Barbara Bland is a mezzo soprano. The Opera News complimented Barbara Bland on her “bright-voiced mezzo” and others have quipped “she cannot be described by her name” in review of her singing and acting. Barbara made her opera debut with Michigan Opera Theatre as “Annina” in La Traviata and has sung several roles with MOT including, “Mercedes” in Carmen, “Flora” in La Traviata, “Second Lady” in The Magic Flute, “Anoush’s Mother” in Anoush, and “Kate” in Madama Butterfly. She has been featured as a soloist with the Warren Symphony, Pontiac-Oakland Symphony, Macomb Symphony, Royal Oak Symphony and The Musicians of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Ms Bland has performed on the Professional Artist Series at Oakland University and has been a guest on the cable TV program Time Out for Opera, hosted by Karen DiChiera and Jonathon Swift. Barbara has also enjoyed musical theatre with such roles as “Nelly” in South Pacific, “Naughty Nancy” in Little Mary Sunshine, and “Hope” in Anything Goes.
Barbara received her BA and master’s degrees in Vocal Performance. Ms Bland was thrilled to be selected as one of the finalists in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions (Detroit District – Nov. 1995) and to be chosen as a winner of Michigan Opera Theatre’s Young Artists Apprentice Awards, 1996-97. As an apprentice, Barbara participated in many exciting master classes with artists such as Klaus and Helen Donath, Thomas Hammons, John DeMain and Steven Mercurio.
Ms Bland is a voice instructor and lecturer at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan.