Biography
A native of Philadelphia and a young soprano of exceptional promise, Megan Monaghan was recently hailed by Opera News "...A voice of pure silver, easily negotiating coloratura flights of fancy with exquisite musicianship..." for her role of Gilda in Dayton Opera’s production of Rigoletto. Performances during the 2006-2007 season included Mabel in Glimmerglass Opera's The Pirates of Penzance, Juliette in both Anchorage Opera and Wichita Grand Opera's Roméo et Juliette, and Gilda in Rigoletto with both Madison Opera and Bob Jones University Opera. Performances during the 2007-2008 season included Euridice in L'Orfeo with Glimmerglass Opera, Musetta in Opera Pacific's La Bohème, Ah-Joe (c) in Teatro Grattaciello's L'Oracolo at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, as well as a recording of Lori Laitman's new opera, The Scarlet Letter, with the composer. In addition, Ms. Monaghan's 2007-2008 concert highlights included a recital, The Music of George Crumb, in a collaboration with the composer, and solo performances with the OC Pops. Upcoming performances include Hanna Glawari in Dayton Opera's production of The Merry Widow, Donna Elvira in Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra's Don Giovanni, Stella in I Gioielli della Madonna with Teatro Grattacielo, Gilda in Nashville Opera's production of Rigoletto, Marguerite in Faust, and Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Intermountain Opera. Upcoming Concert work includes featured performances in An Evening of Wolf-Ferrari with The Kosciuszko Foundation, The Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra's upcoming Gala, Annapolis Opera's Opera Lite Concert, Concert Operetta Theatre’s Concert Series The Music of the American Operetta, Mozart's Missa in C minor and Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro with The Vox Amadeus Orchestra at the Kimmel Center, as well as recitals with her voice and guitar/lute duo, Due Colori.Performances in the 2005-2006 season included Micaëla in Carmen with Dayton Opera, Floriana in Zazà at Alice Tully Hall Lincoln Center, Papagena in Die Zauberflöte with Madison Opera, Gilda (c) in Rigoletto with Florida Grand Opera, Soloist in Symphony in the Cities with Pacific Symphony, Soloist in A Night of Berstein with Madison Symphony, and performances with Due Colori.
Ms. Monaghan’s engagements during the 2004-2005 season included Cunegonde in Candide at the Teatro Argentina, Rome, Clomiri in Handel’s Imeneo at Glimmerglass Opera, Barbarina and Susanna (c) in Le Nozze di Figaro with Opera Pacific, Gilda in Rigoletto with both Dayton Opera and Eugene Opera and Soloist in Belle Voci Concert with Eugene Orchestra. In addition, Megan also recorded Maestro Lorin Maazel’s new opera 1984 with the conductor before its’ premiere at Covent Garden.
Ms. Monaghan has received rave reviews for her interpretations of other lyric-coloratura roles including Lucia in The Rape of Lucretia, Gilda in Rigoletto, Cunegonde in Candide, Musetta in La Bohème, Juliette in Roméo et Juliette, Micaëla in Carmen , Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Mary Warren and Abigail in The Crucible, Floriana in Zazà, Eve in Eve's Odd's, Clomiri in Imeneo and Pasha in Mavra. She has performed at leading opera companies throughout the United States and Europe including Glimmerglass Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Anchorage Opera, Opera Pacific, Opera Theatre of Lucca, Wichita Grand Opera, Dayton Opera, Eugene Opera, Festival Euro Mediterraneo, Madison Opera, and Lyric Opera Cleveland.
Ms. Monaghan has been a featured soloist with Dayton Philharmonic, Columbus Symphony, Eugene Orchestra, Opera Pacific Symphony, Madison Symphony, and Pacific Symphony Orchestra. Recent performances include a Soloist in Belle Voci Concert with Eugene Orchestra, a Soloist in Symphony in the Cities with Pacific Symphony, a Soloist in A Night of Berstein with Madison Symphony as well as roles such as Adele in a concert version of Die Fledermaus, and Pamina in Die Zauberflöte. Other notable performances include a concert at the White House and singing the role of Musetta in a special performance of La Bohème held at the historical home of Giacomo Puccini in Lucca, Italy.Ms. Monaghan has been awarded first place honors in such solo competitions as the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions of both the Southern Ohio and Southern California districts, Agnes Fowler Competition and the Klose-Seybold Opera Competition. She was nominated by Glimmerglass Opera to be the 2004 recipient of the Richard F. Gold Career Grant. Megan Monaghan is a master’s graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Barbara Honn.