Melanie Wade Larsen spent the first eighteen years of her career as a registered nurse, then returned to school in 2003 graduating with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Augusta University. She was awarded the Lucie C. Ruzicka performance award, placed in the NATS competition, and graduated with honors. In 2017, Ms. Larsen completed her Master of Music degree in Music Performance from the University of South Carolina, Columbia. While there she had the privilege to sing for internationally known composer Libby Larsen. She graduated with honors and was chosen for induction into Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society. Her article, Shaking It Up: From Rn to Vocal Instructor and Performer was chosen for publication in the November 2017 issue of Classical Singer Magazine.

Recent performances include her recital, Songs for a Winter Afternoon, a solo concert for Westobou 2018, soloist for Silent Movie Night at Sacred Heart in 2016 and 2017, Augusta on Ice, and the role of “Hare” in the children’s opera, A Day at the Beach by USC- Aiken professor, Richard Maltz. For Westobou Festival 2014, she was the soloist in Miotas Ceol Graiocht, an original work by Carl Purdy. Ms. Larsen was also the featured soloist with Symphony Orchestra Augusta’s outreach program, The Orchestra Rocks.

Opera credits include “First Touriere” and “First Novice” in the concert version of Suor Angelica with the New York Lyric Opera in 2012.With the former Augusta Opera she sang the roles of “Una Conversa” in Suor Angelica, “Anina” in La Traviata, “Friend of Augusta” in The Ballad of Baby Doe, and “Lady Jane” in Camelot. Ms. Larsen also appeared in The Tales of Hoffman, La Boheme, and Sweeney Todd.She has performed as a soloist in Home for the Holidays concerts sponsored by the Augusta Opera and An Evening at the Opera with the Columbia County Civic Orchestra. With the Columbia County Choral Society Ms. Larsen sang the roles of “Mabel” and “Yum-Yum” in a program of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.

Oratorio and concert work with the Augusta Choral Society include soloist in the Harmon Requiem and McDowall Stabat Mater, Messiah, and a concert of Handel, Haydn, and Mozart. Ms. Larsen was the soprano soloist in Elijah with the Columbia County Civic Orchestra. She was also a featured soloist with the USC Graduate Vocal Ensemble performance of Handel’s Te Deum.

Music Theatre credits include “Old Woman II” in Les Misérables with the Augusta Players, and a nun in the The Sound of Music. With the Aiken Community Playhouse, Ms. Larsen served as the ensemble music director in their 2013 production of The Music Man.Occasionally she can be heard singing jazz in local venues.

After a return to nursing she is also now resuming her teaching career.With fourteen years of teaching voice through her private studio, Musical Theatre Workshops and the Augusta University Conservatory, she now looks forward to joining the teaching staff at The Jessye Norman School of the Arts.Ms. Larsen specializes in the female voice, ages 12 and up and in various stages of their vocal journey. Students can expect emphasis on a free and healthy vocal production that is rooted in classical training and repertory, which will also serve them well with other styles of music. Preparation for college auditions, All-State Chorus, musicals, and choral music are addressed in lessons as needed. She seeks to help, inspire, and promote a love of singing.

SESSION RATES:

30 min-$35

45 min- $45

THINGS TO KNOW:

45- and 60-minute lessons are subject to her recommendation and approval

Available on Mondays and Thursdays only

If you would like a trial lesson initially, please contact mhwlarsen@gmail.com