Rachel Willis-Sorensen
SONY DSC
Rachel Willis-Sorensen actually tried to hide her powerful voice in high school. Though she performed in musical theater as a student, when she went to college, she was rejected by every choir.
“I was a little disproportionate to most art forms—I don’t know what it was–being 5’11” and not being a ballerina– the sound of my voice, the size of me…” she remembered.
She eventually found the perfect fit in the opera department at Brigham Young University (BYU), where the faculty helped refine her ability.
“When I found opera, all the strangeness– all the specificity of myself, my person, fit really well. I had this earth shattering moment when I realized this is what I was born to do. This is my niche on the planet,” she explained.
It was a triumph when she returned to her hometown and made her solo debut with a Richland, WA performance at the Battelle Auditorium in 2007. She credits BYU with providing unfailing support that has been instrumental to her success.
In 2008, Willis-Sørensen was a semifinalist in the National Council Auditions, winning the Utah district and Rocky Mountain regional competitions. Though she was eliminated in the semifinal round, the competition made her more determined than ever to develop her ability. After graduation, she went to the Houston Grand Opera Studio and studied with several prestigious coaches, including renowned mezzo-soprano, Dolora Zajick, to prepare for the 2010 National Council Auditions. This time she knew what to expect–and it paid off. She was chosen as one of five equal winners of the competition. Singing in German was a cinch, since she had been a Mormon missionary in Hamburg. She was linguistically fluent and culturally fluent. And then, she had this voice.
In 2011, she entered the Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition where she won both divisions—opera and operetta— a feat that has only happened three times in thirty years. Since then, she has sung around the world with the most prestigious orchestras and opera companies.
Recent Posts
Mormon Missionaries Also Take Time For Some Fun
Why Do Mormon Boys Serve Missions? Some people might find it a bit odd that while a vast majority of young men who graduate high school are making preparations to begin their studies at a local college or university, or are entering the job market to begin their...
Lucky Blue Smith Dancing to the Beat of His Own Drum
Mention the name Lucky Blue Smith and thousands of people would instantly know who you are talking about. That is no small wonder considering the 17-year-old Mormon is a world-class fashion model, and he and his three siblings together comprise a band known as The...
The Piano Gal and Nathan Schaumann Duet – Shut Up and Dance
Two Latter-day Saint youth, Sara Arkell, a 13-year-old pianist, also known in social media venues as The Piano Gal, and her second cousin, Nathan Schaumann, a 15-year-old pianist from the Netherlands, have combined their musical talents to demonstrate their piano...
Donny Osmond Recovers from Vocal Cord Surgery
Donald Clark Osmond, the teenage heartthrob of the seventies, and the brother of famous entertainer, Marie Osmond, recently underwent surgery to treat a hemorrhagic polyp (otherwise known as a bleeding lesion) on his right vocal cord. The problem was discovered when...
Colby Ferrin – Before and After Mission Rap
Colby Alan Ferrin was set apart as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días) on 20 August 2013. He was called to serve in the Mexico City East Mission. During his final week...
Mormon Band TREN Has a New Song for ‘Captain America’ Movie
A gifted group of students and graduates from Brigham Young University (BYU) - Taylor Miranda, Richard Williams, Eliza Smith, and Nate Young, have combined their artistry to form a band collectively known as TREN. According to their Facebook page, their genre includes...