Adam Hagy, photogrpaher
S o p r a n o
Described by the New York Times as having a “clear, bright soprano,” and hailed as “the most versatile performer in the Baltimore-Washington area” (The Baltimore City Paper), soprano, Rebecca Duren is often praised for the ability to incorporate her multi-faceted background with the operatic stage. Highlights in her performing career include engagements with Ente Concerti in Sardinia, Italy performing Purcell’s Dido and Aneas; numerous appearances with American Opera Theater, including the role of Jonathas in M.A. Charpentier’s David et Jonathas (Brooklyn Academy of Music), and as Galatea in Acis + Galatea: A Circus Opera. A versatile performer, Ms. Duren has premiered many cutting edge concept-operas, most notably Annunciation / Visitation- a fully staged and memorized production for two sopranos comprised of George Crumb's Ancient Voices of Children and Apparition followed by Francois Couperin's Troisième Leçon De Ténèbres; and Songspiel - a production of Kurt Weill's music starring Sylvia McNair, premiered in Baltimore and Washington DC. As a concert soloist, Ms. Duren has appeared with the Firebird Orchestra, The Grand Tour Orchestra in New York City, Barefoot Baroque, The Miami Bach Society, The Miami Symphony, Musica Nova, and has appeared as a guest artist with the Indiana University New Music Ensemble. Major works include Mozart Requiem, Monteverdi Vespers of 1610, and Bach’s St Matthew Passion. An avid recitalist, Ms. Duren has been featured on the American Composers Association Festival Concert Series at Symphony Space in New York City, premiering Lansing McLoskey’s song cycle, Sudden Music; and featured with Musica Nova in Dallas premiering Robert Xavier Rodriguez’ Six Songs of E. E. Cummings. Rebecca has performed as a professional choral singer with Simon Carrington Chamber Singers, Tucson Chamber Artists, Spire, Skylark and was a member of Seraphic Fire for 5 seasons, and is currently a member of Kinnara, a professional vocal ensemble based in Atlanta.
Ms. Duren can be heard on numerous professionally recorded albums with Seraphic Fire, True Concord, Simon Carringon Chamber Singers, and premiering new music of Lansing McClosky on Albany Records and Robert Xavier Rodriguez on The OPERA America Songbook.
C O N D U C T O R
Rebecca Duren started her career as a singer, first receiving her Bachelor’s of Music in voice from The University of North Texas, and her Master’s of Music in voice from The Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore. After making the shift to choral conducting, she graduating in 2013 with a second Master’s of Music in Choral Conducting from The University of South Florida. Upon graduating, Ms Duren became Director of Upper and Middle School Choirs at Darlington School, in Rome, Georgia, where she managed 7 choruses and coached singers for the annual musical. While at Darlington School, she took the top chorus on choir tours to South Florida, and to Washington DC, and she founded the Varsity Treble Choir, which received top ratings at Festival. Ms Duren has also directed middle and upper school choruses at The Lovett School and at Holy Innocents Episcopal School in Atlanta, Georgia, where she successfully pivoted the choirs to virtual learning during the initial stages of the COVID pandemic. Ms Duren also held the position of Associate Conductor of The Johns Creek Chorale in Georgia, a community choir serving the area of Johns Creek, Georgia.
Ms. Duren is currently Director of Choral Activities and is on the Applied Lessons faculty for voice at Agnes Scott College, in Decatur Georgia. At Agnes Scott College, Ms Duren has grown the choral program by creating Day of Treble, an annual high school choral invitational, by starting an annual alumni choral retreat, and by facilitating additional performing opportunities for students. Most notably, Ms Duren organized the musical selections and directed the Agnes Scott College Collegiate Chorale in a performance for Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s funeral at The Carter Center November 27th, 2023.