Melanie
Ashkar
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Recent Highlights
Melanie Ashkar
Mercedes
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Kaitlyn Johnson
Frasquita
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Calvin Griffin
El Dancaïro, Morales
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Wallis Giunta
Bizet
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Tori Franklin
G. Bizet
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Maxwell Levy
Don José
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Melanie Ashkar
Alto Soloist
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Melanie Ashkar
Soloist
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Melanie Ashkar
Clotilde
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Melanie Ashkar
Second Lady
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Melanie Ashkar
The Fox
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Biography
Lebanese-American mezzo-soprano Melanie Ashkar is known for the “rich texture” of her voice and her “delightfully expressive” stage presence. She recently completed a two-year residency at Utah Opera, where she appeared as Clotilde (Norma), Second Lady (The Magic Flute), The Fox (The Little Prince), La Ciesca (Gianni Schicchi), and Ida (Die Fledermaus). She was also featured with the Utah Symphony as a soloist in Handel's Messiah and Bernstein's Candide. Melanie spent two summers as a Bonfils-Stanton Apprentice Artist at Central City Opera, where she performed the roles of Dritte Dame (Die Zauberflöte) and La Madre (Madama Butterfly). Melanie’s COVID canceled appearances included Alto Soloist in works by Bach and Handel at the National Presbyterian Church in her native Washington, D.C. and Alto Soloist in Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis at her alma mater, the University of Virginia. Her engagement as Mercédès in Hogfish Regenerative Theater’s inaugural production of Carmen was postponed until 2021. Melanie has been recognized by the Nebraska District of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, the Schuyler Foundation for Career Bridges Grant Awards, and the Gerda Lissner Foundation Lieder/Art Song Competition. She has performed with OperaDelaware, New York City Opera, Utopia Opera, and Bel Cantanti Opera, among others. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Melanie holds a BA in Music and Linguistics from the University of Virginia, an MS in Linguistics from Georgetown University, and an MM in Voice from Mannes College.
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