Lisa Edwards-Burrs, soprano
Dr. Edward-Burrs has earned degrees in Vocal Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, (B.M. and M.M.) and The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., (D.M.A.). An accomplished lyric-coloratura soprano, her performances in recital, oratorio and chamber music are extensive. Her operatic roles include: Athena in The Furies, Ola/Harriet Tubman in Vanqui, Blanche in Dialogues of the Carmelites, Monica in The Medium, Despina in Così fan tutti, Treemonisha in Treemonisha, Adina in L’elisir d’amore and Poppea in L’incoronazione di Poppea.
She has received numerous awards and was the national second-place prizewinner of the Artist Award Competition from the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Other notable recognitions include the Carson Silver Medal and monetary award at the American Traditions Competition of Savannah! Onstage and the prestigious Theresa Pollak Outstanding Vocalist of the Year Award for Excellence in the Arts from Richmond Magazine.
Dr. Edwards-Burrs has appeared in the concert series of several universities and was twice a featured artist of Art Song of Williamsburg. Chosen by the United States Information Agency to serve as an Artistic Ambassador, she toured South America for five weeks with pianist Melanie Day, performing recitals, conducting master classes and making television appearances. She has also given concerts for symposiums at the International Conference for Moral Rearmament in Caux, Switzerland. As a part of the Amalfi Music and Arts Festival based in Vietri sul mare, Italy, Dr. Edwards-Burrs performed in several concerts of arias and opera scenes and as Sister Genovieffa in Suor Angelica in several cities, including Cava, Salerno, Porcini and Amalfi.
Her concert and recital performances of the works of African-American composers and other contemporary works have received critical acclaim. As an affiliate artist of Opera North, Inc., Dr. Edwards-Burrs was featured last season in the leading roles of Miranda in the Philadelphia premiere of H. Leslie Adams’ Blake and of Cleopatra in the world premiere of Egypt’s Nights by composer Leslie Savoy Burrs and acclaimed author and sculptor Barbara Chase-Riboud.
She was invited by her alma mater, Virginia Commonwealth University, to perform in the Gala Opening Concert as well as the Faculty Recital of Heitor Villa-Lobos: An International Conference and as the soloist in Poulenc’s Gloria with the VCU Orchestra and Choral Ensembles. Recently, she appeared in Beethoven’s Mass in C with the Virginia Heritage Masterworks Chorale, as Alice in the opera Lyrics of Sunshine and Shadows by composer Steven M. Allen and as guest artist with the Richmond Chamber Players. She is an Assistant Professor of Voice at Virginia State University.
