Joyce El-Khoury

2005 Winner of the Brian Law Opera Scholarship Competition

Most recent biography, submitted by the artist in October 2009.

Joyce El-Khoury is currently a member of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. A graduate of Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA) in Philadelphia, Ms. El-Khoury performed the roles of Tatyana in Eugene Onegin, the title role in Massenet’s Manon, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, the title role in Puccini’s Manon Lescaut (Act II), and Violetta in La Traviata. She has performed as the soprano soloist in Rossini’s Stabat Mater and Mendelssohn’s Elijah, also with AVA. Ms. El-Khoury spent the summers of 2006 and 2008 at the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Program, where she covered First Lady in Die Zauberflöte and Alice in Verdi’s Falstaff. Other recent engagements include Nedda in Pagliacci at the Crested Butte Music Festival and with Knoxville Opera, Marguerite in Faust with Opera Camerata of Washington, D.C., Pamina in Die Zauberflöte with Opera Lyra Ottawa, the soprano soloist for the Mozart Requiem and Vesperae de Dominica with Coro Vivo Ottawa; and the soprano soloist in Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with the Riverside Symphonia. She recently recorded a recital for CBC Radio under the auspices of the Canadian National Arts Centre’s Debut Recital Series.

She is a First Prize winner of the George London Foundation; 2^nd Prize winner in the Gerda Lissner International Voice Competition, International Semi-Finalist in Plácido Domingo’s Operalia Competition, Fourth Prize winner of the Giulio Gari International Competition, Fifth Prize winner of the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation Competition; and was a finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (Eastern Region). She was also the First Prize winner in the Mario Lanza Vocal Competition, First Prize winner and WRTI Radio audience favorite in the Giargiari Bel Canto Competition. She was the recent Second Prize winner at the Palm Beach Atlantic Vocal Competition, and winner of the 2005 Brian Law Opera Scholarship. Ms. El-Khoury was also the Third Prize winner of the Orchèstre Symphonique de Montréal National Competition, Galaxy Rising Star of the CBC Award, and the Vivian Asfar Memorial Award for Vocal Excellence from Opera Lyra Ottawa.

Recently featured with the Metropolitan Opera MET IN THE PARKS Recital Series 2009, Ms. El-Khoury will be making her Metropolitan Opera house debut this season with roles in Le nozze di Figaro, Suor Angelica and Simon Boccanegra.

From the program notes to the Reception with Gerald Finley, held 21 September 2006:

A native of Ottawa, soprano Joyce El-Khoury, is a recent graduate of the University of Ottawa. While finishing her undergraduate degree, Joyce had the opportunity to perform such roles as Mimi in La Bohème, Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana, Second Lady in Die Zauberflöte, the title role in Bizet’s Carmen as well as Tatyana in Eugene Onegin. Her professional mainstage debut was in the role of Giovanna in Rigoletto with Opera Lyra Ottawa, where she was part of the Young Artist Program. As part of this program she had the opportunity to perform the role of Carmezzo in the premiere of Zeus and the Pamplemousse. Many performing opportunities have come from her relation with Opera Lyra Ottawa, including concerts of opera excerpts and private concerts for the Italian Ambassador. Other recent performing experiences include Dorabella in Cosí fan tutte with Teatro Bramante (Italy) as part of Oberlin in Italy, Countess in Le nozze di Figaro at the National Gallery of Canada and the premiere of the role Pixie Fairy in The Last Wife at the Brockville Arts Centre.

Joyce spent the summer of 2006 as a member of the prestigious Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Singer Program where her assignments included a cover of First Lady in Die Zauberflöte and the title role in selected scenes from Arabella. Other recent engagements include soprano soloist for Mozart’s Requiem and Vesperae de Dominica with The Blackburn Symphony (Canada) and Handel’s Lucrezia Cantata with Concert Opera Philadelphia. In 2006/2007 Joyce will be attending the Academy of Vocal Arts where she will reprise her Tatyana in their production of Eugene Onegin and in the summer of 2007 she will sing the role of Nedda in I Pagliacci at the Crested Butte Music Festival.

At the young age of 24, Joyce has performed as soloist in Rossini’s Stabat Mater, Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Dvorák’s Te Deum with the University of Ottawa Orchestra. At the National Arts Centre she had the opportunity to perform as a featured soloist at the prestigious Governor General’s Performance Awards Gala and in Haydn’s Creation under the baton of Helmut Rilling. She has also recently given a solo recital at the 2005 Crested Butte Music Festival in Colorado, as well as a recital recorded and broadcast for the CBC.

Joyce has been the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships. She was a finalist in the Competizione internationale dell’Opera in liaison with Dresden Opera, as well as finalist in the Palm Beach Opera Competition. She is the recent 2^nd prize winner at the Palm Beach Atlantic Vocal Competition, winner of the 2005 Brian Law Opera Scholarship, winner of 2004 University of Ottawa Concerto Competition and the 2003 Winner of the Women’s Division and Most Promising Singer Award of NATS. Joyce was also the 3^rd place winner of the Orchèstre Symphonique de Montréal National Competition, recipient of the Ottawa Music Club Award, Galaxy Rising Star of the CBC Award, Monsignor Habib Kwaiter Scholarship, William H. Kelly Scholarship and the Vivian Asfar Memorial Award for Vocal Excellence.