Brahms Requiem Soloist
Taylor Troyer
Soprano
Whether she is appearing on the concert or operatic stage, American born soprano Taylor Troyer — awarded for her promising talent in 2015 by the Des Moines Metro Opera Guild —has established herself as a brilliant young voice in the world of classical music. Her voice and artistry have been described as “exquisite, with an electrically energized timbre, but also with warmth and depth.”
Originally from southeast Iowa, Ms. Troyer received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Iowa State University, where she studied with acclaimed mezzo-soprano Mary Creswell. During her time at Iowa State, she was heard as Lauretta in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, for which she was praised for her “endearing youth and sweetness”, and received profound praise for her electrifying portrayal of The Queen of the Night in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. Ms. Troyer received her Master of Music in Vocal Performance at Carnegie Mellon University under the instruction of internationally renowned soprano Maria Spacagna. Her credits at Carnegie Mellon include First Lady (Die Zauberflöte), Carolina (Il matrimonio segreto), and Danica (Svadba). She has also been fortunate to study in the exceptional coaching studios of Djordje Nesic, Jodi Goble, and Mark Carver, and has sung for artists such as Simon Estes, Kendra Colton, Roberta Alexander, and Thomas Muraco.
Her voice has been heard throughout the world, from Carnegie Hall to European concert tours, where audiences have delighted in her singing of often formidable programs — ranging from Strauss, to Mozart, to Britten — with stunning beauty and expression. On the concert stage, Ms. Troyer has been a frequent and celebrated guest soloist for the Iowa State Singers, appearing several times alongside the ensemble and their conductor, Dr. James Rodde, on the stages of ACDA National Conventions across the country. Her oratorio credits include Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem, and Händel’s Messiah and Judas Maccabaeus.
Ms. Troyer is also deeply passionate about the continued performance of new works; she premiered the role of The Girl in Elliot Yokum and Sarah Florence Barker’s one-act opera Starsong for Compos-it Opera Festival in 2018. She made her international debut at 26 years old in Belgrade, Serbia as Danica in Ana Sokolović’s Svadba at the National Museum of Belgrade (Narodni muzej).
Currently, Ms. Troyer resides in Raleigh, NC, and spends her day-to-day in the North Carolina Symphony music library as the Assistant Librarian. She sings regularly with the choirs of Christ Church on Capitol Square under the direction of David Jernigan, and the North Carolina Master Chorale under the direction of Al Sturgis. She is also an enthusiastic teacher of voice and piano, and maintains a private studio in Raleigh with students of all ages.
Joshua
Conyers
Baritone
Grammy-nominated baritone Joshua Conyers has been singled out by Opera News for his “deliciously honeyed baritone that would seduce anyone,” by The New York Times as having “a sonorous baritone” that “wheedled and seduced,” and by The Washington Post for giving a "show-stealing" performance. A native of The Bronx, NY, he is known for his captivating performances and recognized as one the promising young dramatic voices of today.
Mr. Conyers is an alum of the prestigious Cafritz Young Artists program at Washington National Opera,
where he appeared as the First Priest in The Magic Flute, Germont in La Traviata, British Major in Silent
Night, Donkey in The Lion, the Unicorn, and Me, and Zaretsky in Eugene Onegin, and was slated to appear in 2020 performances as John Sorel in The Consul, covering the Reverend in Blue, and singing Jim and covering Jake in Porgy and Bess.
Highly sought after for contemporary opera, Mr. Conyers performed the role of Jason in the world premiere of Matt Boehler and Laura Barati’s 75 Miles and Uncle Wesley in Carlos Simon and Sandra Seaton’s Night Trip for Washington National Opera’s American Opera Initiative. Additionally, he covered the roles of Mr. Umeya in the American premiere of Ruo and Chong's Dr. Sun Yat-Sen in Mandarin Chinese and Walt Whitman in the world premiere of Morrison and Cox's Oscar, both with the Santa Fe Opera.
As a concert artist, Mr. Conyers made his Carnegie Hall début in 2018 as the baritone soloist in Mozart’s Regina cœli, K. 276, Vaughn Williams’ Serenade to Music, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, and Mark Hayes’ Te Deum under the baton of distinguished composer and arranger Mark Hayes with MidAmerica Productions. Joshua also made his début at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2018 as the baritone soloist in the Duruflé Requiem with Manhattan Concert Productions under the baton of Anton Armstrong. In 2019, Mr. Conyers was a soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra, performing with world-renowned Maestro Gianandrea Noseda and singer/songwriter Ben Folds. He was a guest artist at
Opera Wilmington/UNC Wilmington’s annual Opera Symposium in celebration of Caterina Jarboro and in conjunction with Black History Month. Additional concert and oratorio credits include Bach's St. Matthew Passion, Handel's Messiah, Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem, Fauré’s Requiem in D minor, Vaughan Williams' Dona nobis pacem, and Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana.
Mr. Conyers’ numerous vocal competition and award credits include: Metropolitan Opera National Council District Winner (2010, 2011, 2015, and 2019), Metropolitan Opera National Council Regional Encouragement Award Winner, Catherine Filene Shouse Career Grant Award Winner, Annapolis Opera Top Prize Winner, Career Bridges Grant Award Winner, S. Livingston Mather Scholar Competition Top Winner, the Charlotte
Opera Guild Competition Top Prize Winner, and the Heafner/Williams Vocal Competition Top Prize Winner. He has also participated in the training programs of Wolf Trap Opera, the Glimmerglass Festival, Des Moines Metro Opera, and Santa Fe Opera.
Mr. Conyers is currently on the voice faculty at the Eastman School of Music.