Erie Mills

2002 Semifinals Judge

Erie Mills has received critical and popular acclaim throughout the world, dazzling audiences with her sparkling coloratura voice, captivating personality, and vivid portrayals of operatic roles. She has performed in the world's major opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Vienna Staatsoper, English National Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, San Francisco Opera, Santa Fe Opera, New York City Opera and many others. Her major roles include Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Marie in La Fille du Régiment, Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, Cunegonde in Candide, Adina in L'Elisir d'Amore, the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor, Olympia in Les Contes d'Hoffmann, and, in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, the roles of Blonchen and Konstanze.

Ms. Mills recently appeared as Aurelia Havisham in the much anticipated new production of Dominick Argento's Miss Havisham's Fire by Opera Theatre of St. Louis and was hailed by the NY Times as "the star the vehicle was waiting for." Last season, she sang Konstanze in Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail with the Phoenix Symphony and made her debut as Cleopatra in Handel's Julius Caesar with Utah Festival Opera. Other recent performances include her appearance as Sibyl Vane in the American Premiere of Lowell Liebermann's The Picture of Dorian Gray with the Florentine Opera Company in Milwaukee, her return to Santa Fe Opera as Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos, and her debut in the title role of Massenet's Manon with the Florentine Opera of Milwaukee.

Ms. Mills is an active concert artist, having appeared with the orchestras of Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Cleveland, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Milwaukee, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Indianapolis Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Mostly Mozart Festival, and the VARA radio Orchestra at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

On recording, Ms. Mills may be heard on RCA's recording of Sondheim's Follies, New World Records' Grammy award-winning Candide, Newport Classic recordings of Handel's Muzio and Scarlatti's Ishmail, Arabesque Records' recording of Schubert's "Auf dem Strom" and Strauss' "Alphorn" with David Jolley, horn, and most recently her solo CD of American song "always it's Spring" from VAI. On video she may be seen on "The New Sousa Band on Stage at Wolf Trap" with conductor Keith Brion. Her performance of Cunegonde at the New York City Opera was seen on a national telecast on PBS' "Live from Lincoln Center."

Ms. Mills is also an accomplished recitalist, both as a soloist and in chamber music. She has sung with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Bravo Colorado Music Festival, Music from Angel Fire, Sea Cliff Chamber Players and, most recently, at St. John's Smith Square. She has sung in numerous venues throughout the United States, including Weill Recital Hall in New York and Sheldon Hall in St. Louis.

Erie Mills was born in Granite City, Illinois. She is a graduate of the College of Wooster and the University of Illinois, and was a member of the Houston Opera Studio. She studied voice with Dale Moore, Karl Trump (Wooster), Grace Wilson (U of IL), Elena Nikolaidi, and Alan Bowers. She was a recipient of a Richard Tucker Foundation grant in 1984. Ms. Mills is a member of the voice faculty of San Jose State University and resides in the Bay Area with her husband, Dr Thomas Rescigno.

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