Opera Lafayette - William Sharp

Canadian soprano Millicent Scarlett hails from Winnipeg, Manitoba. She received her Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Brandon University in Canada. While at Brandon she received the silver medal, rarely awarded for the highest GPA in the Applied Music Performance degree. From there she attended University of Maryland College Park, where she received her Master of Music in Opera. She also holds a certificate of study from the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria.

On the operatic stage, Ms. Scarlett made her professional debut in the role of Clara in Porgy and Bess with Opera Illinois under the baton of Feora Contina. She also has performed the roles of: Melide in L'Ormindo by Cavalli, Dido in Dido and Aeneas, Godelieva in the North American premiere of Dounaudy's La Fiamminga, and several roles in an opera created for the University of Maryland Opera Studio. Fatal Song, written by Kathleen Cahill, conducted by Paulette Haupt and directed by Leon Major, was debuted by the opera studio in November 1996. In this opera she played the roles of The Countess, Violetta, Desdemona, Poppea and Manon Lescaut. Ms. Scarlett was also part of the reading for another debut opera, Vanqui, composed by Leslie Burrs and commissioned by the Columbus Opera. She has performed the one-woman opera, The Italian Lesson, by Lee Hoiby. As a Winner of the Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition, she performed the role of Mrs. Ford in Falstaff along with Mo. Pavarotti and Mo. Leone Maggira.

Ms. Scarlett has extensive professional experience both in concert and on stage. As the winner of the Western Canada's Young Artist Tour competition, she embarked on a 13-city tour of the western provinces. Since then, Ms. Scarlett has performed with the National Symphony, The Orchestra Internazionale d'Italia Philharmonic Choir in Kitchener-Waterloo, Fairfax Choral Society, The Washington Chorus, York Symphony, University Of Maryland Wind Ensemble, University of Maryland Symphony Orchestra, Winnipeg Youth Orchestra. She has been soprano soloist in works such as Mozart's Requiem, Faure's Requiem, Verdi's Requiem, Haydn's Creation, Handel's Israel in Egypt, and Lord Nelson's Mass.

She has worked with Douglas Mears, Leon Major, Robert Shafer, Ingemar Ohlsson, Cathy Pickar, Roberto de Clara, Roger Folstrom, William Hudson, Howard Dyck, Joan Dornemann, Lucy Arner, and John Wakefield, to name a few. Additionally, Ms. Scarlett has performed in such venues as The Arts and Letter's Club in Toronto, Canada and Washington DC, The National Cathedral, Japanese Embassy, Canadian Embassy, Beacon Dacour House, Glenn Gould Studio, and Teatro d'Aquila. One of her most interesting performances occurred at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, where she was a part of the live broadcast of the 2000 Outback Bowl half-time show.

She has won numerous awards and scholarships. Some of note are: Winner of the Luciano Pavarotti International Competition, Winner of the Mid-Atlantic Region Metropolitan Opera Competition, National Semi-finalist of the Metropolitan Opera Competition, 2^nd place Mid-Atlantic region winner, and numerous study and encouragement awards.

Ms. Scarlett currently resides in Maryland and is a professor at George Washington University in DC. She is part of an actively performing voice faculty and gives lectures, master classes, adjudications and coachings.