DR. DANIELLE MCKAY

Biography

Danielle enjoys singing music of many genres and feels at home on the opera, concert, and musical theater stage. A few of her favorite past roles include Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Laurie Moss in The Tender Land, Madame Pompous in Too Many Sopranos, Laurette in the English version of Bizet’s Le Docteur Miracle, two roles in Speed Dating Tonight!, and the Dew Fairy in Hansel and Gretel. Previous operatic appearances include recording the beloved duet between Violetta and Germont from La Traviata with Patrick Carfizzi, Adina in L'elisir d'amore, Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, Adele and Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus, and Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief. Danielle is looking forward to singing with the Washington National Opera in the (R)evolution of Steve Jobs next year and premiering the role of Mannequin in Ceasar and the Mannequin with The Alliance for New Music-Theater this Fall.

In concert, Danielle has performed Górecki's second movement of Symphony No. 3, the soprano solos in Brahms' and Mozart’s Requiems, and Respighi's Laud to the Nativity broadcasted on EWTN. Previous musical theater roles include Jeanie in Hair, under the direction of André De Shields, and three seasons with Artpark & Company in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, All Shook Up, and Fame.

Danielle McKay holds a Doctor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from The Catholic University of America, where she studied under Sharon Christman. She received the Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarship and the Lucia Braddock Graduate Voice Scholarship while working on her Doctorate of Musical Arts. Her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance is from the University of Memphis, where she studied under Mary Wilson. Her Bachelor of Music Education (K-12 band and chorus) degree is from The State University of New York College at Buffalo.

Danielle is currently a vocal technique instructor and director of the Sophisticated Ladies choir at the prestigious Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Many of her students continue on for music at the best music schools and conservatories in the country. She is an adjunct voice professor at the Catholic University of America. Aside from singing and teaching, she is a certified yoga instructor and teaches yoga at Georgetown Law. She also enjoys going to dance classes, writing music, getting out in nature, and spending time with her tuxedo cat Ellington.