applied voice and opera workshop.

Dr. Jessica M. Riley
257 Haas Fine Arts Center
Music & Theatre Arts Department
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI 54702-4004

Phone: 715/836-2262
Email: rileyj@uwec.edu

Canadian mezzo Jessica Riley completed her Doctorate of Music in Voice at Indiana University with minor field concentrations in Stage Direction and Music Education. She defended her thesis, "A Performance and Pedagogical Guide to the Songs of Virgil Thomson," in January, 2008. For the past two years, Dr. Riley taught voice at Western Washington University in Bellingham. She has also served on the faculty of Indiana State University, where she taught voice and Song Literature, and was an Associate Instructor of Voice while studying at Indiana University. Dr. Riley joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire the fall of 2007 as an Assistant Professor of Music and Theatre Arts where she teaches Applied Voice, Techniques of the Singing/Speaking Voice and works with the Opera Workshop Ensemble.

As a performer, Dr. Riley returned to Lyric Opera Cleveland in the summer of 2006 to perform the role of Edith in "The Pirates of Penzance" and that of the Redwood Daughter in "Florida." In 2005, she performed the role of Berta in "The Barber of Seville," and was praised for her "winning" performance and her voice "suggesting a future Rosina." Recently, she sang as the alto soloist in Vivaldi's "Gloria" with the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra. She returned to sing a program of arias with them this past spring.

Other recent engagements include a performance at WWU of the Brahms "Liebeslieder Waltzes", with dance choreography by Mark Morris, and a solo recital at the Winnipeg Art Gallery with pianist Kimberly Carballo. Dr. Riley was also the alto soloist in the Mozart Requiem at Seattle Town Hall.

In addition, she has sung as an apprentice with the Sarasota Opera Association, the Brevard Music Center in North Carolina, the Bloomington Early Music Festival and in several Indiana University productions. Past roles include Mother Marie (Dialogues of the Carmelites), Hansel (Hansel and Gretel), Ruggiero (Alcina), Third Lady (Magic Flute), Nettie Fowler (Carousel), Ilona (She Loves Me), Jenny Parsons (Down in the Valley), Effie (Ballad of Baby Doe), Mother Goose (Rake's Progress), Grandma (Polly Patchwork), and the Badessa (Suor Angelica). She has twice toured Kentucky schools in an educational outreach effort to bring opera to children and teenagers. Beyond her musical endeavors, Dr. Riley has worked as an Oral Communications Evaluator, and she won the High School World Public Speaking Championships in England in 1994. Recently, she co-directed Puccini's "Gianni Schicchi" and Ned Rorem's one act opera, "Three Sisters" at WWU.

Dr. Riley is also a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, NATS.

Courses:

MUSI 153/353 Applied Voice
MUSI 280/480 Opera/Music Theatre Workshop
IDIS 260 Techniques of the Singing/Speaking Voice

Related Links:
Opera on Wheels