Bio

Emily Sternfeld-Dunn, soprano, is a strong advocate for new music and unconventional performances of art song and opera. Ms. Sternfeld-Dunn regularly gives recitals across the country featuring works of contemporary American composers. Significant performances with Hartford Opera Theater include Laetitia in Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief and Aunt Polly and Susy Harper in Tom Sawyer, a new work commissioned by the company. She has performed as a soloist with the Mid Columbia Symphony, Wichita Symphony Orchestra, Connecticut Concert Opera, the Idaho Washington Symphony, and the Palouse Choral Society. Ms. Sternfeld-Dunn was a finalist in the Art Song and Oratorio categories of the American Prize in 2014.

            As an educator Ms. Sternfeld-Dunn has taught voice and piano lessons for the last sixteen years. She has been on faculty teaching voice at Southwestern College, Washington State University and Wichita State University while maintaining a private studio. Her students have performed professionally within both the classical and music theater genres. Regionally her students perform with Music Theater Wichita, Wichita Grand Opera, Wichita Chorale, Crown Uptown, and Roxy’s. Ms. Sternfeld-Dunn’s students are nationally competitive, having won awards through KCATF and NATS.

Ms. Sternfeld-Dunn has a Bachelor of Arts degree in music with an emphasis in piano performance from California State University, Hayward where she graduated magna cum laude. She also has a Master of Arts degree in music with emphases in piano and vocal performance from Washington State University, Pullman. Ms. Sternfeld-Dunn holds a Graduate Professional Diploma in vocal performance from The Hartt School. She lives in Wichita, KS with her husband and daughters.

While living in Hartford, Ms. Sternfeld-Dunn founded Hartford Opera Theater, which has since produced over 30 operas and remains a vibrant and exciting musical highlight of the greater Hartford region. She also regularly produces recitals of new music; most recently incorporating contemporary dance during her performance of “Too Few the Mornings Be,” a song cycle by the living American composer Ricky Ian Gordon.

Ms. Sternfeld-Dunn has a Bachelor of Arts degree in music with an emphasis in piano performance from California State University, Hayward where she graduated magna cum laude. She also has a Master of Arts degree in music with emphases in piano and vocal performance from Washington State University, Pullman. Ms. Sternfeld-Dunn holds a Graduate Professional Diploma in vocal performance from The Hartt School. She lives in Wichita, KS with her husband and daughters.