AnnaMaria is enjoying a very Wagnerian year!  Over 365 days, she has performed each of the contralto personages of the Ring, and at the time of this writing, she is a national finalist for the Friedrich and Virginia Schorr Memorial Award for vocal performance in professional opera.  For her, participating in Wagner in Vermont’s historic 2025 complete cycle is the year’s crowning honor!

Having achieved winged-helmeted dreams beyond her wildest imagination, she has the inspiration and guidance of TUNDI’s amazing artists and leaders to thank.  TUNDI takes a special interest in assisting and developing the rare voice types that Wagner’s music demands, and, in doing so, similarly nurtures the people and circumstances in which those voices tend to be packaged!

For instance, AnnaMaria’s journey to Wagner was far off the operatic path!  A Navy veteran, her noted intelligence work in Iraq and Afghanistan exposed severe human rights abuses.  Upon returning home, she took vows in the foundation of an emerging community continuing to combat those abuses by serving the homeless and exploited at www.StCatherinesMission.org, where she asks your prayers and support!

A proud student of Janice Pantazelos, AnnaMaria’s contralto has been praised for its "other-worldly" darkness and warmth.  Some of her favorite roles include Gotterdammerung’s First Norn (Lincon Center & Wagner in Vermont), Das Rheingold’s Erda (covered and performed with Wagner in Vermont), Die Walkure’s Schwertleite (Dramatic Voices Midwest), Cavalleria Rusticana’s Mamma Lucia (Opera West), and Suor Angelica’s Zia Principessa (various companies worldwide). 

Beyond opera, her portrayal of Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music earned the American Prize in Musical Theater, and she has appeared as a solo recitalist in venues from the Kennedy Center to international broadcast television.  Additionally, as a guitarist, she tours nationally with the flamenco ensemble “El Duo Duende” and has over 15 albums to her credit.  She is a recipient of Notre Dame’s prestigious Harvey Award for the Performing Arts.