Renowned Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music graduate Jennifer Rowley '02 continues to take center stage at the Metropolitan Opera as she earns even more roles at the storied opera house.
The award-winning soprano, who has performed internationally at top festivals and opera houses, has earned the praise of leading critics as well as professional peers. With words like magnificent, brilliant and exhilarating to describe her emotive and powerful performances, reviewers, such as Ryan McPhee in the Feb. 1 issue of Playbill, continue to validate her ascent to world's greatest stages.
Ongoing presence at the Met
Rowley made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 2014 as Musetta in Puccini's "La Bohème." Last spring, she debuted as Roxane in Alfano's "Cyrano de Bergerac."
This season, the Ohio native has two engagements at the Met, a recent debut as Tosca and current performances as Leonora in "Il Trovatore" Jan. 22-Feb. 15. The opening night had a worldwide radio broadcast via Met Opera Radio online and Sirius XM Met Radio. A Feb. 3 matinee will include an audio broadcast on WCLV 104.9.
Sharing her Knowledge
In addition to graduating from BW with a major in music performance, Rowley studied at Indiana University School of Music and the Instituto Superior del Arte, Teatro Colón.
Rowley often returns to BW to work with the next generation of vocalists. This past summer, she gave a master class at the Baldwin Wallace Summer Opera Intensive amid numerous lectures, recitals and her wedding. Rowley will give another master class at the Conservatory of Music Feb. 17.
To aspiring artists, she offers this reflection about what it means to debut at the Met. Though quoted from a 2014 magazine article, the words still echo true to her. "It's the dream. It's what you dream of when you're going to class at 8 a.m. in your pajamas when you're in college and you're dragging and have your coffee in your hand. This is all so that I can make my debut at the Metropolitan Opera. This is what it's all for."
