Mezzo-Soprano, Veronica McHale was
just contracted to cover the role of Dame Quickly in the 2008 Lyric Opera of
Chicago’s production of Falstaff. On March 16th 2008 she will reprise the
role of Mama Lucia (Cavalleria Rusticana) with the Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra.
Later this spring she will premiere the song cycle (Songs
of Love and Transience) written for Veronica by Chicago composer and director of Accessible Contemporary Music, Seth
Boustead. Veronica will also be
featured in the January issue of Classical Singer Magazine.
Veronica
made her debut with Union Avenue Opera this past July as La Zia Principessa
(Sour Angelica) and La Ciesca (Gianni Schicchi). Earlier in the 2006-2007
season she made her second appearance with Muddy River Opera as Katisha (The
Mikado) and was Marcellina (Le Nozze di Figaro) with Chamber Opera Chicago. She
was also the alto soloist in the Mozart Coronation Mass with the Salt Creek
Sinfonietta. As an Apprentice Artist with Chautauqua Opera during the summer of
2006 Ms. McHale appeared as The Duchess of Plaza-Toro (The Gondoliers) and the
Abbess (Suor Angelica). During her apprenticeship she covered the Baroness
(Vanessa) and The Princess (Suor Angelica), and was a soloist with the
Chautauqua Symphony in a Pops and Mozart highlights concert. Ms. McHale was a
recipient of the 2006 Chautauqua Opera Guild Apprentice Award.
During the 2005-2006 season Veronica performed
Little Buttercup (HMS Pinafore) with Muddy River Opera and reprised the role
with Arizona Broadway Theater. That summer she was a member of San Francisco
Opera’s prestigious MEROLA program and appeared as Marcellina in their
production of Le Nozze di Figaro. During the spring of 2005 Ms. McHale made her
debut with Tulsa Opera as Mama Lucia (Cavalleria Rusticana).
In 2004 Ms. McHale was an active participant in the City of Chicago’s Cultural
Center Operas, appearing as the Sorceress (Dido and Aeneas), the Old Woman
(Candide), and the Mother/China Cup/Owl (The Bewitched Child). With Chicago
Opera Theater she performed as the Russian Nanny (Death in Venice) and covered
Arnalta (L’incoronazione di Poppea). As a member of Chicago Opera Theater’s
Young Artist Program during the 2002 and 2003 seasons, Ms McHale covered Mrs.
Grose (The Turn of the Screw) and Juno (Semele), while also performing
shortened versions of the roles, as well as covering Eva (Comedy on the
Bridge).
Veronica is a 2007/2008 finalist in the "Classical Singer" aud/comp.
She is also a 2004 and 2005 Metropolitan Opera Guild Regional Finalist. She won
the 2005 Chicago Opera Society Scholarship and is a recipient of the 2003
Musicians Club of Women Farwell Award.
