Nadine Cheek (mezzo-soprano) is a native of Georgia, where she completed a BM at Wesleyan College (’79), studying with Norman McLean. She earned a Masters degree in Vocal Performance at the College Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati (‘81), studying with Nancy Carr and Lucile Evans. Following the completion of that degree, she performed frequently in the Cincinnati area as a member of the Vocal Arts Ensemble, the Center Civic Opera, Cincinnati Opera and Mad Anthony Opera. She was heard there as soloist in performances of Bach's Mass in B Minor, Handel's Messiah, Mozart's Requiem, Stavinsky's Les Noces, Bizet's Carmen and Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitor's.
Later, she studied at Yale University, where she continued her vocal training
with Lili Chookasian and completed another MM (’91) with emphasis in Choral
Conducting. She was heard there as soloist in performances of the Kodaly Missa
Brevis, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Mozart's Coronation Mass and Mahler’s
Kindertotenlieder. She taught at Marshall University (Huntington, WV) in
1992-93, a sabbatical replacement position, and was heard there in performances
of Respighi’s Laud to the Nativity, Rossini’s Stabat Mater and the Bach
Christmas Oratorio. She also performed Bach's St. John Passion with the Notre
Dame Chorale (South Bend, IN) in 1993.
Ms. Cheek is heard frequently in concert and recital across the United States
and in Europe. In May 1994, she premiered "Falling," a commissioned work by
composer Martin Bresnick (Professor of Composition at Yale University) with the
Macon Symphony Orchestra. "Falling" was presented at Yale, later that year. In
1994, she was an apprentice with the Dorian Opera Theatre, Iowa and performed
the role of ‘Berta’ in The Barber of Seville. She was a featured performer for
several seasons with the New Texas Festival in Austin. She was soloist in
several performances of Handel's Messiah with the Handel Oratorio Society (Augustana
College) in Rock Island, IL. In the summers of 1996 and 1997 she was heard in
operatic roles, including ‘Carmen’ and ‘Mama Lucia’ at the Theaterhof in Humbach,
Germany. Continuing her vocal studies with Professor Sylvia Stone at the
University of Illinois, she was awarded a University Fellowship. In the summer
of 1998, she was a Performing Fellow for "SongFest" at U. of California, Irvine.
In 1999 she performed and studied in Italy as part of the Spoleto Vocal Arts
Symposium. The fall of 1999 saw Whitney performing again with the Macon Symphony
Orchestra in their program “Opting for Opera.” For this occasion, Whitney
performed the role of ‘Dido’ from Dido and Aeneas (Purcell), as well as other
arias, duets and ensembles. In the spring of 2000, she presented a recital with
Eddi De Nadai, Italian coach/accompanist on the campus of Wesleyan College. She
returned to Italy in the summer 2000 for several recitals with Edward Eikner,
accompanist and again in March 2002 for recitals with Mr. De Nadai. Recent
performances of “Falling” include one at Florida State University in 2005 and at
Birmingham Southern University in 2008. Most recently she has enjoyed exploring
and performing music from The Great American Songbook in Cabaret style
showcases. At Wesleyan she is the Mildred Goodrum Heyward Professor of Music and
Chair of the Music Department.
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