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Paula RiveraFounder and Head Instructor
Mezzo-soprano Paula Rivera-Dantagnan was born in Chile, South America. She graduated from the University of Chile with a double degree in Vocal Performance and Music Theory and History. After graduation she performed professionally with various groups in Santiago, Chile, including work as a soloist with the Orquesta Sinfonica de la Universidad de Santiago in Handel’s Te Deum and Bach’s Magnificat. That same year she was awarded a full scholarship to Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, PA to study voice with Beatrice Krebs and John Shirley-Quirk. Unfortunately, just before traveling, she was involved in a major car accident and was severely injured. The left part of her body was paralyzed as a result of a traumatic head injury. Determined to not let this stop her she worked really hard on beating the odds on her recovery and a few months later she regained her ability to walk. A year after her accident she reauditioned at Carnegie Mellon and was again awarded a full scholarship.
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Paula moved to the United States and graduated with an MA in Vocal performance in 1999. She now resides in Philadelphia and is a core member of Opera Philadelphia’s chorus. She regularly performs with groups such as Concert Opera Philadelphia, Delaware Valley Opera, The Philadelphia Singers, the Symphonic Choir and Children’s Opera Box.
At home in the full lyric mezzo repertoire as well as lighter coloratura mezzo roles, she brings a wide variety of performance experience to the stage. Her operatic roles include The Witch in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Maddalena in Rigoletto, Mallika in Lakme, Emilia in Verdi’s Otello, Principessa in Suor Angelica, Amastre in Xerxes and Carmen’s title role.
Ms. Rivera-Dantagnan is also comfortable in oratorio and recital and has performed in Chile, Argentina, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. She was recently heard as a soloist in Brahms Alto Rhapsody with the Montgomery County Youth Orchestra has been featured as soloist in works such as Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Magnificat, Beethoven Missa Solemnis, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater and Schubert’s Mass in G and E flat. She has also been core alto and soloist with the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia. Paula is a 2004 semi-finalist of the prestigious New York Oratorio Society International Solo Competition.
Paula is also an active voice teacher. As a voice faculty member in the Music Department at Saint Vincent College in Pittsburgh, PA, she directed numerous Opera Scene programs and a fully staged production of Dido and Aeneas. After moving to Philadelphia she continued teaching voice and opera at her private studio. She has held positions as vocal coach for the Pennsylvania Girlchoir and Keystone Boychoir, vocal instructor for the Middle and Upper School at Friends Central School, General Music teacher and choir director at Greene Street Friends School and Plymouth Meeting Friends School. She has a passion for education and in 2010 founded Children’s Opera Box, an educational opera company that brings opera to young audiences in the Greater Philadelphia area.
At home in the full lyric mezzo repertoire as well as lighter coloratura mezzo roles, she brings a wide variety of performance experience to the stage. Her operatic roles include The Witch in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Maddalena in Rigoletto, Mallika in Lakme, Emilia in Verdi’s Otello, Principessa in Suor Angelica, Amastre in Xerxes and Carmen’s title role.
Ms. Rivera-Dantagnan is also comfortable in oratorio and recital and has performed in Chile, Argentina, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. She was recently heard as a soloist in Brahms Alto Rhapsody with the Montgomery County Youth Orchestra has been featured as soloist in works such as Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Magnificat, Beethoven Missa Solemnis, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater and Schubert’s Mass in G and E flat. She has also been core alto and soloist with the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia. Paula is a 2004 semi-finalist of the prestigious New York Oratorio Society International Solo Competition.
Paula is also an active voice teacher. As a voice faculty member in the Music Department at Saint Vincent College in Pittsburgh, PA, she directed numerous Opera Scene programs and a fully staged production of Dido and Aeneas. After moving to Philadelphia she continued teaching voice and opera at her private studio. She has held positions as vocal coach for the Pennsylvania Girlchoir and Keystone Boychoir, vocal instructor for the Middle and Upper School at Friends Central School, General Music teacher and choir director at Greene Street Friends School and Plymouth Meeting Friends School. She has a passion for education and in 2010 founded Children’s Opera Box, an educational opera company that brings opera to young audiences in the Greater Philadelphia area.
Luna DantagnanVoice instructor, Vocal Chamber Ensemble
Mezzo-soprano Luna Dantagnan is excited to join CANTARE as voice instructor and Vocal Chamber Ensemble director. She is a graduate from Temple University, where she double majored in Vocal Performance and Music Education
. Over the past several years, Luna has been gaining experience in vocal pedagogy, conducting, and vocal technique as a professional choral singer and soloist with organizations such as Pennsylvania Girlchoir, CoroAllegro, and Epiphany Singers. As a solo singer, she has performed various roles with Opera Box, where she was recently heard as First Witch in Henry Purcell's Dido and Aeneas. Luna is currently music teacher and choir director at J. R. Masterman Middle and High School. This is her first year teaching private voice lessons and she is looking forward to inspiring and guiding young voices. |
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