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The American mezzo-soprano, Alyson Harvey, studied at Williamsville East High School in Buffalo, New York and at City Honors School in Buffalo, New York, She obtained her Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey (Class of 1981); her Master of Music degree in Voice Performance from University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music (Class of 1987); and her Artist Diploma in Operafrom University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.
Alyson Harvey's performances have been described in reviews as “sterling,” “theatrically meaningful,” and “beautiful, compelling, and inspired.” She is acclaimed for her concert and recital work in a variety of repertoire from J.S. Bach to Johannes Brahms to Benjamin Britten, and has appeared with many organizations across the USA, including Tempesta di Mare (Directors: Gwyn Roberts & Richard Stone), Princeton Pro Musica, Brandywine Baroque Ensemble, Manhattan Choral Ensemble, Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra, Berkshire Bach Society, Philadelphia Singers (since September 1991), Westminster Choir, Riverside Choral Society of New York City, and Philadelphia Orchestra where she was soloist in Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms under the baton of Bobby McFerrin. She made her Carnegie Hall debut with the Masterwork Chorus of New Jersey, conducted by Andrew Megill, in George Frideric Handel’s Messiah, appearing with them again in their 50th Anniversary concert of J.S. Bach's B Minor Mass (BWV 232) where her Agnus Dei was reviewed as “heartrending.”
Alyson Harvey has appeared at The Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center, the Connecticut Early Music Festival, and at both the USA and Italian Spoleto Festivals, where she had the pleasure of working directly with Gian Carlo Menotti in a production of Puccini's Suor Angelica. She made her Carnegie Hall debut in performances of Messiah with the Masterwork Chorus of New Jersey. She made her Alice Tully debut in Copland's In the Beginning at the New York Philharmonic Orchestra's Copland Festival. She is a long time member of Fuma Sacra (since June 1996), whose home is in Princeton, New Jersey, and is a regular member of the Carmel Bach Festival (since July 2007) held each summer in California.
Currently voice instructor at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, Alyson Harvey slso maintains an active private voice studio in Philadelphia, and in Philadelphia she can frequently be found singing at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church (since September 1992). Home is also in Philadelphia where she happily resides with husband, Richard E. Pollins, and kitties Mikey and Judy. |
