Dr. Ann Cravero

Ann Cravero, acclaimed mezzo-soprano recitalist and soloist, has been heard on stages in Italy, China, and throughout the United States including repeat performances at Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall.  She recently made her debut at Symphony Hall in Chicago as the 2019 Winner of the American Prize in Oratorio, and performed as soloist of Mahler's 2nd Symphony with soprano, Michèle Crider for the re-dedication of Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City.

Highly sought after for her interpretation of New Music, Cravero’s “strong” portrayal of Virginia Woolf in the 2016 staged adaptation of The Diary of Virginia Woolf under the direction of Håkan Hagegård, honored Dominick Argento – the composer in attendance (Ordway Center, Source Song Festival). Cravero also coached with the late Stephen Paulus and soloed two performances of his work, To Be Certain of the Dawn. She premiered and toured commissioned works by the Iowa Composers’ Forum with pianist Miko Kominami, and has frequently soloed with the Center for New Music in Iowa City. In 2019, Cravero returned to the opera stage to perform the role of ‘Ma’ in Copland’s The Tender Land with the American Gothic Performing Arts Festival, and in 2021 portrayed Marge in the musical The Bridges of Madison County with Tallgrass Theatre.  Additional performance venues include Teatro Communale Città Vicenza, San Pancrezio Catedrale Tarquinia, Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra, Rome Festival Orchestra, CA Lyric Symphony Orchestra, IL Bach Festival, Des Moines Civic Center, Heartland Festival Orchestra, the Northland Opera Theatre, apprentice Des Moines Metro Opera.

Ann is the recipient of the 2019 Vocal Pedagogy Award from the NATS Foundation. Likewise, she is the district winner of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Artist Award competition, and received honorable mention for the Metropolitan Opera National Council District Audition. She was awarded the Donald Walker Vocal Scholarship for Outstanding Vocal Achievement at the University of Iowa, Outstanding Academic Achievement in the field of Music Education from Bradley University, and 1st place winner of the Bradley University Piano Concerto Competition. She has performed in master classes with Frederica von Stade and Michèle Crider, and coached with Cheryl Studer and Richard Boldrey.

As a stage director, Dr. Cravero’s work has been viewed at the Prague Festival where she served as Assistant Director of Don Giovanni under the direction of Sherrill Milnes and Maria Zouves, The International Lyric Academy Italy, The City Opera Company of the Quad Cities, and at the University of Iowa under the tutelage of director Sally Stunkel. Likewise, she headed the Drake Opera Theater from 2003-2018, and collaborated with Michael Ching on his opera, Alice Ryley.

Her doctoral thesis, Contemporary Opera Scenes for Countertenor: A Stage Director’s Guide, includes new research and commentary based on operatic works by Stewart Wallace, Jeffrey Lependorf, David Johnson, Paul Barker, and one of the foremost composers of countertenor repertoire, Geoffrey Burgon. Dr. Cravero’s research published in the Journal of Singing Nov/Dec 2020 draws awareness to the vocal education of students on the Autistic Spectrum: Exceptional Students in the Voice Studio: Understanding and Training Students with Asperger’s Syndrome.

Dr. Cravero is Professor of Voice & Director of Drake Vocal Jazz at Drake University, also teaching Diction, Vocal Pedagogy and Studio Voice. She is President of The National Association of Teachers of Singing Iowa Chapter, and has served on the faculty of Sherrill Milnes' Savannah Voice Festival, and the International Lyric Academy Italy. Her voice students are National competition winners and have been accepted into prestigious programs and Graduate Schools. Ann released an album of duets with soprano Camelia Voin and pianist Nicholas Roth (‘Endless Noise’ Studio) in Santa Monica, CA.

Ann Cravero holds the Doctor of Musical Arts and Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Iowa where she studied with Stephen Swanson and Katherine Eberle, and a Bachelor of Music Education with emphasis on Piano and Voice from Bradley University. For further information on the artist please visit anncravero.com or at https://www.facebook.com/anncraveromezzosoprano/