|
Cassandra Extavour is a Canadian geneticist, researcher of organismic and evolutionary biology, professor of molecular and cell biology at Harvard University, and classical soprano singer. She began her vocal career with the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir in Toronto, before moving to Europe in 1995. Moving between Spain, Greece, and England, she studied voice under Carlos Mena (Madrid, Spain) and Richard Levitt (Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, Basel, Switzerland). She obtained her Honours Bachelor of Science, Molecular Genetics and Molecular Biology University of Toronto Schools (1985-1991); her Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Genetics & Molecular Biology; Mathematics; Spanish from University of Toronto (September 1991-May 1995); and her PhD degree in Drosophila genetics from Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (1995-2000). She made her Post Doctorate at IMBB-FORTH in Iraklio, Crete, Greece (2001); and at University of Cambridge, UK (2002-2004), where she was later Research Associate (2004-2007). She is the first Black woman to win tenure in the biological sciences at Harvard University.
Cassandra Extavour's recordings include Henry Purcell: Dido and Aeneas Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra (Director: Jeanne Lamon; CBC SM 5000 Recordings) and Codex Huelgas: Misa de Santa María la Real (Ensemble Huelgas, Director: Luis Lozano Virumbrales; Sony). She has soloed with numerous European ensembles, including Alia Musica in Madrid, Spain, La Capella de Ministrers in Valencia, Spain, and La Capilla Real de Madrid (Director: Óscar Gershensohn).
Cassandra Extavour's oratorio repertoire includes George Frideric Handel's Messiah, J. Haydn's Creation and Nelson Mass, Felix Mendelssohn's Elijah, W.A. Mozart's Requiem, and L.v. Beethoven's Missa Solemnis. Operatic roles include Belinda and Dido in Purcell’s Dido and Anaeas, Serpina in Giovanni Battista Pergolesi's La Serva Padrona, Marcellina in W.A. Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro and The Witch in Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel. She relocated to Boston, USA in 2007, where she currently studies with Jane Olian (Juilliard School) and sings with multiple professional ensembles, including Emmanuel Music (Director: Ryan Turner) and the Handel and Haydn Society (Director: Harry Christophers).
Cassandra Extavour taught Embryology Course Faculty, Drosophila/Arthropod Module at Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts (2003-2009). She then has served at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts: Assistant Professor (July 2007-June 2011); Associate Professor (July 2011-June 2014); Full Professor in Affiliated Departments: Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Molecular and Cellular Biology (since July 2014). She is also Investigator at Howard Hughes Medical Institute (since October 2021). |
