University News

Assistant Professor of Music Penelope Shumate
[Download Print-Quality Image]

WIU Professor to Make Return Appearance at Carnegie Hall

October 4, 2016

Share |
Printer friendly version

MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois University Assistant Professor of Music Penelope Shumate will make her 12th appearance in New York City's Carnegie Hall this November to perform Handel's "Messiah," presented by Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY).

Shumate received critical acclaim for her recent performances of this work at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, also in New York.

"Penelope Shumate sang the soprano solos with appealing bell-like clarity and surpassing sweetness," said The New York Times.

"Soprano Penelope Shumate was a real find for me, with a voice that has been described previously in New York Concert Review as 'radiant,' and I can see why," according to the New York Concert Review. "The clear tones were true and expressive, one of the best 'Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion' that I have ever heard live. Her 'I know that my redeemer liveth' was lovely."

Other Carnegie Hall soloist appearances include performances of "St. Nicolai Mass," "Coronation Mass," "Requiem" (Verdi and Mozart) and "Stabat Mater" (Mealor).

For the 2015-16 season, Shumate was selected as the winner of the Chicago Oratorio Award. Her soloist debuts included appearances with the Chicago Bar Association Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Il ("Requiem"/Brahms), the Heartland Symphony Orchestra, Il ("Carmina Burana"), the Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra, Va ("Symphony No. 9"/Beethoven), the Virginia Consort, Va ("Requiem"/Rutter), the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra, Va, ("Carols and Candles") and the Quincy Symphony Orchestra Association, Il ("Ah! perfido"/Beethoven).

Shumate has appeared with opera companies and orchestras across America, including the Opera Company of Philadelphia, Opera Roanoke, Lake George Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Utah Festival Opera, Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra, Berkshire Choral Festival, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, Quincy Symphony Orchestra Association, Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra, Oklahoma City Philharmonic and Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, among others.

She is an award winner with the Gerda Lissner Foundation, Marie E. Crump Vocal Arts Competition, MacAllister Awards, New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera Vocal Competition, Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition, Kennett Symphony Orchestra Vocal Competition and the Altamura/Caruso International Vocal Competition and others.

For additional information, visit penelopeshumate.com.


Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing