MARY LEE FARRIS (PINE ISLAND)
Piano & Vocal Instructor
Mary Lee has a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Music Pedagogy with a minor in Piano from the University of Louisville School of Music, along with a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance. While there, she appeared frequently with the Kentucky Opera Association and made two recordings with the Louisville Orchestra on its First Edition Label.
She has been honored as a National Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions, a National Winner of the WGN-Chicago Auditions, and received the Artist of the Year Award from the National Association of Teachers of Singing. She taught at the University level for several years before re-locating to New York to pursue her professional performing career.
She has performed as soloist with Orchestras throughout the country, including the Kansas City Philharmonic, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Charlotte Symphony, the Louisville Orchestra, and at Carnegie Hall for both the American Symphony and the New York Choral Society.
In her operatic career, Mary Lee has performed with the San Francisco Opera, Aspen Music Festival, Syracuse Opera, Chautauqua Opera and the Glimmerglass Opera Festival and others, including as soloist with the New York City Opera. She spent two seasons as Principal Dramatic Soprano at the Opera Theater of Coburg, Germany where she performed the title roles in Fidelio and Arabella, among others.
She is active with the Hudson Valley chapter of Music Teachers’ National Association, performing several times a year as a performer and provides music for the Scotchtown Presbyterian Church.