Jessica Renfro, mezzo-soprano,
has been described as “alert and quick in her acting and superb as a
singer” with “deliciously playful comic timing” and a “sparkling voice”.
“At times Renfro left her audience almost breathless with admiration as
she breathed life into her character and spun melodies into charismatic
suggestion” (Stephen Neal Dennis www.allartsreview4u.com, Mark J. Estren The Washington Post, T.L. Ponick The Washington Times).
She holds a Master's Degree and Graduate Performance Diploma in Opera
from the Peabody Conservatory, and has studied with world renowned
singers such as François Loup and Phyllis Bryn-Julson. Ms. Renfro has performed over thirty leading and supporting roles including Romeo in I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Cenerentola in La Cenerentola, Der Komponist in Ariadne auf Naxos, Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Concepcion in L'heure Espagnole with such companies as Baltimore Opera Center, Opera Vivente, Bel Cantanti Opera, and many more. She
enjoys a busy schedule of solo concert work with symphonies and choral
societies throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, as well as with
her quartet OperaBelle. She recently debuted at Carnegie Hall with Pacific Encore Performances singing excerpts from Carmen and Samson et Dalila.
Ms. Renfro looks forward to playing the role of Cenerentola in Jacksonville Lyric Opera's La Cenerentola with acclaimed director Donald Westwood at the Bellayre Music Festival this August. Also she will appear as Soh-Jin in the world premier of the opera Ssibaji by
composer Ye Sung Lee and renowned librettist Laura Harrington. Dicapo
Opera, the third largest opera company in New York City, has engaged
her as a Resident Artist for the 2010-2011 season.