REHANNA THELWELL
Mezzo-soprano
Hometown
Avenel, NJ
Resides
Ann Arbor, MI
Education
Northern Arizona University, University of Michigan
2018/19 Highlights:
• Carnegie Hall debut with University of Michigan Men's Glee Club
• Concert series with Kenai Peninsula Orchestra in Alaska
• Return to Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Mezzo-soprano Rehanna Thelwell has been applauded for her “superb and expressive power” by the South Florida Classical Review while her collaborations have been described as a “tour de force” by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Her voice has been commended as “one of beauty and distinction” with “rich vocal qualities” by Palm Beach Arts Paper and Arizona Daily Sun.
In her most recent performances, Thelwell had the honor of joining Opera Theatre of Saint Louis for their 2018 season as a Gerdine Young Artist. There she covered the role of Addie in Blitzstein’s Regina while working with the creative minds of Patricia Racette, Ron Daniels, and Stephen Lord. Earlier this year, Thelwell had the immense pleasure of performing alongside Talise Trevigne and Morris Robinson in The University Musical Society’s Porgy and Bess as Maria. At the end of her Specialist Degree, she had the unique opportunity to work alongside composer William Bolcom for his newest opera, Dinner at Eight, and performed as the alto soloist with the University of Michigan’s Symphony Orchestra for their performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2. During the summer season, Thelwell joined the Miami Music Festival Wagner Institute for a second time in their production of the Götterdämmerung prologue as the 2nd Norn. In her first year with the Wagner Institute, Thelwell had the privilege of sharing the stage with soprano Christine Georke and bass-baritone Alan Held for their rendition of “The Ride of the Valkyries.” Thelwell also took part in OperaMODO’s 2016-2017 season as Mistress Quickly in Verdi’s Falstaff and Florence Pike in Britten’s Albert Herring. During that time, Ms. Thelwell was invited to sing with the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra for their performance of Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevsky in Anchorage, Alaska.
Thelwell was actively involved with the University of Michigan Opera Theatre and Northern Arizona University Opera Theatre where she performed the roles of Ulrica in Un ballo in maschera, La Principessa in Suor Angelica, Cornelia in Giulio Cesare, Zita in Gianni Schicchi and Ježibaba in Rusalka. Through the University of Michigan Opera Theatre, Thelwell had the opportunity to premiere the San Francisco opera workshop production of Bright Sheng’s Dream of the Red Chamber as Lady Wang.
This season, Ms. Thelwell will be returning to Alaska to perform a concert series with the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra, and will return to Opera Theatre of Saint Louis for their 2019 season. In the Fall, Ms. Thelwell will be making her Carnegie Hall debut performing alongside the University of Michigan’s Men’s Glee Club under the conduction of Eugene Rogers.