A native of Alabama, Melissa received her training from the University of Alabama, where she received a B.A. degree, the New England Conservatory and the St. Louis Conservatory of Music where she received both a Master of Music and Graduate Diploma in vocal performance. She attended the Institute of Vocal Arts in St. Paul, MN studying with founder Elizabeth Mannion. Her primary teachers have been Elizabeth Mannion and David Gordon.

Melissa has been featured at Westminster Abbey in London on tour with the St. James Episcopal Church of Los Angeles, CA and on tour with the New England Conservatory Chamber Singers in Taiwan and Japan at the Showa University for Women.

She has performed as a soloist with the San Francisco Chamber Singers at the Herbst Theater in San Francisco, Stanford University Memorial Chapel with the American Guild of Organists, the Bach Society of St. Paul, MN, New England Light Opera summer concert series, St. Martin Chamber Players of Peoria, IL, Christ Church Cathedral Concert Series, St. Louis, MO and has been featured as a soloist on public radio broadcasts in Massachusetts, Illinois and Missouri. She was a semi-finalist for the New York Oratorio Competition and has premiered works by Daniel Pinkham and Frank LaRoca.

Melissa has sung in Open Mics at the Savory Lane Bistro in Acton, MA and the Tcan Center for the Arts in Natick, MA.

Melissa’s love for sacred music has taken her to churches and cathedrals throughout the US including Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Birmingham, AL and St. Paul, MN where she has been featured on concert series, benefits and premieres. In addition to teaching at WCMS, Melissa is a freelance singer for churches and temples in the greater Boston area.

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