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The glorious award-winning voice of Norma Mayer has thrilled audiences from the Italian opera stage to the African-American church to Russian concert halls. Critics and presenters have been ecstatic in their praise (Santa Cruz Good Times: "remarkable opera diva … true operatic force to contend with…a unique essence…an attractive nuance that she brings to the role." Coast Weekly: "a real find." Monterey Herald: "splendid singer … a meltingly rich voice." Clyde Thompson, Composer: "...brought out a richness and depth in the words that goes even beyond the music, I think. She is a tremendous operatic dramatic soprano." Leonid Tikhomirov, St. Petersburg promoter: "Norma sings with such force and passion...like a lioness!") Mayor of Bopfingen, Germany: "Weltstimme!"
She holds BM, MM, and DMA degrees in Voice Performance. Norma has studied at Baylor University, University of Texas, Carnegie Mellon University and Accademia Vocale di Lucca (Lucca, Italy). Awards and honors for her vocal artistry include the Margarette McGammon Award of Excellence awarded by the Fort Worth Opera Guild, finalist of the International Puccini Vocal Competition, winner of the National Society of Arts and Letters Vocal Competition, numerous National Association of Teachers of Singing awards, and finalist of the Tuesday Music Club Vocal Competition, to name a few.
An avid recitalist, Norma often collaborates with her husband, flutist Richard Mayer. The two performers have recorded the following CD’s together: Norma and Richard Mayer At The Rimsky-Korsakov Museum, Norma and Richard Mayer In Concert At L’Eglise St.-Pierre, Norma and Richard Mayer In Concert At Incarnate Word College, and Cathedral. In addition, the two have recorded the following DVD's: Norma and Richard Mayer In Estonia, Spirituaalid, and Norma and Richard Mayer: African-American Spirituals Program.
Norma's extensive repertoire includes lyric, spinto, dramatic, and dramatic coloratura soprano roles. In addition, she has a vast oratorio, classical art song, American musical theater, and African-American spirituals repertoire.
Highlights of 2003 included performances in Monterey County Schools under the auspices of Monterey Opera’s acclaimed Opera in the Schools Program, as well as the role of Gilda in Monterey Opera’s production of Verdi’s Rigoletto.
Highlights of 2004 included a concert tour of Estonia, performing with the Promenade Symphony Orchestra in Haapsalu, and being awarded the Garthshore Memorial Fund Grant by the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts of Carmel, California for a series of concerts in the schools under the auspices of Opera-Essence Performances. Additionally, she sang the role of Leonore in Monterey Opera’s production of Verdi’s Il Trovatore to critical acclaim.
Highlights of 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2009 included concert tours of France, including performances in Paris and Brittany. A concert tour of Estonia in 2008 included nine concerts throughout the country. In addition, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014 also included tours of Germany. Other noteworthy performances have included Lucca, Italy, Munich, Germany, Zurich, Switzerland, and Vienna, Austria.
As a performer and Co-Artistic Director of Opera-Essence Performances, 2013-present, highlights include the continued mission of introducing opera and classical music to audiences of all ages. In addition, since 2016 Norma and Richard have been quite busy with studio recording. The results of these recording sessions are available at Bandcamp.com
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