Constance Rock, DMA
Associate Professor of Music (Voice)
Coordinator of Vocal Studies
(860) 486-4195
Constance.Rock@uconn.edu
Constance Rock, soprano, "is a joy to listen to" hails the Hartford Courant review of her performance as soloist in Britten's War Requiem, under the direction of Richard Coffey. In the 2007–2008 season she will be appearing with Connecticut Concert Opera as Leila in Bizet's Les pecheurs de perles. The Hartford Courant review of her 2006 appearance with Connecticut Concert Opera, in the title role of Martha, notes "soprano Constance Rock made the demanding role seem effortless, hitting the high notes without a hint of strain."
Her performance in the title role of Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor with New Britain Opera was described by the Hartford Courant as "riveting … fascinating … her high D's, E-flat's and E's rang out beautifully clear." Highlights of her operatic performances include leading roles with Connecticut Opera, Connecticut Concert Opera, Opera Theater of Connecticut, and the Blossom Music Festival hosted by the Cleveland Orchestra. Her operatic repertoire includes Gilda in Verdi's Rigoletto, Violetta in Verdi's La Traviata, Pamina in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, Constanze in Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Norina in Donizetti's Don Pasquale, Elisa in Mozart's Il Re Pastore, Micaela in Bizet's Carmen, Marguerite in Boito's Mefistofele and Ginevra in Handel's Ariodante.
In demand as a concert and oratorio singer, Rock's oratorio performances have included Beethoven's Mass in C for the International Beethoven Symposium, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony for Connecticut Public Television, Vivaldi's Gloria with the New York Choral Arts Society, Dvorák's Te Deum with the Nebraska Chamber Orchestra and Chorus, Gorecki's Third Symphony with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra and Handel's Messiah with the Worcester Music Association. She has been a featured soloist with the Hartford Symphony. Her recital and master class schedule includes appearances in Connecticut, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and Nebraska. In 2007, Rock premiered the song cycle Rise and Fall, composed for her by Jake Heggie.
The recipient of many awards, Rock was a four-time winner of the District Metropolitan Opera Guild Competition and was a top prize winner for three years at the Upper Midwest Regional Metropolitan Guild Competition in Minneapolis. She was a first place winner in the Midwest Regional Auditions of the Merola Opera Program in Denver, sponsored by the San Francisco Opera, and first place winner of the Amici Vocal Competition. She also has been a finalist in the Connecticut Opera Guild Competition and the National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition.
Rock received the bachelor's degree in music performance and education from the University of Nebraska and the master's degree in vocal performance from the University of Nebraska. She received the doctor of musical arts degree from the University of Connecticut in 2005. Sought after for her expertise in vocal pedagogy, Rock's students sing professionally throughout the United States and Europe and are winning such prestigious competitions as the Metropolitan Opera Guild Competition, Richard Tucker Awards Competition, Connecticut Opera Guild Competition, Jenny Lind Competition, Amici Vocal Competition, Sullivan Awards Competition and the Liederkranz Competition, among others.