Miriam Kushel

Mrs. Joe

Soprano Miriam Kushel, described in Opera News as "brilliantly confident," has performed in opera, oratorio, recital and musical theatre.  In 2008, she was selected by renowned opera diva Martina Arroyo to perform the role of Amelia in Un Ballo in Maschera at the Kaye Playhouse in New York City.  She further explored the dramatic repertoire as a Studio Artist at Sarasota Opera where she covered the roles of Elizabeth in Don Carlos and the title role of Tosca.  Recent engagements have included the title role of Suor Angelica with dell’Arte Opera Ensemble in NYC, Lady Billows (Albert Herring) and Mrs. Grose (Turn of the Screw) at Intermezzo Music Festival and covering Magda Sorel in Opera New Jersey’s production of Menotti’s The Consul.

Miriam has performed with Glimmerglass Opera, Chelsea Opera, New York Lyric Opera Theatre, Bard Summerscape, Motor City Lyric Opera, and Ohio University (as a guest artist).  Past roles include Mother (Hansel and Gretel), Mother (Amahl and the Night Visitors), Old Lady (Candide), Queen (The Goose Girl), Clara (Signor Deluso), Forrester’s Wife/Owl (Cunning Little Vixen, in Czech), Terentia (The Beautiful Bridegroom, NY premier), Katerina (On Rosenstrasse, world premier reading)

Miriam also has a deep affinity for musical theatre and has taken part in a number of readings of new musicals in NYC.  These include the demo recording and workshop performances of Seth Bisen-Hersh’s More to Love, the Dramatists’ Guild presentation of Monica Bauer’s Diet Monologues, and numerous cabaret performances at NYC's Don't Tell Mama.  She also covered Fredericka von Stade in a concert presentation of Bernstein’s Candide at the Michigan Theatre, and was featured in Joan Morris’ original musical The Police Gazette, alongside Ms. Morris, George Shirley, and Carmen Pelton.  Miriam has performed in productions ofSweeney Todd, Company, Merrily We Roll Along, Sunday in the Park with George, Guys and Dolls and was music director of a production of Into the Woods.

Miriam has received training from SUNY Binghamton (BA, Highest Honors in Music), University of Michigan (MM), OperaWorks, the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, Martina Arroyo Foundation’s Prelude to Performance, and The Lake Placid Institute for the Arts.