Praised for her beautiful “copper-toned” timbre and distinguished as a “very promising” artist (Le Devoir/Montréal) with "wonderful stage presence and vocal generosity" (Revue L'Opéra/Montréal), American-Canadian mezzo-soprano VERONICA POLLICINO is quickly establishing herself as a much sought-after emerging artist in the operatic, concert and oratorio worlds.

 

Veronica made her CARNEGIE HALL Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage debut as the mezzo-soprano soloist in G.F. Handel’s MESSIAH presented by Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY). The New York Concert Review stated that, "Mezzo-soprano Veronica Pollicino did beautifully with “Behold, a virgin shall conceive” and “O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion.” She especially impressed this listener with her refinement. Mezzos can easily emerge as overly dominant in this piece, but not so here. Her voice was ample to project through the hall, but without being overbearing."

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, Veronica made her film debut in a collaboration with world renowned visual artist STEPHEN TALASNIK and celebrated filmmaker HAMID SHAMS in DEFYING GRAVITY, a 40 minute documentary exploring the more current relationship of art making to conditions surrounded by the pandemic and how this period influenced the creative process. This film was produced in part by the Colburn School and Tippet Rise Art Center. The film was released in October 2021 and is now available worldwide. 

 

To watch "Defying Gravity," click here.

 

A frequent collaborator, Veronica will be returning as a guest soloist with the Montreal-based Cantabile Chorale & Orchestra under the direction of English conductor and composer Peter Willsher in a performance of Giuseppe Verdi's MESSA DA REQUIEM (VERDI REQUIEM). Date TBD due to COVID-19.

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In 2019, Veronica was invited to the Professional Program at the prestigious SONGFEST institute in Los Angeles, California. While at SONGFEST, Veronica performed in numerous concerts including; the Bach Cantata Institute under the direction of John Harbison; Guest Master Class with Susan Graham, The Songs of Jake Heggie concert, The Breaking of Nations: WW I & II and Recovered Voices concert, The Journey Through Schubert Lieder master series with Graham Johnson. Veronica has been awarded both a professional fellowship from SONGFEST and grant from the Art Song Foundation of Canada. 

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It was in that same year that Veronica competed in the inaugural Voci Olimpiche International Baroque Opera Competition at Teatro Olimpico Vicenza in Vicenza, Italy, but withdrew after competing in the SEMI-FINALS due to illness. Veronica made her Carnegie Hall debut competing in the prestigious Oratorio Society of New York's Lyndon Woodside Oratorio-Solo Competition, where she was AWARDED the namesake LYNDON WOODSIDE ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD. Additionally, Veronica was a FINALIST in both the Giulio Gari International Vocal Competition, and the New York Lyric Opera National Voice Competition.  

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Veronica was awarded a full scholarship as one of only six singers selected for the Bel Canto Ornamentation Intensive at TEATRO NUOVO under the direction of noted musicologist, conductor and Bel Canto pedagogue Will Crutchfield at Opera America in New York City. 

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Operatic credits for Veronica have included Prince Charmant in J. Massenet’s CENDRILLON (New York Lyric Opera), the title role in G. F. Handel's ARIODANTE, Jean de Moncerf in J. Massenet’s LE PORTRAIT DE MANON, Bradamante in G.F. Handel’s ALCINA, Ciesca in the Canadian premiere of American composer Michael Ching’s opera BUOSO’S GHOST, Bertarido in G. F. Handel’s RODELINDA, and scenes as Dorabella in W.A. Mozart’s COSÌ FAN TUTTE and Vera Boronel in G. Menotti’s THE CONSUL. 

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Veronica has performed in public master classes with distinguished artists including Graham Johnson, Susan Graham, Kevin Murphy, Grant Gershon, Michael Schade, Daniel Cabena, Kevin Newbury, Julian Prégardien, Kathleen Kelly and Thomas Cooley.    

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A passionate interpreter of oratorio and concert repertoire, Veronica has performed with the MONTREAL BACH FESTIVAL in performances of J.S. Bach’s ST. JOHN PASSION under the direction of Julian Prégardien. In addition, Veronica has been a favorite guest soloist of the esteemed Montreal-based Cantabile Chorale and Orchestra in performances including J. S. Bach’s CHRISTMAS ORATORIO, W. A. Mozart’s CORONATION MASS, J. Haydn’s LORD NELSON MASS, G.F. Handel’s MESSIAH, L. Beethoven’s MASS IN C MAJOR, OP. 86, F. Mendelssohn's ELIJAH and most recently in W.A. Mozart’s REQUIEM IN D MINOR, K. 626.

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A native of New York, Veronica was raised in a family of professional opera singers and comes from deeply rooted musical traditions. Veronica holds a Masters in Music of Opera and Voice Performance (McGill University’s Schulich School of Music), a Bachelor of Arts in Art History (McMaster University) and Performance Diploma from the Pre-College Division (Manhattan School of Music) in French Horn and Piano. 

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At McGill University’s Schulich School of Music, Veronica studied Voice with Stefano Algieri. Throughout her studies at McGill, Veronica coached with Olivier Godin, Stephen Hargreaves, Valerie Kinslow and Michael McMahon. Additionally, Veronica has coached with renowned artists and coaches Will Crutchfield, Kamal Khan, Margo Garrett, Alan Louis Smith, Kevin Murphy, Lydia Brown, François Le Roux and Liz Upchurch.

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Veronica Pollicino is on the Voice Faculty of the Music Institute of Long Island (2020) and a jury member of the Charleston International Music Competition (2022). 

Furthermore, Veronica has been selected to participate on behalf of the United States in the 2023 Cohort of The Global Leaders Institute for Arts Innovation as one of 60 rising collaborative arts leaders from around the world. This participation will culminate in a Master of Business Administration degree in Arts Entrepreneurship in August 2023.

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January 18, 2023