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Praised for her “ripe mezzo of polished sheen and warmth,” mezzo-soprano Claire Shackleton is known for her colorful tone and magnetic stage presence. Recent appearances have been with Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra in the Mozart Requiem and in the role of Julia Child in Opéra Louisiane’s production of Bon Appétit. In recent seasons, Claire has also had the opportunity to appear with several New Orleans-based chamber ensembles to perform the solo cantata Medea in Corinto by Antonio Caldara, Bach’s cantata Vergnügte Ruh, Respighi’s Il Tramonto, and Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. 

 

Most notable operatic performances include Prince Charming in Cendrillon and Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro with Kentucky Opera, Dorabella in Così fan Tutte with Pine Mountain Music Festival,  Dinah in Trouble in Tahiti,  Mrs. Soames in Our Town, and Jade Boucher in Dead Man Walking with Central City Opera, Hermia in Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Hawaii Opera Theatre and Siébel in Faust with Austin Lyric Opera. Operatic appearances have also been made with Glimmerglass Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, New Orleans Opera Association, Opera in the Heights, Ohio Light Opera, Santa Fe Concert Association, and Pacific Opera Project.

 

Throughout her career, Ms. Shackleton has passionately pursued the opportunity to works for the stage and concert hall as well as new music workshops including the Kentucky Opera workshop of Ben Moore’s Enemies, A Love Story as Tamara, Logan Skelton’s Letters to Santa presented by Loyola University New Orleans, Stacy Garrop's work The Book of American Poetry Volume III with the Dallas Voices of Change New Music Ensemble, a setting of Rilke poetry by Tucker Fuller titled The Book of Hours with New Resonance Orchestra, and Book of Saints by Tucker Fuller with the Marigny Opera Ballet.

 

Claire Shackleton completed her Master of Music Degree at the College-Conservatory of Music. While at CCM enjoyed the opportunity to sing Der Komponist in Ariadne auf Naxos and Dorabella in Così fan Tutte, as well as concert performances of Ravel’s Shéhérazade and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.  Ms. Shackleton completed her Bachelor of Music Degree at Loyola University New Orleans where she appeared as Tessa in The Gondoliers and won the 2007 Concerto & Aria Competition. She was also named Young Artist of the Year at Central City Opera in 2013, has received awards from the Shreveport Opera Singer of the Year Competition and the Franco-American Vocal Academy Grand Concours de Chant, and is a three-time Regional Finalist of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Awards. 

 

Ms. Shackleton is currently on the voice faculty of her alma mater Loyola University New Orleans and looks forward to returning to the Orpheum stage with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra in the 23-24 season to sing Vivaldi’s Gloria. When off stage and out of the teaching studio, Ms. Shackleton owns a home baking and cake decorating business called Sugar Shack. Favorite endeavors include elegant three tiered cakes and artfully decorated cookies.