Upshaw, Dawn

American soprano; b. Nashville, Tenn., July 17, 1960. Upshaw studied at Illinois Wesleyan University, earning her B.A. degree in 1982. She then pursued vocal training with Ellen Faull at the Manhattan School of Music in N.Y., where she received her MA . degree two years later. She also attended courses given by Jan DeGaetani at the Aspen (Colorado) Music School.

In 1984 Upshaw won the Young Concert Artists auditions and entered the Metropolitan Operas young artists development program. The next year, she was co-winner of the Naumburg Competition in N.Y. After appearing in minor roles at the Metropolitan Opera in N.Y, she displayed her vocal gifts in such major roles as GAETANO DONIZETTI'S Adina and WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART'S Despina in 1988. She also pursued a notably successful career as a soloist with major orchestras and as a recitalist. In 1990 she sang Pamina in a concert performance of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte at the London Promenade Concerts, and in 1992 she appeared as the Angel in OLIVIER MESSIAEN's St. François d'Assise at the Salzburg Festival. In 1995 she sang STRAUSS'S Sophie in Houston, in 1996 GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL's Theodora at the Glyndebourne Festival, and in 1997 IGOR STRAVINSKY'S Anne Trulove at the Metropolitan Opera.

Upshaw's remarkable concert repertoire ranges from early music to the most difficult avant-garde scores. In recent years she has added American popular song to her repertoire.