For soprano Sarah Joy Miller, 2011 includes Ms. Miller’s debut at Michigan Opera Theater singing Gilda in Rigoletto and the release of an album of arias she recorded with the Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Maestro Steven Mercurio in Pecs, Hungary. This follows a year filled with highlights, including appearances as Musetta in La Boheme at New York’s Symphony Space, Micaela in Carmen with New York Lyric Opera, and Violetta in La Traviata with Long Island Opera. She also performed in concert with Marcello Giordani in celebration of the newly created Marcello Giordani Foundation and was as a featured soloist with the St. Bart’s Music Festival. The year also brought Ms. Miller award recognition from the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation, the Gerda Lissner Foundation, the New York Lyric Opera Competition, and the Jensen Foundation.
 
Ms. Miller made her professional operatic debut singing Mimi in Baz Luhrmann’s acclaimed Broadway production of Puccini’s La Boheme and went on to reprise the role at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles. She recently made her Hong Kong Opera debut singing a series of Opera Gala Concerts with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and has also appeared in venues across the United States as Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte, Marguerite in Faust, and the title role of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor.
 
Ms. Miller’s musical collaborations and accomplishments reach well beyond the traditional scope of opera. Signed to Decca Records as part of the trio Three Graces, Ms. Miller recorded an album featuring production and song writing contributions by the finest producers in the pop music industry: Walter Afanasieff (Mariah Carey, Celine Dion), Desmond Child (Bon Jovi, Ricky Martin), Guy Roche (Christina Aguilera, Michael Bolton), and Mark Portmann (Luis Miguel, Barbra Streisand). Three Graces has performed throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico, including an invitation to perform at a Youth Rally honoring Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to New York, and has made numerous televised appearances. Additionally, Ms. Miller has been heard with the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra and appeared as a soloist with Andrea Bocelli and David Foster at the Vivere release event.
 
Ms. Miller has been featured in concert performances of works including Orff’s Carmina Burana, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Poulenc’s Gloria, Handel’s Messiah, and Carconi’s Gloria at the Bel Air Presbyterian Church, the Crystal Cathedral, and the California State University Northridge Theater. As a student at California State University Northridge, Ms. Miller was a finalist in the New York Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions (Los Angeles) and a finalist in the Los Angeles Artist of the Future competition. She earned prizes from the Palm Springs Opera Guild and was the recipient of the Elizabeth Parham Vocal Scholarship.
 
Ms. Miller currently resides in New York City and is a student of Bill Schuman.

Maestro Steven Mercurio is an internationally acclaimed conductor and composer whose musical versatility encompasses the symphonic and operatic worlds. After receiving his Masters degree from the Juilliard School he became Music Director of the Spoleto Festival for five years, and, Principal Conductor of the Opera Company of Philadelphia. Maestro Mercurio is also a sought after collaborator for many award winning recordings, arrangements and film projects.
 
Read more at: Steven Mercurio official site