Portland, Oregon mezzo-soprano and composer Dr. Lisa Neher thrives in the crossroads of the concert hall and the theatre stage. Trained as a stage actress, she is equally at home in the worlds of opera and spoken theatre, bringing dramatic specificity and committed physicality to her performances. Neher’s compositions are shaped by her keen sense of dramatic timing and feature aching, lyrical phrases, energetic rhythmic motives, and intensely dissonant pitch clusters.
Neher is in high demand as a performer of contemporary and standard repertoire and was recently seen performing at New Music Gathering in Boston, with Resonance Vocal Ensemble in Portland, and across Iowa and the Pacific Northwest presenting a recital of art songs by female composers. She premiered the leading role of Jennifer in the Rita Ueda’s chamber opera One Thousand White Paper Cranes for Japan with the Singaporean ensemble Chamber Sounds. Neher’s commissions include works for Durward Ensemble, the Glass City Singers, Coe College Orchestra, Kirkwood Community College Chamber Singers, pianist Michael Kirkendoll, and flutist Rose Bishop. Her work “Twister” is featured on Daughters of Earth, Durward’s first CD, and her song “Tuesdays and Thursdays” was selected for publication in the NewMusicShelf Tenor Anthology of New Music.
Neher holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice Performance & Pedagogy from the University of Iowa, a Masters of Music in Composition from the University of Kansas, and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Music and Theatre from Lewis & Clark College. She spends her free time distance running, watching science fiction movies, and baking delicious treats involving copious amounts of chocolate. For more information, visit her website, www.lisanehermusic.com
Academic Credentials
DMA 2016 The University of Iowa; MM 2011 The University of Kansas; BA 2009 Lewis & Clark College