Lora Libby – Voice/Piano

Soprano Lora Libby has several years’ experience teaching private voice and piano lessons to students of all ages and abilities. Currently, she serves as both a rehearsal accompanist and as a performer in the Wheaton College Opera Theater's production of Britten's The Rape of Lucretia, where she has been cast in the role of Lucia. She has received several awards from the state, regional, and Chicago chapter NATS competitions, and was selected to perform in a master class given by soprano clinician Carol Chapman at the NATS Central Region Competition in November 2009. Recent honors include being named as the 2009 recipient of the Loraine Tallakson Searfoss Prize in Vocal Music from the Wheaton Conservatory, and the Bertha and John Garabedian Foundation scholarship from the OperaWorks Advanced Artist Program in Los Angeles, California. Opera performances to date have included covering the role of Amy in Adamo’s Little Women, scenes from Le nozze di Figaro (Susanna) and Don Giovanni (Zerlina), and La Bohème with the Dupage Opera Theatre, as a member of the chorus. Currently, she serves as both a rehearsal accompanist and performer in the Wheaton College Opera Theater's January 2010 production of Britten's The Rape of Lucretia, where she has been cast in the role of Lucia. Her past and present teachers include Maria Lagios, Carolyn Hart, and Robin Blitch Wiper.

Personal Statement

As a performing artist, I believe that music is a canvas upon which the broad spectrum of the human experience can be expressed, for the common good of all people. To that end, I am committed to helping my students learn the basic technical skills of their instrument, building a solid foundation for musical expression.

The current barometer of cultural interest indicates that the public attitude toward music education in American society is generally favorable. As long as the American Music Institute and other schools of its kind continue to encourage young musicians toward the highest levels of artistic integrity and excellence, music will remain relevant and accessible to audiences. It is my belief that developing a pattern of lifelong learning will enable music students of all ages and levels to engage and interact with their art, and help them to become effective cultural leaders for a lifetime.