Congratulations to mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Buckley, who has been selected as a first place winner in the 2011 Barry Alexander International Vocal Competition. She will perform at the Winners’ Recital, which will be held Sunday January 23, 2011 at 1:30 PM in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Tickets are available at www.carnegiehall.org.

The Barry Alexander International Vocal Competition (BAIVC) has been designed as an entrée into the world of vocal performance for those seriously interested in pursuing a professional operatic career. BAIVC is open to students from age fifteen to adults, and divided into four categories.

Elizabeth Buckley, mezzo-soprano, has been praised by critics for possessing a voice of unique warmth and clarity. She is the recipient of the Presser Foundation Award for Outstanding Musician and the Grace Wilson Excellence in Singing Award. Elizabeth is also the winner of the Gunsalus Singing Competition, the 21st Century Piano Commission Competition, and the Kate Neal Kinley Memorial Fellowship. Recently she was selected as a semi-finalist in the Oratorio Society of New York Solo Competition, and a finalist in the Bel Canto Chorus Regional Artist Competition. Elizabeth was also selected as a Regional Finalist in the New York Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions and a finalist in the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago. She has performed the roles of Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, Mother Marie in Dialogues des Carmélites, Dido in Dido and Aeneas, Zita in Gianni Schicchi, Nancy in Albert Herring, Mrs. Splinters in Tender Land, Dafne in L’Euridice, Third Lady and Third Spirit in Die Zauberflöte, Iolanthe in Iolanthe, Phoebe Meryll in Yeomen of the Guard, Nettie and Julie Jordan in Carousel, Irene Molloy in Hello, Dolly!, and Sandy in Grease. In addition, she has an extensive background in recital and oratorio repertoire with an emphasis in Baroque performance practice.