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B. M. Taylor University M. M. Ball State University Phd Candidate Ball State University email: lsonger@leeuniversity.edu Assistant Professor of Music |
Known for her musicality and rich vocal tone, mezzo-soprano, Loralee Songer has earned a reputation as an outstanding performer on the stage in concert, as well as operatic settings. Prolific in musical styles, Ms. Songer captures and interprets with ease.
Among the opera roles Ms. Songer has performed are Julius Caesar (Giulio Cesare), Belinda (Dido and Aeneas), Suzuki (Madama Butterfly), Second Lady (Die Zauberflöte), Geraldine (A Hand of Bridge), and Lola (Gallantry). She also created the role of the French mother in the world premiere of Jody Nagel’s 53rd Street. In addition, she was selected through national auditions to participate in OperaWorks, an intensive training program for emerging artists, with renowned coach Ann Baltz.
Ms. Songer has performed in numerous concerts during the past several years, most recently at the Chinese New Year Concert at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Other solo engagements include the Haydn Lord Nelson Mass, Fauré Requiem, Bernstein Mass, Handel Foundling Hospital Anthem, Duruflé Requiem, Villa-Lobos Magnificat-Alleluia, Mozart Vesperae Solennes de Confessore, and Beethoven Fantasia In 2007, she also had the opportunity to perform traditional American and Chinese folk songs at Linyi Normal University in Linyi, China.
Competitively, Loralee has been recognized competitively for her vocal prowess, receiving first place in the Ball State University Voice Competition for two consecutive years (2007 and 2008). She won first place at the Regional National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition in 2008 and placed first in the State NATS competition in 2006. She was twice the winner of the Indiana State NATS competition, placing first (2006) and third (2008). She was also named the Outstanding Graduate Student in Music at Ball State University in 2007 and 2008.
In addition to her vocal pursuits, Ms. Songer has been a presenter at local, regional, and international conferences including the Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities (2007); the International Festival of Women Composers, Indiana, Pennsylvania (2008); New Educators Voice Symposium, Indiana University (2009); and the College of Music Society (CMS) Great Lakes Regional Conference (2009). In October 2009, she will be presenting at the CMS National Conference in Portland, Oregon.
A full-time voice faculty member at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, Loralee teaches private voice and is the director of the women’s ensemble Ladies of Lee.
Ms. Songer is currently completing a Doctor of Arts degree in vocal performance from Ball State University, has earned a Master of Music degree in vocal performance from Ball State University in 2006 and a Bachelor of Music degree from Taylor University in 2004. She has participated in masterclasses with Shirlee Emmons, Jonathon Eaton, and John Wustman and has worked with conductors Kirk Trevor, Bohuslav Rattay, Alexander Platt and Fiora Contino. |