"Nimbly expressive of countenance and voice" are words used to describe soprano Maribeth Crawford (Green Bay Press Gazette). Praised for her "bright tone, ample vibrato, and careful diction" (Cleveland Classical), Dr. Crawford has performed with Cleveland Opera Theatre, Cincinnati Opera, Lebanon Symphony Orchestra, Bowling Green Symphony Orchestra, the New Sousa Band, New Stage Collective, West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Paducah Symphony Orchestra, and Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY).
Highlights on the concert stage include her debut performance at Carnegie Hall in NYC, as the soprano soloist in the Mozart Requiem. Critics praised her performance, saying that she “sang with a soaring brilliance” (New York Concert Review, Inc.). Other notable solo performances include Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Brahms’ Requiem with the Paducah Symphony Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy with the Canton Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Crawford has performed as a soloist in Haydn’s Mass in the time of War and Poulenc’s Gloria with Seventh Presbyterian in Cincinnati, OH. In addition, she has appeared as the soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah for several venues, such as the Lebanon Symphony Orchestra and the Fairmount Music Series with members of the Cleveland Orchestra.
Roles that Dr. Crawford has performed include Virginia Poe in Voyage of Edgar Allen Poe, the Sandman in Hansel and Gretel, Musetta in La Boheme, Alice Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Echo in Ariadne auf Naxos, The Princess and the Nightingale in L'Enfant et les Sortilege, Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro, Mrs. Nordstrom in A Little Night Music, Amahl in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Fruma-Sarah in Fiddler on the Roof, Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, and Josephine in H. M. S. Pinafore.
Dr. Crawford has received numerous awards, including first place in the Mississippi Federation of Music Clubs Competition in the soloist division and first place in the Artist Category of in the Voices of Mississippi voice competition. She was a finalist in the Rose Palmai-Tenser Opera Competition and a Semifinalist in the Orpheus National Music Competition. She was a National Semifinalist in the NATSAA competition.
In addition to singing, Dr. Crawford has directed numerous performances in opera and musical theatre. Directing credits include Ariodante, Hansel and Gretel, The Telephone, The Medium, The Pirates of Penzance, Curtains, Little Shop of Horrors, and Crazy for You, as well as many scene programs.
A native of Clinton, MS, soprano Maribeth Crawford completed her Doctorate at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). She also holds a Masters Degree from CCM and a Bachelor Degree from Mississippi College in Clinton, MS. In addition to her education and training at CCM, Dr. Crawford has appeared as a young artist with Opera in the Ozarks, Rising Star Audition Works, and the Natchez Festival of Music.
Maribeth Crawford’s performance experiences include areas of opera, oratorio, musical theatre, and art song. She is an avid recitalist and educator of music. She has served as faculty at the Beck Center for the Arts, Central State University, Cincinnati State University, and Walsh University. She is currently Associate Professor of Voice/Opera at Murray State University.