Soprano Jacqueline Quirkis making her mark in the realms of operatic performance throughout the world as one of opera's exceptionally exciting stars. Ms. Quirk is internationally recognized as possessing a captivating full lyrico-spinto soprano voice with an extensive versatile range. Celebrated as a brilliant interpreter of Mimi (La Boheme) and Cio-Cio San (Madama Butterfly), she receives glowing reviews wherever she performs. The New Bern Sun Journal says "Building on the resounding voice of the principal lead, Asheville Lyric Opera delivered a stellar performance of Madama Butterfly. As expected, Soprano Jacqueline Quirk as Cio-Cio Sanwas the jewel in the troupe's operatic crown. Quirk provided strong voice, co-mingled with tacit emotion expressed in both song and acting. She brought experience to the stage and provided a positive operatic experience." Likewise, the Saint Petersburg Timessays “Jacqueline Quirk was a properly ardent Mimi. Quirk had the high notes for the spectacular arias like "Mi chiamano Mimi" and was at her expressive best in the Act 3 scene "Donde Lieta" in which the consumptive heroine tells Rodolfo he can keep a pink bonnet in memory of her."
Ms. Quirk is also highly regarded for her flawless interpretations of Violetta (La Traviata), Nedda (I Pagliacci), Liu (Turandot), Marguerite (Faust), Micaela (Carmen), Suor Dolcina (Il Trittico), Nella (Gianni Schicci),and is broadening her range into the Verdi sopranos such as Leonora, and Desdemona. Gracing operatic stages worldwide, highlights include Hawaii Opera Theatre, La Monnaie (BE), Annapolis Opera, Bangkok Symphony, Vero Beach Opera, Asheville Lyric Opera, St. Petersburg Opera, Canton Symphony, Mansfield Symphony, Amato Opera, Opera Florham, Puccini Opera Co. of DC, Jacksonville Lyric Opera and First Coast Opera.
The artist also has a passion for American Opera and was privileged to make her debut at the Kennedy Center (DC) with Patti LuPone and conductor Steven Mercurio in the opera Regina, and was a featured artist in "Great American Voices" with the NEA National Concert Tour.As an active concert artist, Ms. Quirk has performed with symphony orchestras that include Honolulu, Tanglewood, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, and Choral Arts Society, DC.
In 2008 Jacqueline Quirk was selected as the only American finalist in the International Madama Butterfly Competition in Nagasaki, Japan and made her Carnegie Hall debut in the International Verismo Opera Competition. In addition, Ms. Quirk was a finalist in the International Classical Singer Competition (NY), Violetta DuPont Vocal Competition, Paul Robeson Competition, Di Capo Opera Competition and Singer of the Year Competition (Shreveport Opera).
Upcoming engagements include the soprano's debut in 2009 with the Canton Symphony as Cio-Cio San (Madama Butterfly), a debut with Opera Idaho as Marguerite (Faust), a concert tour of China with Tenor Feng Jinxin, a debut with Miami Lyric Opera as Mimi (La Boheme), and a return to Hawaii Opera Theatre in 2010 as Ortlinde (Die Walkure).
Holding a B.F.A in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University and an M. A. from New York University, Ms. Quirk is also a graduate of Yale Drama Acting Program and apprenticeships with Tanglewood Opera Festival, Belgium's Opera Plus and Hawaii Opera Theatre Studio.
