Marisa De Silva

Biography

Marisa De Silva is a soprano, voice teacher, and Certified Teacher of the Alexander Technique. As a singer she has performed in numerous festivals in Europe and in Asia as well as throughout North America. In addition to the operatic repertoire, Ms. De Silva has distinguished herself particularly in the field of early music performance practice and art song repertoires of Spain, Japan, Ibero-America, and new music.

Ms. De Silva is a dedicated recitalist and has continued her studies in furthering her repertoires interpretation. She has studied and performed with composers, Jake Heggie, John Harbison and with pianist, Martin Katz. She also spent two summers in Spain where she studied with Teresa Berganza and pianist, Miguel Zanetti as well as guitarist, Jose Maria Gallardo del Rey. Furthermore, she studied works of Catalan and South American composers in Barcelona with Marisa Martins, Patricia Caicedo, and Dr. Stela Brandão. She has been invited by the Tuscia Opera Festival in Tuscia, Italy, as the soprano soloist for the festival’s Exultate Jubilate concert series and she also holds recitals in Japan frequently where her first album, “Marisa” became available in 2013 with much success.

In recent years her interest in early music grew stronger and she is currently pursuing a DMA in Early Music Voice Performance at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music under the direction of Adam Gilbert. She is the recipient of the Colburn Foundation Scholarship in Early Music. She has recently been invited to the American Bach Soloists Festival and sang as soprano soloist in their annual performance of Bach’s Mass in B Minor under the baton of Jeffrey Thomas. Her research interests include rhetorical gestures used by singers from the Baroque period. She was recently the recipient of a grant from the Early Arts Guild of Victoria to apprentice with Helga Hill, OAM, to further the study in 17th century opera gestures.

Ms. De Silva earned her Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees in Vocal Performance from Illinois State University, where she was given numerous honors for her singing and academic achievements.

Education (2)

Illinois State University: M.M., Vocal Performance 2007

Illinois State University: B.M., Vocal Performance 2004

Areas of Expertise (3)

Vocal Performance

Early Music Performance

Alexander Technique & Movement

Industry Expertise (1)

Music

Accomplishments (1)

Certified Teacher of the Alexander Technique (professional)

2009-05-15

I have completed the 1600 hour sover 3 years required by the American Society of the Alexander Technique to complete a teacher training to be an AmSAT Certified Teacher of the Alexander Technique. I have also served on the national board of AmSAT for two years, one of which as Treasurer.

Affiliations (2)

• The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT)
• National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS)

Languages (2)

• Japanese
• English

Research Grants (1)

Apprentice Grant

Early Arts Guild of Victoria $1,500

2016-06-28

Marisa was given a grant to study with Helga Hill, OAM of Victoria Australia to further her understanding of rhetorical gestures used by singers in the Baroque period. Helga Hill, who is a very well-known gesture and Baroque dance expert, met with Marisa every day for two weeks in the summer of 2016 to teach her to further her understanding in applying rhetorical gestures, especially in historic opera settings.