Songbird soprano returns home as a Rising Star
Tina Vervoorn
April 26, 2009
A recent gradate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio, Sophie Wingland will perform in front of her hometown crowd at the same First United Methodist Church she attended as a child, and where her father still arranges the contemporary services.
"I have performed many times in the church sanctuary and it will truly be like coming home for me," Wingland says. "It´s nice because I am familiar with the acoustics, know where to pitch my voice and how it will carry…and I know there will be many faces in the audience to welcome me."
While at Oberlin, Wingland performed leading roles in A Midsummer Nights Dream (Helena), Transformations (Anne Sexton), A Face on the Barroom Floor (Madeline) and Merry Wives of Windsor (Anna). She has also performed in Italy, most recently singing Susannah in Le Nozze di Figaro.
She was a Gerdine Young Artist with Opera Theatre of St. Louis in 2007, attended the Chautauqua Music Institute, studying with Marlena Malas, and in 2008 performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. She will continue graduate studies in the fall at the University of Southern California.
Wingland says her main area of interest is new opera and while many sopranos dream of taking center stage and performing in opera houses all over the world to critical acclaim, Wingland takes a lighter, more down-to-earth approach.
"What I really want to do is to found my own opera company to expose new composers and singers and to foster collaboration between the two," she says. "People don´t realize that opera is so much more about the theatrics than just standing on stage and belting out an aria. The drama, comedy, angst – it all is expressed through facial expression, movement, posture, costumes and interaction on stage with the cast."
Wingland was born in Salt Lake City and moved to Ventura at the age of 4. She cannot remember a time when being a singer was a matter of question, but rather something that has always been with her in soul and spirit.
"My dad is a blues and jazz guitarist and we always had music in our house growing up," she says. "Both of my parents encouraged me to pursue a career in music if it would make me happy, and I can´t imagine doing anything else in life."
She will perform a collection of poems set to piano from Benjamin Britten composer "On This Island poetry by Auden. As well as a piece by Stravinsky, Ann Truloves Aria from the Rake´s Progress.
Wingland is performing as part of the 15th season of the Ventura Music Festival´s popular Rising Stars concert series, showcasing young musicians and performers. Jourdan Urbach, a 17-year old violin prodigy, also will share the evening.
Information and tickets: www.venturamusicfestival.org or (805) 648-3146
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