Trainer Profile

Emily Sternfeld-Dunn, soprano, is a strong advocate for new music and unconventional performances of art song and opera. Ms. Sternfeld-Dunn regularly gives recitals across the country featuring works of contemporary American composers. Most recently she was the soprano soloist in Beethoven’s 9thsymphony with Mid-Columbia Symphony and sang the role of Love Simpson in Carlisle Floyd’s Cold Sassy Tree. In 2013 she sang the role of The Mother in Opera Kansas’ production of Amahl and the Night Visitors. Significant performances with Hartford Opera Theater include Laetitia in Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thiefand Aunt Polly and Susy Harper in Tom Sawyer, a new work commissioned by the company. She has performed with the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, Connecticut Concert Opera, the Idaho Washington Symphony, and the Palouse Choral Society. Ms. Sternfeld-Dunn was a finalist of the American Prize Art Song category in 2014 & 2019, and the Oratorio category in 2014. Her album, SHE (the music of Jake Heggie and Ricky Ian Gordon) was released in April 2018.            While living in Hartford, Ms. Sternfeld-Dunn founded Hartford Opera Theater, which has since produced over 30 operas and remains a vibrant and exciting musical highlight of the greater Hartford region. She also regularly produces recitals of new music; most recently incorporating contemporary dance during her performance of “Too Few the Mornings Be,” a song cycle by the living American composer Ricky Ian Gordon. In April of 2018 her CD “SHE” will be released on Navona Records.            As an educator Ms. Sternfeld-Dunn has taught voice and piano lessons for the last sixteen years. She has been on faculty teachig voice at Washington State University, Southwestern College, Fort Hays State University, and Wichita State University while maintaining a private studio. Her students have performed professionally within both the classical and music theater genres. Regionally her students perform with Music Theater Wichita, Wichita Grand Opera, Wichita Chorale, Crown Uptown, and Roxy’s. Ms. Sternfeld-Dunn’s students are nationally competitive, having won awards through KCATF and NATS. Ms. Sternfeld-Dunn has a Bachelor of Arts degree in music with an emphasis in piano performance from California State University, Hayward where she graduated magna cum laude. She also has a Master of Arts degree in music with emphases in piano and vocal performance from Washington State University, Pullman. Ms. Sternfeld-Dunn holds a Graduate Professional Diploma in vocal performance from The Hartt School.She lives in Wichita, KS with her husband and daughters.