Jennifer Barrett

Chicago-area native, Mezzo-Soprano Jennifer L. Barrett holds a BA in Vocal Music Education from North Central College, and a MA in Vocal Pedagogy from Northeastern Illinois University.  Her Masters thesis, focusing on the works of composer Samuel Barber, was featured in Time Out Chicago, The Daily Herald, and the NEIU Research Symposium.  Post-graduate studies have included Singing Voice Therapy, Hennessy Bodywork for Singers and Instructor Training, and the Estill Voice Method.  

Recent performance highlights include the US debut of John Plant’s I will fly like a bird, with Thompson Street Opera.  Her performance as Zofia was highly acclaimed by Chicago Classical Review, Chicago Theater Review, and was given special end-of-year recognition by Vocal Arts Chicago.   

As a company member of New Moon Opera in Chicago, Barrett has appeared in Gianni Schicchi (La Ciesca), Viardot’s Cendrillon (Maguelonne), Mesdames de la Halle (Madame Poiretapee), Trouble in Tahiti (Dinah), The Old Maid and the Thief (Miss Pinkerton), and Hansel and Gretel (Gingerbread Witch).  Other area credits include Ruddigore (The Savoyaires), La Traviata (New Philharmonic Orchestra), With Blood, With Ink and Dark Sisters (Third Eye Theatre Ensemble), Der Freischutz (Opera on Tap Chicago), Cavalleria Rusticana and Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Main Street Opera), Quantum Mechanic (The Floating Opera Company), and the world premiere of The Patriots.   

Jennifer will begin her twenty-fifth year of private voice instruction this fall, in her home studio and as a professor of Classical and Musical Theater Voice at North Central College.  She also serves as director of NCC OpShop (Opera Workshop), as well as the Alto section leader at First United Methodist of LaGrange.  Jennifer currently resides with her wife, Tracey, and she has two children: Rebecca and Aiden.  

Courses Taught

MUAL-100: Applied Classical Voice

THEA-221: Applied Musical Theater Voice

MUEN-105: Opera Workshop (NCC OpShop)