Coloratura Soprano Rachele Gilmore continues to garner international attention as a vital young singer combining her silvery timbre with a dynamic stage presence and easy vocal production. Already she has been hailed by The New York Sun as “the glittering ball of electricity…it was time to sit up and take notice. Blowing through ‘Da tempeste il legno’ infranto from Handel’s Giulio Cesare with stunning diction and elasticity of ornamentation, Ms. Gilmore made a strong case for best performance of the day.” For her outstanding performance of Zerbinetta’s aria with the Toledo Opera, the Toledo Blade exclaimed: “And a wonderful debut it was. Gilmore’s agile titanium voice - light, but very, very strong, smooth and clear-shone in a delightful performance that married fine singing with excellent acting.” Most recently, her debut in Indianapolis as “The Doll” in Tales of Hoffman rendered unanimously enthusiastic reviews. Proclaiming Rachele’s performance as “the highlight of the opera,” The Indianapolis Star describes her Doll Aria as “clear and staccato…offering some of the most disarmingly relaxed high-register coloratura work I have ever heard.”

The upcoming 2008-2009 season has Ms. Gilmore returning to Toledo with the Toledo Symphony singing Mahler’s 2nd Symphony. Following, she will be singing Adele in an exciting performance of Die Fledermaus along side Ruth Ann Swenson with Opera New Jersey. Rachele will then make her debut as Marie in La Fille du Régiment with Connecticut Opera, where she was invited to perform after winning top prize in their annual competition in May. In March, she will join Opera Orchestra of New York and Maestra Eve Queler for a performance of Wagner’s rarely performed opera Rienzi, singing the role of the Messenger of Peace. Continuing into the 2009 season, she will then return to Orlando Opera to sing Mary Warren in Robert Ward’s The Crucible.

Rachele began the 2007 season making her Carnegie Hall debut singing Mozart’s Coronation Mass and John Rutter’s Requiem with Maestro Rutter conducting. In November she made her debut with The Orlando Opera singing the role of Zerlina in Don Giovanni. She began the 2008 season with an exciting Gala concert of Richard’s Strauss’ music with Toledo Opera under the baton of Maestro Thomas Conlin, including Zerbinetta’s Aria from Ariadne auf Naxos and scenes from Der Rosenkavlier. She then returned to Carnegie Hall to sing Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass in March. In May, she made a triumphant debut as Olympia in Les Contes d’Hoffman with The Indianapolis Opera.

Ms. Gilmore has previously sung Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor with Center City Opera. She has traveled to Italy for two summers to sing the role Adina in L’elisir d’Amore with New Opera Festival di Roma and to study the role of Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro. Rachele was also featured in several concerts throughout the Amalfi coast during her stay both summers. When she returned from Italy, she was invited by The Sergio Franchi Foundation to sing at their Memorial Concert in honor of Mr. Franchi. She has also performed as Lady Saphir in Patience and as The Lace Seller in Death in Venice with Glimmerglass Opera. With Florida Grand Opera she sang Moppett/1st Wild Goose in Paul Bunyan, and also covered Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor and Oscar in Un Ballo in Maschera as a young artist.

Rachele has been recognized by many foundations and prestigious competitions. She has been a First Place Winner in the Gerda Lissner Foundation Competition as well as The Connecticut Opera Guild Competition where she also took home The Audience Choice Award. In 2008 she was a National Semi-finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and was also a Regional Finalist in 2006. During the summer of 2007, Rachele was chosen as a Zarzuela Winner in Placido Domingo’s Operalia World Opera Contest in Paris. There she performed under the baton of Maestro Domingo in the final concert held at Théâtre Châtelet where she was also a Grand Finalist in the Opera Division. She as also been the Third Prize Winner of the Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Foundation Competition in 2007 and also received a Study Grant from The Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation and The Opera Index Foundation. She has received honorable mention as a Finalist in the George London Foundation and was also a finalist in the Sara Tucker Competition. Currently, Rachele is generously sponsored by The Singer’s Development Foundation, led by Countess Lucienne von Doz.

Rachele received her Bachelor’s of Music from Indiana University and continued with Graduate studies at Boston University. She was also a member of The Glimmerglass Young American Artist Program for two seasons as well as The Florida Grand Young Artist Studio. She was also a member of the Aspen Music Festival’s Opera Center.

Rachele has been mentored by world-renowned sopranos Carol Vaness and Virginia Zeani and furthers her studies under the vocal tutelage of New York teacher Michael Paul.