Finalist: Claire DiVizio, Soprano

Praised for her "marvelous voice" by the Ann Arbor News, soprano Claire DiVizio's repertoire extends from Baroque opera to 21^st-century chamber music, encompassing nearly everything in between. Recent roles include the Queen of the Night in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte (Bay View Music Festival), First Witch and Spirit in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas (Arbor Opera Theatre), and Helen Hopper in Friml's Katinka (Comic Opera Guild). Ms. DiVizio has also covered the role of the Countess in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro with the University of Michigan Opera Theatre, and appeared onstage at the U of M as Une Bergère in Gluck's Armide, and as La Bergère and La Chouette in Ravel's L'enfant et les Sortilèges. She has also been the soprano soloist in many oratorios, most recently in Schubert's Mass in C-major at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Detroit.

Ms. DiVizio is also very involved with new music. She recently created the role of Ismene in the premiere of Ezra Donner's opera Antigone, and also premiered Mr. Donner's latest work, "¡Cigarra!" in 2010. In October of 2009, she was the soprano soloist in the premiere of Kristin Kuster's "BLEED" with the University of Michigan Chamber Choir, and created the role of Sister 2 in scenes from Stephen Eddins' opera, Why I Live at the P.O. In November of 2009, Ms. DiVizio premiered Cengiz Eren's "Colores," which was featured at the 2010 Midwest Composers' Symposium. Ms. DiVizio is also a charter member of Existential Pilot New Music Group, which is entering its third full year, and has completed tours of nine US cities.

Ms. DiVizio holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Michigan. In August of 2011, she will begin her Masters in Voice at the University of Louisville, where she will also be a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the voice department.