Comes
from Fresno, California, where she began studying voice at age 15 with Harriett
Gill. Receiving her bachelor or Arts in voice at Occidental College in Los
Angeles, she debuted as Ilia (Idomeneo) at age 22. She also studied with the
French baritone, martial Singer, performing Lucia di Lammermoor, Adina and
Agathe before switching to mezzo soprano. Winning' a first prize in the San
Francicsco Opera auditions in 1971, she participated in its Merola Program.
With the joined the ensemble in Kiel under Klaus Tennstedt and 1976 in Bern
under Gustav Kuhn. Her
principal roles Include Cherubino, Dorabella, Idamante (L'Italiana in Algeri),
and Sinaide (Mosè). 1976-1981
she appeared in Parsifal under Horst Stein at the Bayreuth Festival. She has
sung in over 20 opera houses, and she has recorded for EMI and Radio (NDR).
Since 1989 she is Professor of Voice at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater
Hannover.