Harolyn Blackwell (born November , ) is an American lyric coloratura
soprano who has performed in many of the world's finest opera houses,
concert halls, and theaters in operas, oratorios, recitals, and
Broadway musicals. Initially known for her work within musical theater
during the early s, Blackwell moved into the field of opera and by
had established herself as an artist within the soubrette repertoire
in many major opera houses both in the United States and in Europe.
Feeling that she was being "type cast" into one particular kind of
role, Blackwell strove to establish herself within the lyric
coloratura repertoire beginning in the mid-s. With the aid of such
companies as Seattle Opera, Blackwell successfully made this move and
is now an interpreter of such roles as Lucia in Donizetti's Lucia di
Lammermoor and Olympia in Offenbach's Les contes d'Hoffman. She has
also periodically returned to musical theater performances throughout
her career in staged productions, concert work, and recitals.
Blackwell is known for her interpretations and recordings of the works
of Leonard Bernstein.Harolyn Blackwell was born in Washington, D.C. on
November , , the eldest of five children. Both of her parents were
teachers and active participants in the Civil Rights Movement. Her
father, Harold Blackwell (for whom she was named), was also a
redevelopment specialist with the United States Department of Housing
and Urban Development in Washington, D.C. for many years, and her
mother taught physical education and health at the University of the
District of Columbia.Blackwell first became interested in music
through the influence of her fourth grade teacher, Nancy Notargiacomo,
who eventually became her voice and piano teacher when she was . She
also credits her high school choral director for encouraging her to
pursue a music career. In a interview Blackwell recalled, "I did not
come from a musical family. I had a fourth grade teacher that
introduced me to music and I sang at the Catholic church. In high
school I started doing musicals âˆ' The Sound of Music, Brigadoon,
Oliver!, and so forth. I thought maybe this would be what I would
pursue after high school, although even in my senior year in high
school I had doubts. I wanted to go into history or fashion design.
But, I had a wonderful choral director who said 'no, your calling is
music,' and she convinced me."Blackwell attended Catholic University
where she majored in vocal music education and also spent time in
activities and classes related to the University's drama and musical
theater programs. Blackwell said, "I wasn't quite sure whether I
wanted to pursue classical or musical theater. I knew that whichever I
chose, I wanted to have a classical training. It was important to me
to have the technical expertise as well as also the theory and
understanding of classical music. Catholic University was the best of
both possible worlds, because they had a very strong drama department
as well as a very good music department. They were next door, so I
spent quite a bit of time going back and forth between the drama
department and the music department." After graduating with her
undergraduate degree in , Blackwell taught music in two parochial
schools while simultaneously continuing her vocal studies on the
graduate level at Catholic University. She graduated with a Masters in
Vocal Performance in .
soprano who has performed in many of the world's finest opera houses,
concert halls, and theaters in operas, oratorios, recitals, and
Broadway musicals. Initially known for her work within musical theater
during the early s, Blackwell moved into the field of opera and by
had established herself as an artist within the soubrette repertoire
in many major opera houses both in the United States and in Europe.
Feeling that she was being "type cast" into one particular kind of
role, Blackwell strove to establish herself within the lyric
coloratura repertoire beginning in the mid-s. With the aid of such
companies as Seattle Opera, Blackwell successfully made this move and
is now an interpreter of such roles as Lucia in Donizetti's Lucia di
Lammermoor and Olympia in Offenbach's Les contes d'Hoffman. She has
also periodically returned to musical theater performances throughout
her career in staged productions, concert work, and recitals.
Blackwell is known for her interpretations and recordings of the works
of Leonard Bernstein.Harolyn Blackwell was born in Washington, D.C. on
November , , the eldest of five children. Both of her parents were
teachers and active participants in the Civil Rights Movement. Her
father, Harold Blackwell (for whom she was named), was also a
redevelopment specialist with the United States Department of Housing
and Urban Development in Washington, D.C. for many years, and her
mother taught physical education and health at the University of the
District of Columbia.Blackwell first became interested in music
through the influence of her fourth grade teacher, Nancy Notargiacomo,
who eventually became her voice and piano teacher when she was . She
also credits her high school choral director for encouraging her to
pursue a music career. In a interview Blackwell recalled, "I did not
come from a musical family. I had a fourth grade teacher that
introduced me to music and I sang at the Catholic church. In high
school I started doing musicals âˆ' The Sound of Music, Brigadoon,
Oliver!, and so forth. I thought maybe this would be what I would
pursue after high school, although even in my senior year in high
school I had doubts. I wanted to go into history or fashion design.
But, I had a wonderful choral director who said 'no, your calling is
music,' and she convinced me."Blackwell attended Catholic University
where she majored in vocal music education and also spent time in
activities and classes related to the University's drama and musical
theater programs. Blackwell said, "I wasn't quite sure whether I
wanted to pursue classical or musical theater. I knew that whichever I
chose, I wanted to have a classical training. It was important to me
to have the technical expertise as well as also the theory and
understanding of classical music. Catholic University was the best of
both possible worlds, because they had a very strong drama department
as well as a very good music department. They were next door, so I
spent quite a bit of time going back and forth between the drama
department and the music department." After graduating with her
undergraduate degree in , Blackwell taught music in two parochial
schools while simultaneously continuing her vocal studies on the
graduate level at Catholic University. She graduated with a Masters in
Vocal Performance in .
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.