Stella Markou

D.M.A University of Arizona; M.M. Cleveland Institute of Music; B.A. Oberlin Conservatory of Music

Hailed as ‘exquisite’ by Gramophone, Greek-American soprano Stella Markou has performed internationally as a soloist in oratorio, opera, and on the concert stage. She has been a featured guest artist with the Edinburgh Contemporary Musical Ensemble, The Consulate General of Greece, Union Avenue Opera, Masterworks Chorale, Nassau Music Society, Dance New Amsterdam Company, American Chamber Chorale, University of Nevada Las Vegas Concert Series, Ambassadors of Harmony, and the Nashville Ballet.

A passionate performer of contemporary music, her festival work includes the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Heidelberg New Music Festival, International Computer Music Conference, Paros Parks Festival, Naxos Music Festival, Siletz Bay Music Festival, Electronic Music Midwest, Xortos Music Festival, and the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music (SEAMUS).

Her stage performances include roles in Pique Dame, Die Zauberflöte, The Turn of the Screw, The Mikado, The Telephone, and The Songstress, among others. She has also been a featured soloist in several masterworks, including Orff's Carmina Burana, Fauré's Requiem, Haydn’s Lord Nelson's Mass, Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Poulenc’s Gloria, Mozart's Requiem, Rutter's Gloria, and Bach’s Jauchzet Gott in allen landen.

Dr. Markou’s previous appointments were as Director of Vocal Studies and Opera Theatre at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and teaching artist for Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ Artist in Training Program. During her tenure at the University of Missouri-St. Louis she built an opera program from the ground up, producing/directing/designing fifteen years of opera scenes and fully staged productions. Her directorial work in opera and in musical theater have garnered numerous national recognitions. Her opera productions of The Clever Artifice of Harriet and Margaret and The Pirates of Penzance won first prize in the National Opera Association’s opera production competition, and her production of The Medium won first prize in The American Prize opera production competition.