Jennifer Grimaldi Toohey
Fields of Study:
Voice Performance (Soprano)
Jennifer Grimaldi Toohey made her European debut as the soprano soloist in Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Charlemagne Orchestra in Brussels, under the direction of Bartholomeus-Henri Van de Velde.
Recent engagements for Ms. Grimaldi-Toohey include the soprano soloist in Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 with the Canterbury Chorale at Carnegie Hall, the soprano soloist in Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Canterbury Chorale in NYC, both under the direction of Jonathan De Vries, and the Vierletzte Lieder of Richard Strauss at Symphony Space in New York City, with the New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestraunder the direction of Theresa Cheung.
Other major highlights include the soprano soloist in: Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 and Symphony No. 2under the baton of Carlo Miguel Prieto with the Mineria National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico City, Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder and the Vier letzte Lieder of Richard Strauss with the New York Repertory Orchestra, both under the direction of David Leibowitz, Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem with the Flint Symphony in Michigan under the direction of Enrique Diemecke, and Beethoven’s 9th Symphonywith the Sheboygen Symphony in Wisconsin under the direction of Kevin McMahon. Recently, Ms. Grimaldi, sang the role of Senta in a concert version of excerpts from Wagner’s Der fliegende Höllanderwith the Chappaqua Orchestra under the direction of Michael Shapiro.
Additional orchestral engagements include Beethoven’s 9th Symphony under the direction of David Leibowitz with the New York Repertory Orchestra and the Young New Yorkers’ Chorus, Mahler’s 8th Symphony with both the Nashua and Lexington Symphony Orchestras, the soprano soloist in a concert of operatic arias with the North Shore Symphony on Long Island, Mozart’s Requiem with the Reona Ito Orchestra and Chorus, Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with the Queens College Orchestra, Bach’s Magnificat, Vivaldi’s Gloria with the New Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Handel’s Messiah with The New York Repertory Orchestra in conjunction with the New York Festival Singers, Barber’s Knoxville Summer of 1915 with Agincourt Orchestra, and Mozart’s Exultate, Jubilate with the Third Street Music School Settlement Orchestra.
Jennifer Grimaldi Toohey was also heard operatically in roles including Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, the Countess in Le nozze di Figaro, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi, Clorinda in La Cenerentola, Suzel in L’amico Fritz, Mimi and Musetta in La Bohème among others. She also created the role of Dolly in the New York City Premiere of Orpheus Descending by Bruce Saylor. Ms. Grimaldi has performed with US opera companies and festivals including Sarasota Opera, Brevard Music Festival, Intermezzo Opera Festival,Utah Festival Opera, and Raylynmor Opera,among others.
Jennifer Grimaldi has been the recipient of awards and competitions including Friday-Woodmere Young Artist Competition, Claire Bennet Moringiello Award, Violet Zatkin Award for Opera, and the Paul Robeson Vocal Competition.
A graduate of The Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, Ms. Grimaldi Toohey is the co-founder and co-owner of the Long Island Studio of Music, on the voice faculty at The Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College & program coordinator and voice teacher for the Queens Summer Vocal Institute. Jennifer is also a long time student her mentor Dr. Sherry Overholt.
Email:
JenniferToohey@mac.com