BIO
Megan Monaghan was hailed by Opera News “…A voice of pure silver, easily negotiating coloratura flights of fancy with exquisite musicianship...” as well as “A lustrous soprano, capped with high notes that sparkled like diamonds.”
Megan has received rave reviews for her performances with Nashville Opera, Madison Opera, Eugene Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Dayton Opera, Cincinnati Chamber Opera, Intermountain Opera, Bob Jones Opera, Opera Pacific, Concert Operetta Philadelphia, Teatro Grattacielo, Annapolis Opera, Anchorage Opera, Wichita Grand Opera, Teatro Argentina Opera, and Lyric Opera Cleveland.
Concert highlights include performances with the Vox Ama Deus Orchestra, Ocean City Pops, Madison Symphony, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Columbus Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Dayton Philharmonic, and Eugene Orchestra.
Recent recordings include El Intercambio: Works of Ernesto Lecuona & George Gershwin, Bach’s St. John Passion, Mozart’s Coronation Mass, and Solemn Vespers on VAD Classics as well as Lori Laitman’s The Scarlet Letter with the composer as well as Maestro Lorin Maazel’s new opera 1984 with the conductor before the premiere at Covent Garden.
Other notable performance highlights included being the featured soloist in a concert at the White House for President George Bush, as well as concerts at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully, Avery Fisher, and Fredrick P. Rose recital halls. Megan also sang the role of Musetta in a special performance of La Bohème held at the historical home of Giacomo Puccini in Lucca, Italy. She has been awarded first place honors in such solo competitions as the Metropolitan Opera National Council District Auditions.
Megan served on the music faculty at Muhlenberg College from 2004-2014. In 2014, she then joined the Music and CEL Faculty at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy where she has since become the Director of Arts. In addition to her classroom teaching, Megan regularly gives masterclasses on healthy singing techniques as well as character development. Notable awards for her teaching include the Edward C. Rorer ‘61 Faculty of Promise Award from Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.
Megan graduated with a double major in Music Education K-12 and Vocal Performance from Ithaca College, School of Music. She then went on to complete both a Master in Music as well a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music during which she served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. Megan's Doctoral dissertation research and study were in Havana Cuba at the Conjunto Folklórico Nacional de Cuba.