Dorothy Duensing
Biography
Metropolitan Opera District Finalist (Detroit-1991), Dorothy Duensing, Mezzo Soprano, has brought audiences "spontaneously to their feet with her artistry and flair." In a review with the Dearborn Press and Guide, September 3, 1998, it stated, "Dorothy Duensing was stunning. Her accomplished vocal abilities, her stage presence and mysterious beauty combined to make her the perfect Carmen." She holds the Master of Music degree from the University of Michigan and the Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University, both in vocal performance, and State of Michigan Professional Teacher Certifications K-12 Vocal Music (JX) and 7-12 Speech (BD) which includes theatre & drama for in teaching within school classrooms, Orff Schulwerk Music Teaching Certifications in Levels 1, 2 & 3 and the Basic Diploma in Music Ministry with studies in Pipe Organ through Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. In addition, Ms. Duensing received extensive operatic training as the recipient of the Patricia Brinton-Becirovic Memorial Scholarship at the America Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) in Graz, Austria which led to numerous agent and opera house auditions throughout Germany and Austria, and many concert and Austrian television appearances then. In 2002, she placed Second in the Harold Haugh Vocal Competition sponsored by Comic Opera Guild of Ann Arbor, MI.
Ms. Duensing's opera, operetta and musical theatre engagements include the following companies: Toledo Opera Company, Verdi Opera Theatre, Arbor Opera Theatre, Friends of Opera of Michigan, Comic Opera Guild, Michigan Lyric Opera, and Guest Artist with Wayne State University's Opera Theatre & Oakland Community College Theatre. Among her varied roles include Carmen in Carmen, Dido in Dido & Aeneas, Lola and Lucia in Cavaleria Rusticana, Cherubino and Marcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro, Teresa in Magdalena, the Abbess in Suor Angelica, Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, Mother Abbess in Sound of Music, Mary Sunshine in Chicago, Simone Garrick in V. Herbert's Orange Blossoms , Alisa in Lucia di Lammermoor, and during her 1991-99 contracts as Artist-in-Residence with the Toledo Opera Company, the Mother, Hansel and the Witch in Hansel and Gretel, Amneris in Aida, Dalila in Samson et Dalila, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, Adalgisa in Norma, Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte, Nokomis in Jones' Hiawatha, Mdme. Magnifico in La Cenerentola, Mezzo Soprano roles in Sid and the Serpent Who Wanted to Sing, and Paul in Barab's The Toy Shop.
Ms. Duensing is soloist with regional orchestras such as the Detroit Symphony (Mozart's Requiem & Haydn's Paukenmesse), the Rochester Symphony (Handel's Messiah, Vivaldi's Magnificat, Dubois' Seven Last Words, Mozart's Requiem, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony (Choral), Southfield (Brahms' Alto Rhapsody and various opera scenes), Grosse Pointe (Durufle's Requiem & Mozart's Requiem), Jackson Chorale and Symphony (Mozart's Solemn Vespers), Plymouth-Redford (various opera scenes), Perrysburg (OH) (Messiah and various opera scenes),
Clarion (Ontario) Symphonies (Verdi's Requiem & Rossini's Stabat Mater), the Brazeal Dennard Choirs and Orchestra (Rossini's Stabat Mater), the Dearborn Summer Symphony (various opera, operetta and Broadway scenes), and numerous oratorios with the orchestras at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit (Handel's Messiah & Verdi's Requiem), Hartford Memorial Baptist in Detroit (Messiah), Burns Seventh Day Adventist in Detroit (Messiah & Dubois' Seven Last Words), Fort Street Presbyterian Church (Messiah, plus numerous other oratorios 1995-Present), Gesu Catholic Church in Detroit (Christmas Oratorio by Saint-Saens), St. Paul's United Methodist (Durufle's Requiem, Mozart's Coronation Mass, Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass, Dubois' Seven Last Words), Ward Church in Northville (Elijah), First Presbyterian of Northville (Messiah), First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak (Messiah, Vaughn Williams' Mass in G), WSU Faculty Solo Voice Recitals (2004, 2006 & 2013), and soloist with WSU Band, Combined Choirs and Orchestra at Old St. Mary's Church in Detroit.
Ms. Duensing's educators include voice teachers: George Shirley, Richard Miller, Loma Haywood, Martha Sheil, Elizabeth Mosher, Reri Grist, Virginia Zeani, Eva Likova, Willis Patterson, Carolyn Grimes Sherwood, Linda Brice, Dina Winter, Curtis Peters; conductors: Gustav Meier, Valery Leonov, Dennis Tini, Felix Resnick, Russell Reed, Jerry Blackstone, Richard
Piippo, Harold Arnoldi, Edward Kingins, Carolyn Eynon, Thomas Sheets, Frederick Bellinger, John DiCostanzo, Donald Weng, Brazeal Dennard, Norah Duncan IV, Robert Harris, Augustus Hill, William S. Harrison, Eduard Perrone, W. Jean Randall, Casey Proch; coaches: Eugene Bossart, Kevin Bylsma, Steven Gathman, James Wilhelmsen, Alan Smith, John DiCostanzo,
Ignace Strasfogel, Heinz Sosnitza, Patrick O'Donnell, Shawn McDonald; stage directors/acting teachers: David J. Lesenger, Ken Cazan, Ross Allen, Dick Jones, Jerry Dickey; and master classes: Richard Miller, Sherill Milnes, Nico Castel, Robert Evans, Yolanda Marculescu, Charles Bressler, Joan Dorneman, Nicola Rossi-Lemeni, Heinz Sosnitza, Eva Likova.
In addition to Ms. Duensing being faculty member at Detroit Opera House through Michigan Opera Theatre's Education Department, she is Adjunct Assistant Professor of Voice at Wayne State University-Detroit since September 2012 & again, from September 1999-2007; Choir Director, Organist & Pianist for St. George's Episcopal Church-Milford; Ms. Duensing is Director of DTE Singers since August 1, 2011. She is featured in Marquis' Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in America and Who's Who in Women in America. Ms. Duensing is an active member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), American Orff Schulwerk Association (AOSA), Sigma Alpha Iota (SAI)-International Professional Music Fraternity, The Tuesday Musicale of Detroit and Chapter AU (Northville) of PEO Sisterhood. She teaches private voice, drama and speech lessons within Metropolitan Detroit Area since 1990.