Graduating senior Ashley Valentine fills us in on life at SFCM, where she is going next, and her last-minute step-in for Dominique Labelle.

From the repertoire programmed for your senior recital on May 11, it is clear your tastes transcend rigid musical periods. How did you develop the program for this recital? What are the connections you saw between the music of Claudio Monteverdi and Ned Rorem?

The Vivaldi motet was the first piece I chose. I was instantly inspired by the brilliant music of Vivaldi after hearing a recording of this piece. Performing in a chamber setting, collaborating with other musicians, is so inspiring to me. Discussing several different ideas and also conveying your thoughts to create a moving performance is what collaboration is all about.

I wanted to showcase a variety of different musical and vocal styles with repertoire that also covered a wide vocal range. From the Monteverdi songs, to the eerily beautiful Ophelia-Lieder, to the songs of Ned Rorem, each composer shows their distinct style.

With works by Vivaldi, Bach, and Monteverdi, the first half of your recital was heavy on baroque music. How has your interest in the baroque informed the performance practice of later music?

I have an affinity towards early music, to the texture of the music itself, and to the period instruments. I also love the variety of the vocalism in early music. Using straight tone as well as vibrato, and many styles of ornamentation, I find to be extremely captivating. Then in carrying that into later repertoire, although primarily sung with vibrato, some of these vocalisms, such as straight tone, can still be implemented.

You recently performed the first soprano part to Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang (Hymn of Praise) with the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, stepping in for Dominique Labelle at the last minute. What was that experience like?

I stepped in for Dominique on Saturday, April 30. It was just the one night that I covered her part. The other three nights, I sang second soprano in the duet with Dominique, as well as a small solo each night, sung from the balcony. It was such a wonderful experience performing with the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, especially working with the brilliant Nic McGegan. Collaborating with the members of this orchestra is an experience I will never forget. Everyone was extremely welcoming and encouraging. The whole experience was truly rewarding for me, especially as I intend on making historical performance a central part of my career.

Aside from your recent stepping in for Dominique Labelle, what was the most memorable moment of your undergraduate days at SFCM?

There are so many memories to choose from. I would say one of my most memorable moments was singing in the Fairy Queen production this past March. It’s a tie between that performance and my freshman year when I performed the soprano solo in Arvo Pärt’s Passio under the direction of Ragnar Bohlin. Another amazing moment was getting to see my teacher, Cathy Cook, performing the role of Dolores Claiborne at the San Francisco Opera.

What will you miss most about the Conservatory?

My wonderful teachers at SFCM, including my voice teacher Cathy Cook and my coach Mai-Linh Pham, will be greatly missed. I will also miss working with Corey Jamason and the Baroque Ensemble, where I acquired an abundance of knowledge and experience in historical performance. My memories of singing in the chamber choir with Ragnar Bohlin, who is also amazing, will never be forgotten. The connections I have acquired along the way have led me to extraordinary opportunities, which I hope will continue on throughout my career.

What's next for you?

I will be pursuing my Master of Music Degree in Early Music at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music in the fall. I’m hoping there will be many performance opportunities during the next two years and, after receiving my master’s, I would love to study abroad and perform in Europe. All musical paths are valid, and I like to keep myself open to any opportunities that arise. Chamber music, opera from the baroque to the present, symphonic music, recitals, are all types of music that I would like to perform.

Interview conducted by Patrick Gullo