Heather Barnes

Piano, Voice, Keyboard

Please see the bottom of the bio for piano information.

Soprano Heather Barnes is active in recital, oratorio, and opera. As a concert artist, she has performed as soprano soloist in Fauré’s Requiem, Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music, Stravinsky’s Three Japanese Lyrics, Sandstrom’s Gloria (heard on CBC radio), Beethoven’s Fantasia for Piano, Chorus, and Orchestra, Bach’s Magnificat, Cavalieri’s Rappresentazione di Anima e Corpo, Praetorius’ Canticum trium puerorum, and various other pieces. Ms. Barnes has appeared with the Helena Symphony Orchestra, the University of Montana Symphony Orchestra, Soulpepper Theater, Musikanten Montana, and the University of Toronto Contemporary Ensemble.

Ms. Barnes’ opera experience includes the role of “Barbarina” in the Helena symphony’s production of production of The Marriage of Figaro, the “Narrator” in Sweet Betsy from Pike, and in scenes as “Alice” in Falstaff, “Donna Anna” in Don Giovanni, and “Amelia” in Un ballo in maschera, with the University of Montana Opera Theater. She was a guest artist for Montana Lyric Opera’s Opera on Draft and Opera Decanted. Ms. Barnes was also a member of the University of Toronto Opera Chorus.

A champion of contemporary music, Ms. Barnes frequently works with composers to perform their pieces. In 2009, she performed the world premiere of Lynn Petersen’s song cycle, Patterned for Thee (performed with Artisan Dance). In July 2010, she participated in the soundSCAPE composition and performance exchange in Maccagno, Italy, performing Jake Heggie’s scene for soprano and piano, At the Statue of Venus, and the world premiere of three arias from Brian Hulse’s forthcoming opera, Age of Innocence. She is also the vocalist for Diagenesis, a duo with cellist Jennifer Bewerse that specializes in new music for cello and voice. In May 2011, they performed their debut tour, with concerts in Helena, MT, St. Paul, MN, Chicago, IL, and Boston, MA. During this tour, they performed the world premieres of pieces by Lynn Petersen, James Kallembach and Mischa Salkind-Pearl.

Ms. Barnes is also interested in Early Music and in August 2008, she completed the Vancouver Early Music Programme’s Compleat Singer Programme. She was also a soloist for the Montana Early Music Festival in 2011, 2009 and 2008. Ms. Barnes is the winner of 2010-2011 University of Montana Concerto Aria Competition. In January 2011 she received an honorable mention at the Coeur D’Alene Symphony’s Young Artist Competition and in the spring of 2010 she was a National Finalist in the MTNA Young Artist Competition, where she placed third. In Helena, Heather serves as the cantor and soloist for St. Peter’s Episcopal Cathedral and maintains a teaching studio. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Toronto and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Montana.

Piano

Heather has been teaching piano lessons for several years. She completed her grade nine piano requirements with the Royal Conservatory of Music with honors and studied piano with Dr. Hahn at the University of Montana. She was also the organist at Amberlea Presbyterian Church in Pickering, Ontario, Canada. Her students have the option to play in at least two recitals a year and will be able to participate in field trips to concerts, music movie nights, and a monthly group class that will focus on music history/theory/performance. It is her goal that her student’s will learn a lifelong love of music.

http://www.heatherbarnes-soprano.com