Mary-Lou Vetere, musicologist (opera)
Mary-Lou is a musicologist, voice/opera coach, and accordionist. She holds a Bachelor of Music (cum Laude) in Voice Performance from the State University of New York at Buffalo, a Masters of Arts in Historical Musicology (SUNY at Buffalo), and a PhD in Historical Musicology (19th Century Italian Opera). Her specialization involves the aesthetic development of opera from Verdi to Verismo with concentrations on specialized performance practice. For her research, she was the recipient of the Mark Diamond Research Fund Research Grant in 2007, and in the Fall of 2008 she received a prestigious Center for Arts and Sciences Dissertation Fellowship Award. A much sought after voice/opera coach, Mary-Lou enjoys merging her love of the Italian and French languages with her keen understanding of operatic aesthetics. She frequently adjudicates voice and piano competitions and has given master-classes in Canada and the United States.
In addition to her academic pursuits, Mary-Lou has performed as a mezzo-soprano soloist in oratorios, operas, and numerous recitals in North America and Europe. As such, her New York City debut took place in December of 2001 as the mezzo-soprano soloist in Beethoven’s Messe in C and the Chorale Fantasie with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s.
The accordion, however, has remained her most beloved musical companion. An instrument of great difficulty, physicality, and virtuosity, Mary-Lou is a fervent advocate for the resurgence of the accordion on an international level. She is a founding member and accordionist in the nouveau cabaret ensemble, “L’Accordéoniste” whose CD was launched in July of 2009.
Mary-Lou devotes herself to the preservation of the operatic art, unwaveringly,unfettered, and with love…SO STOP @#$%^&* IT UP!!!
