Adjudicators

Mitra Sadeghpour, Soprano

Mitra Sadeghpour, soprano, joined the faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in the fall of 2002 as an Assistant Professor of Music.  Her duties include teaching Applied Voice, Introduction to Singing for non-majors, and co-directing the Opera Workshop Ensemble. She previously taught on the voice faculty of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Dr. Sadeghpour, a graduate of Luther College, holds a masters degree from Indiana University and recently completed her doctoral degree also at Indiana University after presenting her doctoral document and lecture-recital on "The English Songs of Charles Gounod: Songs from the London Years, 1870-1874." A frequent recitalist, Ms. Sadeghpour has also performed numerous opera and musical theatre roles, ranging from Frasquita in "Carmen," to Lily in "The Secret Garden." Her other special music interests include American music, the melodie of Charles Gounod, and 19th century German lieder.

Jessica Riley , Mezzo-soprano

Canadian mezzo-soprano Jessica Riley is in the final stages of her doctoral degree in Vocal Performance at Indiana University, with minor field concentrations in Stage Direction and Music Education. For the past two years, Ms. 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. Ms. 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, Ms. 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. Ms. 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, Ms. 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.

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

Mark Mowry, Tenor

Tenor Mark Mowry has performed a diverse range of opera, concert, and recital repertoire which reflects his broad musical interests. He has sung leading roles in such operas as Britten's Albert Herring, Curlew River, and The Turn of the Screw, Handel's Acis and Galatea, Mozart's Così fan tutte and Idomeneo, Prokofiev's The Love for Three Oranges, Smetana's The Bartered Bride, and Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress. In 2000 he sang the role of Enrico Carouser in the world premiere of Edwin Penhorwood's opera Too Many Sopranos. As concert soloist he has been heard in the music of Bach (Magnificat, St.John Passion, St. Matthew Passion), Britten (Rejoice in the Lamb, St. Nicolas, War Requiem), Handel (Messiah), Haydn (Creation), Mendelssohn ( Elijah ), Mozart (C Minor Mass, Coronation Mass, Requiem, Solemn Vespers), Sir John Stainer (Crucifixion), and Vaughan Williams (Hodie), among others.

Mark Mowry

An advocate of the song genre, Mowry has participated in numerous master classes devoted to the subject and led by such noted musicians as Graham Johnson, Roger Vignoles, and Håkan Hagegård; his own recital appearances have occurred both at home in the U.S. and, more recently, in the United Kingdom-first at Jubilee Hall in Aldeburgh, England, for the 2001 Aldeburgh Festival, and then for his debut recital at London's Wigmore Hall in 2002, for which Graham Johnson was pianist. In addition, Mowry's various musical activities have taken him to the cities of Chicago, Dublin, Milan, Moscow, Munich, New York, Salzburg, Tokyo, and Washington, D.C.

Mowry received a Doctor of Music degree from Indiana University in 2006, where he studied with Virginia Zeani, James King, and James McDonald; Master of Music degree from Northwestern University in 1995; and Bachelor of Arts degree from Luther College in 1993.

Daniel Newman, Tenor

Daniel Newman, tenor, recently completed his DMA in Vocal Performance at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. He also studied at the University of  Wisconsin-Superior and Madison where he received the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees and at the Hochschule für Musik Rheinland in Düsseldorf, Germany where he received the Artist’s Diploma. Mr. Newman has taught in the public schools and, following his study in Düsseldorf, sang three seasons with the Wuppertal Opera. He is an active vocal soloist and clinician in the voice, choral, diction, and vocal jazz areas. He appeared in the role of Don Ottavio in the UW-Eau Claire production of Don Giovanni.

Dr. Newman has directed the UW-Eau Claire Vocal Jazz Ensemble since 1986. The ensemble regularly tours in Wisconsin or Minnesota during Spring Semesters has attended and received honors at the jazz festival at the University of Northern Colorado. In the October, 1995, "Wisconsin School Musician," Mr. Newman authored the article, "Vocal Health and Vocal Jazz," and is active as an arranger for the vocal jazz medium.. He is an active member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and currently serves as it's Web Master.

Alan Rieck, Choral Conductor

Alan J. Rieck, Assistant Professor of Music, conducts the Women’s Concert Chorale, Symphonic Choir, Women’s Chorus, and teaches courses in music education. Prior to his current appointment, Dr. Rieck served as Assistant Director of Choral Studies and professor of music education at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona where he taught courses in conducting, current issues in music education, and music education teaching methods; and conducted the Men’s Chorale and Women’s Chorale. While in Flagstaff he also served as assistant director of the Master Chorale of Flagstaff, was the founding director of the Children’s Chorale of Flagstaff, and during the 2000-2001 school year served as the NAU Director of Choral Studies. Prior to moving to Arizona, Dr. Rieck taught and conducted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, conducted the top performing groups of the Madison Children’s Choir, and served as chorus master for the Madison Symphony Orchestra Chorus. Dr. Rieck taught for six years in the public schools in West Allis, Wisconsin and is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association and Music Educators National Conference. He holds a B.M. degree in Music Education, M.M. degree in Music Education, and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, all from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.