Randi Marrazzo
RANDI J. MARRAZZO, soprano and co-founder of Lyric Fest, is a lover of song, research and unique programming. She believes it is important to share her passions with the community through singing and mentoring.
As an active recitalist on university campuses, she has performances at the Free Library of Philadelphia, Rydal Park and in Kennett Square, Pa. Recently appointed a Pennsylvania Commonwealth Speaker for 2008 and 2009, she will offer a program on the Musical Heritage of Pennsylvania for diverse audiences throughout the state. In addition, Randi will sing in the Venice Concert Series in Venice, Florida and is the soprano soloist for the Mozart Requiem with the Bucks County Choral Society. She has also appeared as soloist with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Richmond Symphony, Orchestra 2001, the Kennett Symphony, Immaculata Symphony, Newark Symphony and the Philly Pops, singing repertoire from Handel and Mozart to Broadway.
Randi has sung major roles with the Opera Company of Philadelphia, Mississippi Opera, Opera Delaware, Sarasota Opera and the innovative Pennsylvania Opera Theater. She also premiered several new operas, among them The Secret Garden. The New York Times reported of her portrayal of Marguerite in Faust for New York City Opera that "the happiest news came from the lips of Randi Marrazzo ... it is a full and smoothly powerful voice, true in pitch and motivated by an ardent and musicianly personality."
Randi earned a Bachelor in Music Education with Honors from The University of Delaware, and a Masters in Music from Catholic University. Continuing her operatic training, Randi studied with Todd Duncan and Boris Goldovsky at The Curtis Institute of Music. She was a Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Auditions and was granted voice scholarships from the prestigious William Sullivan and Walter Naumburg Foundations.
As Randi continues her career as both a performer and educator, she is presently a lecturer in voice at Temple University, having taught voice majors at the University of Delaware, and West Chester University. Many of her students now pursue graduate performance degrees at major institutions such as the University of Michigan, Northwestern University, San Francisco Conservatory and the Manhattan School of Music.
She extends her musical interests through civic initiatives as a member of the Board of Directors of the Marian Anderson Award where she helped initiate the Emerging Classical Artists Competition and has served as a judge for the competition for several years. She has acted as an Advisor for Young Audiences of Easter Pennsylvania and has edited a series of art song books for the young singer entitled: The First Solos: Art Songs by Women Composers. Her CD, a collection of love songs, is entitled: Wedding Classics Unveiled.