Kimberly McCord
soprano

Kimberly McCord grew up in rural Missouri, spending countless hours singing in her bedroom and church.  She played piano and French horn and was the drum major of the high school marching band.  Kimberly was lucky to be part of a strong choral program led by an incredibly dedicated teacher, William T. Grega.  This preparation led to a place at prestigious Indiana University School of Music where she earned a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance with Honors.

 

Kimberly then received a Fulbright grant to study Baroque music in London with Dame Emma Kirkby at the Guildhall of Music and Drama.  She lived in Europe for eight years, performing Baroque operas including Medée in Lully’s Thesée with William Christie conducting, on tour through Europe, Dido in Dido and Aeneas with the Gabrieli Consort and Créuse in Medée (Charpentier) at the Dartington Festival, England. 

 

During that time Kimberly recorded the Bach Magnificat and Oster Oratorium for Deutsche Grammophon with the Gabrieli Consort, Paul McCreesh conducting. Other oratorio performances include Messiah with the Croydon Bach Society in London, Handel’s Israel in Egypt with the Dutch Bach Society and the Fauré Requiem also in the Netherlands.  While living in the Netherlands, Kimberly became a member of the Amsterdam Opera Studio.  She shifted in later repertoire, appearing in Andriessen’s Writing to Vermeer, and Vivier’s Rêves d’un Marco Polo.  

 

Kimberly returned to the States and sang Fiordiligi for Milwaukee Opera Theatre’s production of Così fan tutte.  She became a member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago chorus while continuing to do solo projects.  She has understudied many roles at Lyric and created the role of the German Diplomat in the Lyric commission, Bel Canto, by Jimmy Lopez, based on the Ann Patchett novel.  

 

She has twice gained acclaim in titles roles for Chicago Folks Operetta, first in Leo Fall’s The Rose of Stambul and later Madame Pompadour.  A recording of The Rose of Stambul is available from Naxos.

 

Still an avid singer of Baroque music, Kimberly made her debut with Haymarket Opera as Dido in their production of Dido and Aeneas by Purcell.  She has appeared with Music of the Baroque in Mozart’s Solemn Vespers, Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, Handel’s Dixit Dominus and Vivaldi’s Gloria.  More Baroque appearances include Bach’s St. Matthew and Handel’s Messiah with the Alabama Symphony under Gary Thor Wedow.

 

Kimberly has appeared at the Peninsula Music Festival in their performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Knoxville, Summer of 1915 by Samuel Barber under direction of Victor Yampolsky.  She has also sung Mozart and Verdi’s Requiem there as well as the role of Donna Anna in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. 

 

Kimberly has taught voice privately in European homes and Chicago intercity schools.  She hopes to help others find meaning and personal expression through singing.