“Soprano Jane Shivick is among this region’s most accomplished and versatile musicians and has garnered high praise for her extraordinary vocal abilities.” – Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra.
~ The New York Times has praised the soprano for her “character and vocal richness” (Winner’s Concert-Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions). The Boston Globe affirms that “Shivick has a voice evenly glamorous throughout its compass and an engaging stage presence” (Museum of Fine Arts Concert). Ms. Shivick had the privilege of debuting and performing the role of La Donna in Opera Providence’s world premiere of Enrico Garzilli’s Michelangelo to critical acclaim at the Providence Performing Arts Center, RI where “she sang perhaps the finest song in the show, the touching, “Deep in Your Heart” (The Providence Journal).
~ An award-winning and accomplished singer, Ms. Shivick is equally at home in opera, oratorio, concert, and recital. The Boston Herald states, “Shivick’s slightly exotic-toned soprano sounded lovely in an aria from Massenet’s Hérodiade. But she particularly impressed with her remarkably subtle delivery of the famous “Un bel di” from Puccini’s Madame Butterfly (Boston Esplanade Concert).
~ Orchestral highlights include such works as Mozart’s Mass in C Minor, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Brahms’ Requiem, Handel’s Judas Maccabeus, Dvorák’s Stabat Mater and Te Deum, Gorecki’s Symphony of the Sorrowful Songs, Rossini’s Le petit messe solennelle, Dubois’ Seven Last Words of Christ, Schubert’s Mass in A flat, Vaughn Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem, and Verdi’s Requiem, for which she was praised for her “brilliant tone” (Worcester Telegram & Gazette).
~ Among her many credits, Ms. Shivick made her Symphony Hall debut as a soloist with The Boston Pops Orchestra under the batons of Keith Lockhart, Steven Mercurio, and Federico Cortese, and has returned to work with Maestro Lockhart for several Pops concerts. She has been a featured soloist with the Boston Civic Symphony, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Brockton Symphony, Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra, Rhode Island Civic Chorale & Orchestra, Symphony Pro Musica, Thayer Symphony Orchestra, Heritage Chorale, Assabet Valley Mastersingers, Stow Festival Chorus & Orchestra, Brown University Orchestra, Worcester Chorus, Jubilate Chorale, Bridgewater State University Chorale, Nashoba Valley Chorale, and the New World Chorale. Ms. Shivick made her New York City operatic debut singing title role of Richard Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos with the dell’Arte Opera Ensemble. Paul Pelkonen of Super-Conductor wrote, “As Ariadne, Jane Shivick displayed a powerful instrument that was almost too big for the tiny theater. Her best moment was the low note (“Totenreich!”) in ‘Es gibt ein reich.’ She sang majestically in the final scene with Bacchus.” In addition, Meche Kroop of Opera Insider wrote, “The singers all did justice to their roles and acted them convincingly; The stars of the opera serie have tantrums that are recognizable and therefore hilarious. Suffice it to say that there was a true ensemble feel which can only be created by a long period of rehearsal and labor.”
~ The Boston Globe also declares, “Soprano Jane Shivick boasts a big voice with a metallic ring, bold high notes, and an ardent delivery. She has all the goods and is on her way to great things” (Boston Civic Symphony Concert). Following a performance of Schubert’s Mass in A flat with the Rhode Island Civic Chorale and Orchestra, the Providence Journal avows, “Shivick proved that she has a velvety side and that she’s always right on target.”
~ As a National Winner in the renowned Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Shivick was awarded a debut performance and live NPR broadcast with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra under the baton of Sir Charles MacKerras. She also garnered second prize in both the Metropolitan Opera New England Regional National Council Auditions and the Annamaria Saritelli-DiPanni Bel Canto Vocal Scholarship Competition. Subsequently, she has been awarded Encouragement Grants through the Gerda Lissner International Vocal Competition and has furthered her vocal studies at the Aspen Music Festival & School as a member of the Vocal Performance Program and Aspen Opera Theater Center where she first covered the role of Donna Anna in Mozart’s Don Giovanni conducted by Maestro Julius Rudel. Ms. Shivick has also toured with Sherrill Milnes & Friends as a member of the V.O.I.C.Experience Program in Orlando and Tarpon Springs, FL.
~ Ms. Shivick has been heard in concert with Opera Providence, Cape Cod Opera, Watershed Opera in Seattle, and Talents of the World, Inc. She continues to collaborate with her former student, soprano Sarah Callinan, in presenting “Dueling Divas,” a concert of high-octane arias, art songs, and duets, originally conceived by Cape Cod Opera’s director, David McCarthy, designed to highlight Shivick and Callinan’s teacher/student relationship which has led them to work together as colleagues.
~ In recital, Ms. Shivick has been heard on Boston’s WGBH, Worcester’s WICN, and Cape Cod and the Island’s WOMR radio broadcasts. In addition, her performances with the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra continue to be broadcast on WCUW Radio, 91.3FM in Worcester, MA. Following a solo recital, the Sturbridge Times wrote, “Jane is a well-known soprano whose credits are too numerous to mention. Whether Schubert, Strauss, Schumann, or Sondheim, Jane’s voice filled the hall, no matter what she sang. It is an understatement to say that the evening was a success.” Most recently, Jonathan Blumhofer of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette wrote, “Soprano Jane Shivick packed many of those same qualities into her readings of songs by Rachmaninoff, Brahms, and Richard Strauss. She has a huge range, which was demonstrated rather explosively in Rachmaninoff’s “Zdes khorosho” and “Ya zhdu tebya,” and a pleasing variety of dark shades in her tone (nicely displayed in a pair of Brahms duets with baritone Ron Williams). To my ears, though, she was at her best in her closing trio of Strauss lieder, especially “Allerseelen” and “Zueignung,” which allowed her to fully channel the lyrical and dramatic sides of her musical personality” (Schubertiad concert). During a recent performance of Brahms’ Ein Deutches Requiem, “Shivick delivered a powerhouse performance, a piece which includes an opening line in German translated to, ‘You are sad now.’ An eager crowd eagerly lost the title in translation, offering a raucous applause for Shivick’s talents” (Charlie Peters, The Enterprise).
~ Ms. Shivick earned a B.A. in music from Assumption College and furthered her vocal performance studies at The Hartt School (University of Hartford). She has studied voice with Jane Eaglen, Maria Spacagna, Ruth Falcon, Gary Kendall, Michael Trimble, George Shirley-Professor Emeritus at the University of Michigan, and worked as a student in master classes with Martina Arroyo, Sherrill Milnes, Edward Berkeley, Robert Spano, and Fabrizio Melano. Ms. Shivick has also studied dramatic interpretation and movement with Chuck Hudson and Ellen Rievman.
~ In addition to performing, Ms. Shivick continues to teach in her private studio in Worcester, MA while conducting vocal workshops and masterclasses for singers in high schools, colleges, and choruses throughout the New England area. She has served as the Director of Chapel Choirs and Principal Cantor at Assumption College, Choral Director for the Sutton Public Schools, Vocal Instructor for The Hanover Theatre & Conservatory, and as an adjunct faculty member in Applied Voice at Clark University and Anna Maria College. Ms. Shivick is currently a Board Member of the Boston Wagner Society and in January 2024, was accepted to the University of Essex/Voice Study Centre in Colchester, England as a Master’s degree candidate in Vocal Pedagogy.
~ Visit and “like” Ms. Shivick’s Facebook Fan Page, to receive updates on upcoming engagements and events!
