Amanda Bower
Voice
The newest addition to the Cincinnati Music Academy vocal family, soprano Amanda Bower is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) in Music Education with a concentration in Voice. At CCM, Amanda studies voice with mezzo-soprano Karen Lykes and voice pedagogy with bass-baritone Ken Shaw. In addition to her rigorous musical study, Amanda is also fascinated with the anatomy and physiology of the vocal instrument. The vast complexity of the voice even inspired her to begin research into the structure and function of the larynx as it relates to the singing voice, which will culminate in her receiving an Honors Research Certificate in Voice Science when she graduates.
A musician of diverse talent and interest, Amanda has been developing her musicianship both experientially and through instruction at a number of prominent institutions from a young age. Amanda has substantial musical theater experience, performing roles like Little Red Riding Hood in Into the Woods, Gavroche in Les Miserables, and singing for a number of musical theater review shows. Throughout high school and college, Amanda has actively worked as an arranger and transcriber of vocal music, with her work being performed in concert, at weddings, and even for college auditions. While still a student at Sycamore High School, Amanda had the privilege of studying music theory at CCM with Dr. Igor Plitsyn. Past summer study includes voice science and pedagogy with world-renowned vocologist and speech-language pathologist Anat Keidar at Westminster Choir College, music composition at Cleveland Institute of Music, and songwriting at Berklee College of Music.
In accordance with her belief that an active performing career enhances vocal instruction, Amanda makes it a point to always have a hand in the professional world. Currently, she can be heard singing soprano with Cincinnati's newest professional chamber choir: Faburden, an a capella ensemble specializing in plainchant and chant-derived music from the very ancient to the very modern. Amanda is also a soprano section leader at Christ Church Cathedral (located in downtown Cincinnati at 4th and Sycamore), where she has sung numerous solos, most notably the soprano solo in Benjamin Britten’s Te Deum in C for the Installation and Seating of the 9th Bishop of Southern Ohio. In April, Amanda will be performing in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte at CCM.
When she isn't singing, Amanda can usually be found honing her culinary skills in her East Walnut Hills apartment. She and her boyfriend, digital designer Alex Ogle, enjoy running, singing Broadway tunes at the piano, and traveling together. When she gets a quiet minute, Amanda also likes to read books about theology, musicology, and, of course, vocal pedagogy!
Former voice teachers include Paul McCready (Cincinnati Music Academy), Caress Schenk, Tara Bowers, and Sheila Berg. Additionally, Amanda has studied piano with Dr. Michelle Conda, Erin Bennett, and Beth Sedgwick (Cincinnati Music Academy).