FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music is pleased to announce the appointments of Michelle DeYoung and Deanne Meek as visiting associate professors of music in voice, effective Aug. 1.
Both mezzo-sopranos enjoy flourishing careers on the world’s most illustrious stages.
“Welcoming either Michelle DeYoung or Deanne Meek to the Jacobs School of Music voice faculty would be wonderful, but to be able to welcome them both, at the same time no less, is amazing,” said Abra Bush, David Henry Jacobs Bicentennial Dean. “Their stellar international careers are truly the stuff that dreams are made of and will undoubtedly help inspire our students to achieve their own.”
"We’re so delighted about the possibilities presented by Michelle DeYoung and Deanne Meek,” said Brian Horne, chair of the Voice Department. “With performances at some of the most prestigious international venues and with many of the world’s most renowned orchestras, they bring invaluable experience in the long tradition of Jacobs artist-teacher faculty like Margaret Harshaw, Virginia Zeani, Giorgio Tozzi, Timothy Noble, Russell Thomas and Carol Vaness. The entire Jacobs community will benefit from their presence here.”
Multi-Grammy Award-winner DeYoung continues to be in demand throughout the world, appearing regularly with the New York Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra and Concertgebouworkest, among others. She has appeared multiple times with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and recently sang Kundry in concert performances of “Parsifal” at Opera Australia.
The Metropolitan Opera, Berliner Staatsoper and Paris Opera are a few of the numerous leading companies DeYoung has worked with. Additional roles include Fricka, Sieglinde and Waltraute in “The Ring Cycle,” Venus in “Tannhäuser,” Brangäne in “Tristan und Isolde” and many more. She created the role of the Shaman in Tan Dun’s “The First Emperor” at the Met.
Her impressive discography includes “Das Rheingold,” “Die Walküre” and “Götterdämmerung” with Jaap van Zweden and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (Naxos), “Kindertotenlieder,” Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 and “Das Klagende Lied” with Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony (SFS Media) and “Les Troyens” with Sir Colin Davis and the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO Live!), among others. Her most recent recording of Mahler’s “Das Lied von der Erde” with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra (Deutsche Grammophon) was released in July 2021.
DeYoung recently launched Ensemble Charité, an organization that aims to support various charities while also fostering young, emerging musicians through community performances of chamber concerts with seasoned professional musicians, which she conducts.
A native of the Pacific Northwest, Meek began her career as a mezzo-soprano soloist with the New York City Opera and has since sung in many of the world’s greatest opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro Colón (Buenos Aires) and Teatro alla Scala (Milan).
Her frequent collaborations with stage directors such as Sir David MacVicar, Robert Wilson and Krsysztof Warlikowski have featured her in such roles as Hermia in Britten’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Octavian in “Der Rosenkavalier,” Dorabella in “Così fan tutte” and other roles throughout Europe.
Meek also champions more contemporary works, creating the role of Ma Joad in Ricky Ian Gordon’s “The Grapes of Wrath” with Minnesota Opera and performing roles such as Jo March in “Little Women,” Mrs. DeRocher in “Dead Man Walking” and Older Woman in Jonathan Dove’s “Flight.”
A passionate multidisciplinary educator in addition to her vocal tutelage, Meek brings extensive experience in embodiment and physical narrative practices to her teaching. She is a certified teacher of numerous techniques, including the Alexander Technique, Gyrotonic Expansion System and Fitzmaurice Voicework. She also incorporates Feldenkrais, Viewpoints, Laban/Bartenieff and other acting disciplines into her work with students.
Meek has taught at Long Island University, Seattle University and the University of Washington, while also maintaining a private teaching studio both in person and online.
