Dara Scholz, MM

Soprano Dara Kirchofner Scholz is a 1998 graduate of St. Olaf College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music (summa cum laude) and was a member of the St. Olaf Choir, Chapel Choir and the Early Music Singers. She received a Master of Music in Vocal Performance in 2006 from the University of Minnesota, where she studied with Lawrence Weller and was a member of the University of Minnesota Chamber Singers and the Early Music Ensemble. From 1999-2006 Ms. Scholz was a member of the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, a 32-voice professional choral ensemble based in Minneapolis, MN. Since 2005 she has been a member of the Berwick Festival and Chamber Chorus of the Oregon Bach Festival, making her one of the longest tenured members of that professional ensemble.

In addition to numerous recitals of art song repertoire, solo appearances by Ms. Scholz include major works such as Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem and Solemn Vespers de Confessore, Haydn’s Nicholaimesse and Paukenmesse, Charpentier’s Te Deum, Bach’s cantata Christ lag in Todesbanden, John Rutter’s Magnificat, Felix Mendelssohn’s chorale cantata Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt, Faure’s Requiem, and numerous Bach cantatas. Ms. Scholz is a specialist in early music performance practice and was in the summer of 2009 a member of The Complete Singer, Early Music Program Vancouver.

As a vocal instructor, Ms. Scholz is recognized for her work with high school and collegiate singers, having over 15 years of experience teaching singers of all ages and abilities. She currently resides in Chico, CA, where she maintains a private vocal studio, is organist and accompanist at Bidwell Presbyterian Church, and is an adjunct instructor for the CSU, Chico Music and Theatre Department. At Chico State she serves as musical director for the Department of Music and Theatre productions and as private vocal instructor for 30 students in the department. She has also served as director of the Off Broadways, has accompanied musical theatre classes, and has taught the music history class sequence, beginning voice class, and music fundamentals for musical theatre students. She is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, the American Choral Directors Association, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Beta Kappa, and Pi Kappa Lambda.