Vigorous, passionate and spirited, lyric soprano Antonina Chekhovskaya is without a doubt one of the most promising young artists performing today.
Currently, Chekhovskaya is pursuing a Masterʼs Degree in Music at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance, where she recently was a finalist in the Concerto Competition. Engagements for the 2012/2013 season include the title role in Suor Angelica (Puccini) with Oberlin in Italy, and as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni (Mozart) with the University of Michigan Opera.
Antonina has been a recipient of numerous awards and scholarships and a winner of several competitions. Abroad, Antonina has performed in Italy under the direction of renowned conductor Benton Hess, as a member of the Si Parla, Si Canta summer program (2010). This summer (2012), she will return to Italy as a member of the Oberlin in Italy summer program, and later she will travel to the Czech Republic for the Moravian Masters Class summer program.
At the University of Michigan, Antonina studies voice performance with acclaimed American bass-baritone, Stephen West. Chekhovskaya is a member of the Chamber Choir, directed by Grammy Award winning conductor Jerry Blackstone, and studies conducting privately with Eugene Rogers, whom she also assisted with the University of Michigan Youth Chamber Choir (2012). Recently, Antonina had an exciting opportunity with the University of Michigan Opera Workshop Studio, where she conducted her debut opera, Gianni Schicchi (Puccini), directed by Robert Swedberg.
Antonina has worked with internationally acclaimed collaborative pianists John Wustman, Martin Katz and Kamal Khan. Other coaching sessions have included Timothy Cheek, Robert Coward, Hugh Murphy, Kenneth Bos and Steven McGhee. Prior to studying at the University of Michigan, Antonina studied voice performance with Jodi Doktor and Scott Bosscher as well as piano performance with Sheryl Iott, at Grand Rapids Community College. Chekhovskaya is also an educator herself, and holds her own studio of students of both voice and piano in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In addition, she coaches Russian lyric diction. Chekhovskaya is a native of Ukraine and speaks several languages fluently.