Marjorie Melnick

Marjorie Melnick serves as Senior Lecturer in Voice at the Department of Music and Dance within the College of Humanities and Fine Arts at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she has been a core faculty member since 1999. A distinguished mezzo-soprano, she bridges her extensive European performance career with pedagogical excellence in vocal training.

Education

• Master of Music, The Juilliard School

Artistic Expertise

Ms. Melnick specializes in operatic vocal performance with emphasis on mezzo-soprano repertoire. Her career highlights include principal roles in The Barber of Seville (Rosina), La Cenerentola (Cinderella), Der Rosenkavalier (Octavian), and Hansel and Gretel (Hansel). She integrates decades of European stage experience—spanning opera houses, oratorio ensembles, and recital circuits—into her pedagogy, focusing on technical precision, stylistic authenticity, and dramatic interpretation for emerging vocalists.

Mentorship and Institutional Impact

At UMass Amherst, she trains undergraduate and graduate voice students within the Music program's conservatory-level curriculum. Her teaching extends beyond campus through prior appointments at Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, and The Hartt School, establishing her as a regional leader in vocal education. Ms. Melnick maintains active studio practice in Bromery Center for the Arts while contributing to the department's performance-focused educational mission.