Tracey Engleman

With a voice the Boston Globe called “extraordinary in range, tonal quality, musicianship and dramatic effect,” soprano Tracey Engleman has gained a reputation for excellence in opera, recital and concert.  The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported that her “clear, powerful high notes unleash all the desired adrenalin and misty romanticism the score demands.” Praised by the Wall Street Journal for singing with “crystalline purity,” and by Opera News for her performance that “brightened the stage”, Ms. Engleman is consistently recognized for her artistry and stage presence. Most recently, Ms. Engleman was awarded the esteemed McKnight Foundation Performing Artist Fellowship for 2016-17. 

 Operatic roles include Papagena in The Magic Flute, Ofglen in The Handmaid’s Tale, the Page in Rigoletto and the Girl in the Bed in Casanova’s Homecoming with the Minnesota Opera, Julie in The New Moon with Music by the Lake, Kathy in The Student Prince with Skylark Opera, the School Teacher in Ainadamar with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Adina in L’Elisir d’amore and Norina in Don Pasquale with the Rochester Aria Group, and Elivira in I puritani with Minnesota Concert Opera. Ms. Engleman has also been involved in 30 productions at the Minnesota Opera as a featured artist in their New Initiatives Opera workshops, covers and chorus.  In 2010, Ms. Engleman premiered the role of Isabella Smith in The Ladysmith Story, a contemporary opera by Minnesota composer Christopher Gable.  Particularly gifted as a performer of contemporary music, Ms. Engleman has performed Two Poems from the Sung Dynasty with conductor and composer Bright Sheng with the Chicago Chamber Musicians and at the Festival of Contemporary Music at the Tanglewood Music Center. Recently, Ms. Engleman premiered Minnesota composer Libby Larsen’s new orchestral version of Sonnets from the Portuguese with the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra. Recent performances with contemporary music ensemble Zeitgeist include works by Scott Miller and Morton Feldman, and as a member of The Pierrot Ensemble with colleagues from St. Olaf College, Ms. Engleman has performed Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire, Ravel’s Trois poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé, and William Walton’s Façade. 

Highlights from Ms. Engleman’s Oratorio performances include multiple performances of Orff’s Carmina Burana and Handel’s Messiah with various regional organizations, and Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, Orff’s Catulli Carmina, Poulenc’s Gloria and Vaughan Williams’ Hodie with the Milwaukee Bel Canto Chorus.  Ms. Engleman has made numerous appearances with the Valley Chamber Chorale including performances of Rutter’s Mass of the Children, Bach’s Easter Oratorio, Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, Mozart’s Exultate, Jubilate, Coronation Mass, Solemn Vespers, and Regina Coeli, has performed Poulenc’s Gloria with the Minnesota Choral Union and Symphony, and the Gorecki  3rd Symphony with the Cannon Valley Orchestra.  As a member of the voice faculty at St. Olaf College, Ms. Engleman has performed the soprano solos in the both the Mozart and Brahms Requiems, Mendelssohn’s Psalm 42 and Elijah, Barber’s Prayers of Kierkegaard, and Britten’s War Requiem with the St. Olaf Choirs and Orchestra, as well as appearing with the St. Olaf Orchestra in Alice Tully Hall in New York City singing the songs of Edvard Grieg.  A frequent recitalist, Ms. Engleman has sung many Courtroom Concerts for The Schubert Club in St. Paul, has been a featured recitalist for the National Association of Teachers of Singing National Convention, a guest recitalist at Hope College in Holland Michigan, and performed Messiaen’s  Poemes Pour Mi at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis and has performed annually with the Source Song Festival.

Tracey Engleman spent two years as a Vocal Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center and was also one of ten singer/pianist teams from around the country selected to participate in the Art Song Festival at the Cleveland Institute of Music.  Other Awards include 1st place and “Audience Choice” winner in the Austin Lyric Opera Young Artist Competition, Finalist in the Sun Valley Opera Competition, a Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, recipient of the Minnesota NATS Artist Award, 1st place winner of the Milwaukee Bel Canto Chorus Regional Artist Competition and 1st place winner of the Kenwood Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition. Ms. Engleman earned M.M. and D.M.A. degrees from the University of Minnesota, and is currently an Associate Professor of Music at St. Olaf College where she teaches voice and vocal pedagogy.