Biography & Press Reviews
"Soprano Mandy Brown sang with consummate poise, her top range warm and powerful but also capable of a limpid shimmer...Brown's radiant high notes echoed by violin, flute & harp...Brown's musicality astounded, more so because she was so accurate in terms of intonation and execution."
- Washington Classical Review -
"Sans oublier l’américaine, Mandy Brown, au caractère bien trempé"
- Opera Forum -
"Mandy Brown’s lovely, bell-like lyric soprano and charming stage presence were completely winning."
- The Chautauquan Daily -
"Mandy Brown was consistently impressive"
- DC Theater Scene -
Proclaimed “consistently impressive” by DC Theater Scene and “completely winning” by the Chautauquan Daily, Mandy Brown is a soprano who is sure to charm. Her performances have brought her praise for her rich warm voice and refreshing honesty in her dramatic interpretations. She is passionate about operatic and concert work, as well as an avid recitalist and a sought-out performer of new works. She has performed in venues such as The Kennedy Center, The National Gallery of Art, Opéra-Théâtre de Clermont-Ferrand, Schlessinger Concert Hall, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, and Linehan Concert Hall.
Brown’s 2024-2025 season commences with a world premiere of songs by Fiona Linnane on her latest recital program, "Seasons of the Witch", to be performed at the historic George Peabody Music Library in Baltimore, MD in October. In November, Mandy has the joy of performing with one of her favorite ensembles, the Grammy nominated Inscape Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Richard Scerbo. Together they will be presenting Tenebrae by Golijov. Also in November, Mandy will be performing the world premiere of another Linnane set, "Songs From Kate O'Brien III" written to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Kate O'Brien's passing. This world premiere will be with Friday Morning Music Club at the Strathmore Mansion. In December, Ms. Brown will be the soprano soloist in Handel's The Messiah with Montgomery College and then performing as a soloist with New Dominion Chorale & Orchestra on their holiday concert. In April, Ms.Brown will be performing another world premiere, this time by composer Steven Schwarz, who has composed a new set of Emily Dickinson songs for soprano, clarinet, and piano four hands.
Mandy is known for her performances of Mozart and contemporary English opera roles. She has performed with companies such as Washington National Opera, Baltimore Concert Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Washington Concert Opera, and Opera Kansas. Her operatic highlights include Barbarina/ Le nozze di Figaro with Washington National Opera, creating the role of Charlene/ Service Provider with Washington National Opera’s American Opera Initiative, Nannetta/Falstaff with Chautauqua Opera, Love Simpson/ Cold Sassy Tree, Lady With A Hand Mirror/ Postcard From Morocco, the title role in Amelia al Ballo, Rose Maurrant/ Street Scene, Despina/ Cosi fan Tutte, Beth March/ Little Women, Soeur Constance/ Les Dialogues des Carmélites, Madame Silberklang/ The Impresario, and La Princesse/ L’Enfant et les Sortilèges.
Ms. Brown is a sought-out soloist for concert work. She has performed with ensembles such as the National Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Music Institute, the Grammy-nominated Inscape Chamber Orchestra, Gourmet Symphony, the Kennedy Center Jukebox, the Washington Chamber Orchestra, the National Orchestral Institute & Festival, the New Dominion Chorale, the National Men’s Chorus, the Choral Arts Society of Washington, the NIH Community Chorus & Orchestra, the Chesapeake Chorale, the Ensemble da Camera of Washington, the McLean Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Friendship Heights Symphonette, and the Washington Summer Sings. Mandy is a favorite for her interpretation of Mahler’s Symphony No.4, and has performed it with the National Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Music Institute, Gourmet Symphony, and Inscape Chamber Orchestra. Her other concert work highlights include Saariaho/ Quatre Instants, Barber/ Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Handel/ The Messiah, Hindemith/ Die Junge Magd, Verdi/ Requiem, Mozart/ Requiem, Mozart/ Krönungsmesse, Adolphe/ He Disappeared into Complete Silence, Golijov/ Tenebrae, Stravinsky/ Three Japanese Lyrics, Clyne/ As Sudden Shut, Sparr/ That Which Joy Alone Can Give, Bernstein/ Chichester Psalms, Bach/ Coffee Cantata, Rutter/ Magnificat, and Durante/ Magnificat.
Mandy is an ardent lover of art song repertoire and has a passion for recital program curation. Specializing in themed programing, Brown has curated over 15 different full-length programs, with a variety of instrumentation, and has had her programs procured by Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center and has toured her programs in the Mid-West and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Recently, she has also been added to the roster of Baltimore Musicales, an organization specializing in art song performance. During the pandemic, Mandy created a new style of online concert series, “Sips, Snacks, & Songs”, which is a themed bite-sized concert that is paired with either a “sip” or a “snack” tutorial. The series is in its second year and features, on average, one new concert each month.
In 2019, She was the second-place winner in the prestigious Washington International Competition and the winner of the Patricia A. Edwards Encouragement Award at the 31st Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition. Mandy has been a Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan National Council Auditions in 2017, 2015, 2014 and 2013. She was also a Demi-Finalist at the 25mme International Concours de Chant at the Centre Lyrique in Clermont-Ferrand, France in 2017. Other awards include placing second at the 2015 Carolyn Bailey & Dominick Argento Vocal Competition, second place in the 2014 Young Artist Performance NATSAA Mid Atlantic Regionals, the winner of the 2013 Chautauqua Opera Apprentice Artist Encouragement Award, and was a Koch Cultural Trust grant recipient 2008 and 2009.
In addition to her performance career, Mandy maintains an active teaching studio in the Washington D.C. metro area. With over 20 years of teaching experience, she uses her musical knowledge and performance background to expertly craft customized lessons for each of her students based on their specific needs and musical goals. Several of her private students have performed at venues such as the Music Center at Strathmore, the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, and the Kennedy Center. In alignment to her firm belief that music is there to enrich one’s life at any stage or age, she was the music director for a local community choir, Second Wind Chorus, from 2015-2022. Mandy offers online and in-person private instruction for voice, piano, and harp. She is happy to work in a variety of musical styles and welcomes students of all ages and abilities.
Ms.Brown received her Master’s Degree in Opera Performance from the University of Maryland and her Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance from Wichita State University. In addition, she participated in Chautauqua Opera and Opera in the Ozarks' young artist programs.