September Pops: Steppin’ Out
Guest Artist
LEAH CROCETTO, soprano
Soprano Leah Crocetto has just returned from San Francisco where she performed in the Merola Opera Program to critical acclaim. She performed Manon in Massenet’s Manon, and Norina in Donizetti’s Don Pasquale. San Francisco Classical Voice called her an “omni-soprano” and stated that “In thirty years of exciting discoveries, listening to each group of Merolini for the first time, I have never experienced a singer as complete and awesome as Crocetto.” Crocetto has been said to have the “Irresistibly penetrating voice of Birgit Nilsson, but more beautiful.” In the Grand Finale concert she performed the roles of two Verdi heroines, Luisa Miller and Leonora from Il Trovatore with “Powerful Verdi voice and formidable precision technique” (San Francisco Chronicle) as well as “an intensity that amplifies an already huge voice, and an unparalleled flexibility of voice. Added to that a command of drama (or comedy in the case of Donizetti) and an innate, irresistible musicality” (San Francisco Classical Voice). While opera is Crocetto’s calling card, she is no stranger to musical theatre and the wonderful tunes of Broadway. She finished at Siena Heights University in acting where she performed the role of The Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, and Lucy in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, among many other great productions. She is also no stranger to the Croswell stage where she performed rolls such as BJ in Smokey Joe’s Café, Ann in Swing, and Muzzy VanHossmere in Thoroughly Modern Millie. Crocetto has performed with various orchestras across the country, including the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, members of the San Francisco Symphony, and members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She as performed and studied with some of the world’s foremost musicians such as Martin Katz, Sheri Greenawald, Mark Morash, Carol Vaness, Vinson Cole, Jane Eaglen, Catherine Malfitano, Malcolm Martineau, Stephen Blier, and Evelyn Lear. She has also won many vocal competitions as well, including the Italian American Foundation, and the Bel Canto Competition.