Profile
Dr. Jeanie Wozencraft-Ornellas, lyric soprano, made her professional debut with the Cleveland Opera in the role of Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi. Since then she has performed recitals, opera and oratorio throughout the United States and abroad. Twice a regional finalist and award winner in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions, she has performed in 13 countries including China, Spain, New Zealand, and Indonesia. In addition to her professional appearances, she has performed numerous benefit concerts to raise money for schools for the handicapped in Venezuela, Chile and Micronesia. Reviews have described her voice as “extraordinary” and 鈥渟ublime鈥� (Jakarta Post). 聽La Estrella of Iquique, Chile labeled Dr. Wozencraft-Ornellas “a soprano with extensive range, with notes lyrical, dramatic and an exceptional agility.” 聽After a recent performance in Santiago, Chile “the audience in the theatre gave ‘la Wozencraft’ a standing ovation, wanting more.” The El Paso Times applauded her “outstanding versatility” calling her artistic instincts “unimpeachable.”
As a founding member of the Trio Encantada (soprano, oboe and piano), and a member of the Terpsichory Trio (horn, soprano and piano), Dr. Wozencraft-Ornellas regularly appears in chamber concerts.聽 Both of the trios specialize in performing new musics, and has performed world premieres of chamber works such as Mark Dal Porto’s “Song of the Night,” and the first performance of Paul Stanhope鈥檚 鈥淪ongs for the Shadowlands鈥� outside of Australia. Jeanie is also a frequent soloist with Concordia, Santa Fe and the Southwest Symphony.
Dr. Wozencraft-Ornellas, listed among 鈥淥utstanding Musicians of the Twentieth Century,鈥澛� served on the faculty at Eastern New Mexico University for the past 32 years, teaching voice, vocal pedagogy, vocal literature, and directing opera and music theatre productions. She received degrees from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music (B.M. Vocal Performance), Bowling Green State University in Ohio (M.M. in Vocal Performance), and Florida State University (D.M. Vocal Performance).聽 She is a frequent clinician and judge for choral and vocal festivals in the southwest.聽 Her service to music education has been recognized with her induction into the New Mexico Music Educator’s Hall of Fame in 2008, and her receipt of the NMMEA Rollie V. Heltman Distinguished Service Award in 2016.
