Molly Clementz

Molly Clementz is a mezzo-soprano known for her rich tone, compelling acting, and flair for physical comedy. Her versatility extends across opera, operetta, contemporary music, and improvisation. She made her professional debut as Doralice with Pacific Opera Project in its Los Angeles Times-acclaimed production of Rossini’s La Gazzetta, where she “[reminded] one of Nancy Sinatra, with go-go boots and all.”

Recent appearances include Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier and Hansel in Hansel and Gretel with Chicago City Opera, as well as Tessa in The Gondoliers, and Mad Margaret in Ruddigore with the Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company. She will next perform Constance in The Sorcerer. Dr. Clementz is a company member of the Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company and a member of Chicago Fringe Opera’s Op*erratic ensemble, which creates fully improvised operas from audience suggestions. In addition to operatic repertoire, Dr. Clementz enjoys concert and contemporary music. Her recent concert work includes performances with the Lira Ensemble; the alto solo in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Lake County Symphony Orchestra; Howard Blake’s The Snowman with the Danville Symphony Orchestra; and Paul Scherer’s Les Temps du Jour with New Music Chicago and Experimental Sound Studio. She has also been a featured soloist with the Santa Ynez Valley Chorale and the UCSB Wind Ensemble.

Dr. Clementz is an enthusiastic advocate for new music and has received acclaim for the ease with which she learns contemporary repertoire. She performed Peitho in Here Be Sirens with Chicago Fringe Opera, including an appearance at the Ear Taxi Festival. She also starred as Viola Mae in Paul Scherer’s recorded jazz opera La Trout Lily and performed Falstaff in Improv Playhouse’s Shakespeare Shakedown. In 2016, she competed with two roles in the Dominick Argento Chamber Opera Competition at the National Opera Association Convention, performing Mother Rigby in Joseph Turrin’s The Scarecrow and Vanessa in Jeremy Gill’s Letters to Quebec from Providence in the Rain. In the 2015 West Coast premiere of Joel Feigin’s award-winning Twelfth Night, she performed the leading role of Viola. In 2018, she received the College of Creative Studies Musical TV Project award, through which an entirely new production was written and produced for her. The project culminated in a live performance and recording for television.

For two seasons, Dr. Clementz was a featured Mosher Studio Artist with Opera Santa Barbara, performing Mercédès in Carmen, Lapák and Datel in Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen, La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi, Bianca in La Rondine, and Doralice in La Gazzetta. During her time with Opera Santa Barbara, she also covered the leading roles of Carmen, Fox Goldenstripe in The Cunning Little Vixen, and Lisette in La Rondine. With a wide acting range and zwischenfach register, Dr. Clementz excels in presenting both youthful characters and vivid character roles. Her additional leading roles include the title role in Massenet’s Cendrillon at the University of North Texas.

Dr. Clementz received degrees in Vocal Performance and English Composition from Luther College. She then completed graduate work and advanced degrees at the University of North Texas, UC Santa Barbara, and DePaul University in Chicago. Her doctoral research focused on pants roles, German opera, and the performativity of gender.