Kimberly Upcraft enjoys a reputation as a versatile artist, equally at home with the music of Handel as with the music of the 21st century; including classical, musical theatre, and popular styles. While in Rochester, she has performed leading roles with the Eastman Opera Theatre, including Mrs. Grose in The Turn of the Screw and Angelica in Suor Angelica and was also a featured soloist with the Eastman Philharmonia in performances of Strauss’ Vier Letzte Lieder under the baton of Mendi Rodhan. Other operatic portrayals include such varied roles as Zita in Gianni Schicchi and Zerlina in Don Giovanni. Dr. Upcraft was featured as Berta in Mercury Opera of Rochester’s production of Il Barbiere di Siviglia and as Annina in La Traviata.
Upcraft performed as the soprano soloist for performances of Verdi’s Requiem at Nazareth University with the Rochester Philharmonic, Murray Sidlin conducting. Other oratorio appearances in Rochester and elsewhere have included performances of Schubert’s Mass in G Major, Beethoven’s Symphony #9 with the SUNY Geneseo Orchestra and Chorus, Saints-Saens’ Christmas Oratorio, Vivaldi’s Gloria and both Faure and Duruflés Requiem. At Nazareth, Upcraft has appeared as soprano soloist with the Nazareth College Choirs and Orchestra in Vaughan Williams’ Sea Symphony (with conductor Nancy Strelau), Dona Nobis Pacem and Bach’s Magnificat and with the Nazareth College Wind Ensemble for Danyew’s Alcott Songs and Frank Ticheli’s , Angel’s in the Architecture, conducted by Jared Chase.
In recital, Upcraft displays a penchant for the eclectic in her choice of musical styles and her interest in highly dramatic texts. She performed the premiere of Andy Vores’ song cycle Cleopatra as part of her Performer’s Certificate recital at Eastman along with songs in Swedish by Gösta Nystroem and songs in Spanish arranged by Joaquin Nin. She was also the soprano soloist for a Rochester performance of Shostakovich’s Romanzen-Suite for soprano, violin, cello and piano. Recent recitals have included performances of Debussy’s Baudelaire settings, Schumann’s Mignon settings, songs of Bellini and Chopin, songs of Bernstein, a recital of songs in Spanish for voice, piano and guitar, and a performance of Lori Laitman’s I never saw another butterfly for soprano and saxophone.
Dr. Upcraft has studied voice with Robert McIver, Dale Moore, Ellen Linton, and Patrick Mason. Coaches and conductors have included Benton Hess (including Czech and Russian diction), Russell Miller, Jean Barr, John Greer, Murray Sidlin, Mendi Rodhan. She has also performed in masterclass with Wesley Balk, prestigious bass Giorgio Tozzi, noted director Colin Graham, pedagogue Richard Miller. Directors include David Bartholomew, Steven Daigle (also classes in opera and directing) and David Holley.
Upcraft is currently an adjunct professor of Voice at Nazareth College School of Music and the SUNY College at Fredonia School of Music. Previously, she was on the faculty of the Eastman Community Music School. Dr. Upcraft received the Doctorate of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance and Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music, Master of Music in Voice Performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the Bachelor of Music in Music Education from SUNY at Fredonia. Upcraft is also a member of NATS, Pi Kappa Lambda and SAI.
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