A self-described “classically trained vocalist rescued from the clutches of the opera world”, Heather Michele came to circus quite late in the game (but also dreamt of running away with the circus at age 7).
In her days with traditional opera, she was especially at home with Britten and Mozart, and made her professional debut as the Governess in The Turn of the Screw.. Her other operatic engagements included the Countess (Le Nozze di Figaro), Ellen Orford (Peter Grimes), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), First Lady (The Magic Flute), Lisbe (Spohr's Zemire und Azor), and Vitellia (La clemenza di Tito), among others.
Within the last decade, Heather has focused almost exclusively on the works of living composers. She has premiered works by Jeremy Howard Beck, John David Earnest, Daniel Felsenfeld, Jennifer Griffith, Kamran Ince, Paula Kimper, Roxanna Panufnik, Kamala Sankaram and Aleksandra Vrebalov, just to name a few. Additionally, she has produced two of her own recitals that have included commissions and existing works by composers such as David T. Little, William Bolcom, and Bernard Rands.
Some of the organizations and venues she has performed with include the Park Avenue Armory, National Sawdust, José Limón Dance Company at Joyce Theatre, Le Poisson Rouge, HERE Arts Center, NYC Fringe Festival, Paola Prestini's Ferus Festival at The Stone, American Opera Projects, The Curiosity Cabinet, Opera on Tap, and the NY Composers Circle.
Now, as a circus artist trained in aerial silks, corde lisse, and hammock, she strives to create pieces that fuse aerial movement with 20th and 21st century classical vocal techniques, and enjoys exploring multi-disciplinary collaborations that allow room for more varied theatrical narratives than the traditional opera route. She has trained with Lisa Natoli, Terry Beeman, Elizabeth Munn and Nicki Miller, among others. To date, she has had the pleasure of performing at Dixon Place with Lisa Natoli, The Muse Brooklyn, Duane Park, and most recently, with Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, as a part of their weekly Open Stage virtual showcases.
Thus far in 2022, she finished a run at Dixon Place with New Camerata Opera, premiering a new rope and singing piece to an aria by Kamala Sankaram, was seen at the cell theatre in July 2022 in The Final Veil, a new work by J.L. Marlor and Cassandra Rosebeetle, and made her Slipper Room debut on hammock, dressed as a shark!
Currently, you can find her on staff at Aerial Arts NYC, as well as hawking delicious beverages for Winemonger Imports, since she also happens to be an educated wine professional specializing in the wines of Austria and Germany.
For more information and future performance dates, visit www.heathermichelemeyer.com.
