BIOGRAPHY

             Molly Clementz is a mezzo-soprano who made her professional debut with Pacific Opera Project in the LA Times’ acclaimed La Gazzetta as Doralice, where she“[reminded] one of Nancy Sinatra, with go-go boots and all.” This past season, Molly starred in Paul Sherer’s new jazz opera, La Trout Lily with the New Moon Opera Company. She also performed the role of Falstaff in Improv Playhouse’s Shakespeare Shakedown, and the role of Cousin Hebe in The HMS Pinafore with the Gilbert and Sulivan Opera Company. For two seasons, Ms. Clementz was Opera Santa Barbara’s featured Mosher Studio Artist, performing Mercédès in Carmen, Lapák, and Datel in Janácek's The Cunning Little Vixen, and La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi.  During her time at OSB, she also covered the lead roles of Carmen, Fox Goldenstripe (The Cunning Little Vixen), and Lisette (La Rondine). With a large acting range and zwischen register, Ms. Clementz excels in versatility and presenting youthful characters. To that end, she performed the title role of University of North Texas’ 2013 production of Massenet’s Cendrillon.

             In addition to the classical repertoire, Ms. Clementz enjoys contemporary music and has received acclaim for the ease at which she learns it. In 2020, she began collaboration with composer Paul Scherer, starring as Viola Mae in his recorded Jazz Opera, La Trout Lily. In 2016, she competed with two roles in the Dominick Argento Chamber Opera Competition at the National Opera Association Convention in Santa Barbara, performing the roles of Mother Rigby in The Scarecrow (Joseph Turrin), and Vanessa in Letters to Quebec from Providence in the Rain (Jeremy Gill). In the 2015 West Coast Premiere of Joel Feigin’s award-winning Twelfth Night, she performed the lead role of Viola. She has been a featured soloist with the Santa Ynez Valley Master Chorale and the UCSB Wind Ensemble. In 2018, she was the recipient of the College of Creative Studies Musical TV Project, in which an entirely new production was written and produced for her. This project culminated in a live performance and recording for television. 

             A finalist in the AIMS’ Meistersinger Competition (Graz, Austria), Ms. Clementz has sung performances in Austria, Germany, Italy, and Hungary. She was awarded First place, honorable mention, and second round competitor numerous years in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competitions in the Los Angeles chapter, Iowa chapter, and Chicago chapter respectively. Receiving high marks, the promising mezzo competed as a semi-finalist in the Emerging Professional Division of the Classical Singer Magazine’s annual Competition in 2019 and 2021. At the University of California(SB) she won the Chamber Music Competition in 2015. Ms. Clementz competed and qualified for several grants and awards for singing from The University of North Texas, the University of California (SB), the Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation in Santa Barbara, and DePaul University. 

           Ms. Clementz received degrees in both Vocal Performance and English Composition at Luther College. She then completed graduate work and advanced degrees at the University of North Texas (Denton) and the University of California (SB), and DePaul University (Chicago). Ms. Clementz has given numerous lecture recitals, Opera talks, and educational outreach performances across California, collaborating with Opera Santa Barbara, Opera at the Oakhurst, and with the University of California (SB). Her dissertation research focused on pants roles, German opera, and performativity of gender.