The Basics (see also, "Not So Formal"): I'm a singer/ songwriter from Cleveland who started out singing in goth and rock bands, but eventually figured out her voice had a lot more potential (thanks to some encouraging nudges from a few marvelous people) and decided to get a degree in voice performance. I sing anything from opera to electronic music, and even spend some quality time in karaoke bars! ~;) The point is, I love to sing, and love sharing this gift with the world in any possible way.
Abilities, Thoughts, and Overall Outlook:I am a mezzo-soprano, and have a two and a half octave range as a result of numerous hours of vocal exercises and singing in the shower~;) Seriously, my voice is highly versatile, which is a wonderful asset when it comes to working with others. I love collaborating with other musicians. Nothing beats the creative processes involved in writing, creating and producing music with others. It is just an amazing feeling to work with creative and talented people all around, and I am incredibly grateful and humbled by everyone with whom I have ever had the pleasure and privilege of working.
Where I've Been:I'm currently a singer in the band Missile Command (MC's MySpace link).
We recently released our first, full-length CD, MACHINES SHOULD THINK, PEOPLE SHOULD WORK. There are a few options available, should you wish to purchase a copy. Option a is through Sno-Cap, thusly:
Option B is via our main website, where you can get a physical copy of the CD.
Option C is via iTunes. ~8)
Option D - Amazon.com
Missile Command's CD is mastered by Adam Boose @ Cauliflower Audio. He's the best!
I've also worked with a number of local Cleveland bands, including RIOUX, Payle, Lestat, Christopher Foldi from State of Being (SOB's MySpace link) , Brian Shephard of Decadent, Subliminal Self, and a guest performance with Dead Letter Room. Last summer, I recorded a song with the band, Interface for their upcoming album, Visions of Modern Life, due to be released on Nilaihah Records (www.nilaihah.com) in the coming months.
Professional Bio (A.K.A. The Formal):
Mezzo-soprano Dawn E. Mitchell has performed a number of full roles as a student, both abroad and locally. Most recently, she performed in Cuyahoga Community College's production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado, singing the title role.While at Cleveland State University, her roles included Dalila (Samson et Dalila) and Nancy/ Julia (Martha). Additional roles include Dritte Dame (Die Zauberflöte) and Marcellina (Le Nozze di Figaro) at Ohio University, Katisha (The Mikado) on the Cuyahoga Community College stage, and La Maestra della Novizie (Suor Angelica) at Operafestival di Roma, Rome, Italy. She has also performed a number of partial roles in opera scenes, including Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Ottavia (L'incorinazione di Poppea), and Dorabella (Così fan tutte), to name a few.
Ms. Mitchell has performed as a soloist in many large choral and orchestral works. She was the mezzo soloist in Haydn's Die sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze (The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross), performed at Trinity Cathedral, Cleveland this past April. In March of this year, she sang Aaron Copland's In the Beginning, under the direction of Dr. Betsy Burleigh with the Cleveland State University Chorale. She was also the mezzo soloist in Durufle's Requiem in the spring of 2008, wherein she sung with the combined orchestra and choral ensemble at Cleveland State. Other works in which she was a soloist include Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass and Solveig's Cradle Song (Peer Gynt), Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, and Laudamus te (Vivaldi's Gloria).
Ms. Mitchell is often asked to sing in special events, the most recent of which was the Cleveland Science Olympiad. She also sang at the Freshmen Convocation for Cleveland State University last fall, and in spring 2008, she performed at the Women’s Studies Students’ Annual Recognition Program. Perhaps one of her biggest honors, Ms. Mitchell was asked to sing the National Anthem at the Democratic Presidential Debate at Wolstein Convocation Center in February 2008. She has also taken part in a number of large professional and volunteer choirs, including Opera Cleveland's Opera Chorus in their production of Tosca, and the Blossom Festival Chorus.
Ms. Mitchell received her Baccalaureate degree in Music in Vocal Performance from Cleveland State University, and graduated with honors (Magna Cum Laude) in May 2009. During her tenure at Cleveland State, she worked with both Elizabeth Unis Chesko and Noriko Fuji Paukert. She won the Musical Talent Award in Voice each year as a student, as well as the General Music Scholarship (2008-09), the Carolyn Clutter Scholarship in Voice (Ohio University, 2005-06), and received third place in the Advanced Women's category at the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Buckeye Chapter, in 2006. She was Treasurer of Mu Phi Epsilon at Cleveland State University (2008-09), and is currently employed as the Alto Soloist at Trinity Cathedral, Cleveland, Ohio.
Expansion on The Formal:I've performed standards, art music and opera on numerous occasions, including weddings, funerals, and big events, the most privileged of which was singing the National Anthem at the 2008 Democratic Debate in Cleveland, Ohio. It was such a thrill to perform and take part in such an historic event.
Other performances include:
*Trinity Cathedral Chamber Orchestra and Choir Good Friday concert - Haydn's Die sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze, Mezzo Soloist. April 2009.
*Cleveland State University Chorus and Chorale Concert - In The Beginning: Music Inspired by Creation; Mezzo-soprano soloist in Aaron Copland's In the Beginning, March 2009
*Trinity Cathedral Brownbag Concert Series, Handel's Messiah, December 2008
*Cuyahoga Community College, The Mikado in Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado, April 2008
*Opera Cleveland, Chorus, Puccini’s Tosca, October 2007
*Cleveland State University, Soloist, Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite, Op 46, No. 26, Solveig’s Cradle Song, September 2007
*Cleveland State University, Combined Orchestra/ Chorus/ Chorale – Soloist, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass - April 2007
*Cleveland State University, Opera Theater Spring Production, Nancy/ Julia in Flotow’s Martha, April 2007
*Blossom Festival Chorus with the Cleveland Orchestra @ Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls OH – Mozart’s Requiem, July 2006
*Ohio University, Mozart's Requiem (Levin Ed.) - May 2006
*Ohio University Spring Opera production, Dritte Dame in Mozart's Die Zauberfloete, April 2006
* Ohio University, Fall Opera Scenes, as Dorabella in Mozart's Cosi fan tutte; Ottavia in Monteverdi's L'incorinazione di Poppea; Dritte Dame in Mozart's Die Zauberfloete, November 2005
*Blossom Festival Chorus with the Cleveland Orchestra @ Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls OH - Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky, July 2005
*Ohio University, Orff’s Carmina Burana, May 2005
*Ohio University, Master Class with Benton Hess, May 2005
*Ohio University, Marcellina from Mozart's le Nozze di Figaro, April 2005
*Lancaster High School - Soloist, Vivaldi's Gloria, November, 2004
*Manhattan Company Italian Tour with the Cuyahoga Community College western campus Chorale, Mozart's Requiem, June 2004.
*Operafestival di Roma, Rome Italy, La Maestra della Novizie from Suor Angelica, Summer 2003.
*Cuyahoga Community College, Opera and Musical Scenes, as Katisha from The Mikado and Nicklause from Offenbach’s Les contes d’Hoffmann - Spring 2002; Malika from Lakme, Spring 2003; Ruth from Pirates of Pensanze and Dido from Dido and Aenaes, Spring 2004.
* Blossom Festival Chorus & the Cleveland Orchestra @ Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls OH, 1997.
Thanks for stopping by and listening! Please feel free to leave feedback - ie: comments, questions, snide remarks, etc.~;)
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