The American mezzo-soprano and voice & piano instructor, Jessica Winn, began ger relationship with music started at age 9 with the Contra Costa Children's Choir and she has maintained her classical vocal studies ever since. Along with her vocal studies, she studied classical piano privately with Keith Snell for 7 years, competing and achieving high marks in regional competitions. She obtained her Bachelor of Music degree in Voice and Opera from Mannes College of Music in New York City (2003-2007); and her Master in Music degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in Voice and Opera under the tutelage of Cesar Ulloa, receiving also training in vocal pedagogy and physiology (2007-2009).
Following her graduation, Jessica Winn immediately began perusing both a teaching and performing career. Hailed as a vocalist with “pure colors” that capture “ethereal qualities” in her performances, she has made her mark in the Bay Area classical vocal community. Making her professional vocal debut in 2011 with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra as the mezzo-soprano soloist in Stephen Montague’s Requiem, she has taken both the operatic and choral stage, performing a vast array of styles and periods from Baroque to Contemporary.
Most recently, Jessica Winn has performed with Phénix Opera as the title role of Dido in Dido and Aeneas and Zelatrice in Suor Angelica. Other recent roles include Laura in Verdi’s Luisa Miller and cover of the Secretary in Menotti’s The Consul with Berkeley Chamber Opera. She is a current member of the Marin Baroque Choral, featured as an alto soloist, most notably singing Monteverdi’s Pianto Dalla Madonna in the ground breaking concert "A Girl Called Mary" in November 2016. She also recently performed in San Jose Opera’s productions of W.A. Mozart's Die Entfuhrung auf dem Serail, W.A. Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte and Lucia di Lammermoor and as a soloist in West Edge Opera’s production of Leoncavallo’s La Boheme. In the the Bay Area she has also performed with Opera San Jose, Phenix Opera, and Verismo Opera.
Other notable operatic moments have been La Madre in Golden Gate Opera’s Production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, 2nd Witch in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas with Marin Baroque (2015), the title role in George Frideric Handel's Radamisto with the Manhattan Opera Studio Summer Program, Pitti-Sing in The Mikado with Lyric Theatre San Jose (2014), the title role in Rossini’s La Cenerentola and Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro with Opera On Tap San Francisco (2013). Jessica has also performed with West Coast Opera Works, San Francisco Opera Baroque, and Bay Area Summer Opera Theater Institute (BASOTI). Other roles include the title role in G.F. Handel's Rinaldo, Miss Todd in The Old Maid and the Thief, Second Lady in W.A. Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, Medoro in Orlando, and Volupia in Cavalli’s L’Egisto.
Jessica Winn has also done a great deal of concert work, performing as the alto soloist in John Rutter’s Feel The Spirit, Come Ye Sons of Art by Purcell, Missa Brevis by Zoltán Kodály, Membra Jesu Nostri by Dietrich Buxtehude, Cantata BWV 4 by J.S. Bach. She has worked with several prestigious choral groups including The San Francisco Symphony Chorus, The Castro Valley Symphony and Volti San Francisco (September 2010-May 2012).
Jessica Winn is a fun, patient, passionate teacher whose mission is to pass on the wonderful knowledge and love for music that was instilled in her onto a new group of eager young minds. She has been studying and performing classical music for over 20 years. She has maintained an active voice and piano studio since September 2011, leading her students to high musical achievements in both fields, and is a Master Vocal coach at Acalanes High School (since September 2018). Other teaching experience includes Musical Theater Camp Director for the Heads Up Program at Head Royce in Oakland (June-July 2017) and Village Center for the Arts (May 2014-May 2018), giving private lessons, leading In-School Outreach Programs throughout the Bay Area, and heading their Musical Theater program. She is also Voice and Piano Instructor at Modern Tone Studios in Lafayette, California (since February 2019). |