CBA Ode to Joy

Ann Cravero, mezzo-soprano Ann Belluso Cravero, acclaimed mezzo-soprano recitalist and soloist, has been heard on stages in Italy, China, and throughout the United States including repeat performances at Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall. Cravero’s vocal engagements include The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, The Heartland Festival Orchestra, The International Lyric Academy Orchestra Italy, The Rome Festival Orchestra, The Alexander and Buono Festival Italy, Festivale Cantus Angeli Italy, The Lyric Symphony Orchestra CA, The Bach Festival IL, The Hancher Center for the Performing Arts, The Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra, the Des Moines Civic Center, IA, and The Overture Center.

Ann Cravero has performed lead opera roles including the staged adaption of The Diary of Virginia Woolf under the direction of Håkan Hagegård honoring Dominick Argento who was in attendance (Source Song Festival), The Martha-Ellen Tye Opera Theatre at the University of Iowa, the Northland Opera Theatre, and the Rome Festival Opera in Rome, Italy. Ann also participated as an apprentice artist for the Des Moines Metro Opera. Cravero has served on the faculty of Milnes’ Savannah Voice Festival, and the International Lyric Academy Italy with Stefano Vignati and Claudio Ferri. Highly sought after for her interpretation of New Music, Dr. Cravero has performed with the Center for New Music in Iowa City, IA, including performances of works by Scott Dunn, Geoffrey Gordon, Bernard Rands, and Raffaele Grimaldi. Cravero also coached with Stephen Paulus and soloed two performances of his work, To Be Certain of the Dawn. In the fall of 2009 she was commissioned by the Iowa Composers’ Forum to tour IA with pianist Miko Kominami, and also premiered works for ICF in 2015. Ann has been featured on RAI TV in Italy and frequently broadcast on Iowa Public Radio. Ann is the district winner of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Artist Award competition, and the recipient of honorable mention for the Metropolitan Opera National Council District Audition. She is the recipient of the Donald Walker Vocal Scholarship for outstanding vocal achievement at the University of Iowa, and receiver of outstanding academic achievement in the field of Music Education from Bradley University, and winner of the Bradley University Piano Concerto Competition. She has performed in master classes with Frederica von Stade and Michèle Crider, and coached with Cheryl Studer and Richard Boldrey. Cravero recently presented Mahler’s 2nd Symphony with soprano, Michèle Crider for the re-dedication of Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City at the University of Iowa under the direction of William L. Jones. Dr. Cravero is Associate Professor of Voice at Drake University, and an active participant of The National Association of Teachers of Singing. Ann released an albumof duets with soprano Camelia Voin and pianist Nicholas Roth (‘Endless Noise’ Studio) in Santa Monica, CA Dr. Cravero holds the Doctor of Musical Arts and Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Iowa where she studied with Stephen Swanson and Katherine Eberle, and a Bachelor of Music Education with emphasis on Piano and Voice from Bradley University. For further information on the artist please visit a nncravero.com or at https:// www.facebook.com/anncraveromezzosoprano/

CBA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS 17