Soprano Jacqueline Quirk is making her mark in the realms of operatic performance throughout the world as one of opera’s outstanding stars. Ms. Quirk is recognized for roles that reveal a captivating full lyric soprano with an acclaimed versatile range. She is celebrated as a leading interpreter for her roles as Mimi (La Boheme), Violetta (La Traviata) and Cio-Cio San (Madama Butterfly). 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 San was 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 Times says “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 interpretation of roles including Micaela (Carmen), Marguerite (Faust), Nedda (I Pagliacci), Musetta (La Boheme), Pamina (The Magic Flute), and Hanna (The Merry Widow). The soprano 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. Highlighting her career performances are: Hawaii Opera Theatre, Washington National Opera, La Monnaie (BE), Asheville Lyric Opera, Annapolis Opera, Opera Florham and Vero Beach Opera. In 2006-07’ Season, Ms. Quirk performed, Nella/Suor Dolicia (Il Trittico) with Hawaii Opera Theatre, Cio-Cio San (Madama Butterfly) with Asheville Lyric Opera and the Mansfield Symphony, as well as a feted return to Asheville Lyric Opera as Violetta (La Traviata), and an illustrious Mimi in (La Boheme) with Saint Petersburg Opera. Upcoming engagements include a Pacific Rim Concert Tour with Hawaii Opera Theatre in Great American Voices and Mimi (La Boheme) with Belcantanti (DC).
Also active as a concert artist, Ms. Quirk has been a featured soloist with Symphonies in Honolulu, Tanglewood, Pittsburgh, Mansfield, Jacksonville, Washington National, Bangkok, Choral Arts Society (DC), and the Little Orchestra Society (NY). She was a finalist in the International Classical Singer Competition (NY), the Violetta DuPont Vocal Competition, Paul Robeson Competition, Di Capo Opera Competition and The Singer of the Year Competition (Shreveport Opera). She holds a B.F.A in Vocal Performance form Carnegie Mellon University and her M. A. from New York University. Ms. Quirk was a member of the Mae Z. Orvis Opera Studio with Hawaii Opera Theatre, as well as the Apprentice Programs of Tanglewood Opera Festival, and in Europe with Opera Plus and La Monnaie (BE).
