Rachel Schutz, Soprano

Biography

Soprano Rachel Schutz and pianist Jonathan Korth began collaborating together as students at Stony Brook University in New York. Since their first recital together in 2003, they have given performances around the world, from New York to Hawai'i and Germany to Taiwan, captivating audiences with their inventive programming, engaging interaction, and sincere interpretations. While each performer maintains an active separate performing schedule doing solo performances, chamber music and opera elsewhere, the collaboration between the two has always been a cornerstone of their careers. They have performed on many national and international concert series, including the Honolulu Chamber Music Society, Hawai'i Concert Society, and Austin Chamber Music Festival and given recitals at numerous universities in the US as well as in China, Taiwan and Korea. Performing diverse repertoire from standard to contemporary art song, they aim to share their passion for this personal and intense genre with their audiences while creating a memorable and entertaining concert experience.

Hailed for her “diamantine high notes… and giddily delirious coloratura” (Boston Globe), Welsh-born soprano Rachel Schutz, made her much acclaimed 2006 debut at Symphony Hall with the Boston Pops Orchestra singing Bernstein’s “Glitter and be Gay” and returned to tour with the orchestra in 2008. Her recent concert engagements have included her Carnegie Hall Zankel Hall debut; her Ravinia Festival debut; an appearance at the Ojai Festival; soloist with the Hawai'i Symphony; and several recital tours in China, Taiwan and Korea. An avid supporter of new music, she has premiered many new pieces and worked closely with composers Milton Babbitt, William Bolcom, Augusta Read-Thomas, Libby Larsen and Thomas Osborne. Just as comfortable on the operatic stage, recent and upcoming appearances include Johanna in Sweeney Todd with Hawai'i Opera Theater, Thérèse in Poulenc's Les mamelles de Tirésias with Opera Parallèle, and a return to the Apprentice Artist program at the Santa Fe Opera.She is a graduate of Stony Brook University and completed her Masters of Music at the Dawn Upshaw-run Graduate Program in Vocal Arts at Bard College. www.rachelschutz.com