Awards
The American Prize Competition 2021
Honorable Mention
Opera Performance - Professional Division
Puccini's Suor Angelica/Giani Schicchi
3rd Place
The Charles Nelson Reilly Prize in Directing
Puccini's Suor Angelica - Heartland Opera
The American Prize Competition 2020
3rd Place
Opera Performance - Professional Division
Puccini's La Boheme - Heartland Opera
3rd Place
The Charles Nelson Reilly Prize in Directing
Mozart's La Finta Giardiniera - UMKC
Finalist:
The Charles Nelson Reilly Prize in Directing
Massenet's Cendrillon - Loyola University
The American Prize Competition 2019
Finalist:
The Charles Nelson Reilly Prize in Directing
Southeastern University's production of
Dan Shore's Works of Mercy
National Opera Association
Opera Production Competition 2019
Second Place Division VIII:
University of Missouri Kansas City
Mozart's La Finta Giardiniera
National Opera Association
Collegiate Opera Scenes Competition 2018
First Place:
Louisiana State University
Act II Scene 5, Mark Adamo's Little Women
Second Place:
Southeastern Louisiana State University
Act I Scene i, Otto Nicolai's
Merry Wives of Windsor
Tribute to the Classical Arts 2009 for
Creative Achievement in Opera for
Stage Direction in
Southeastern University’s production of
Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro,
Big Easy Foundation, New Orleans, LA.
Ravel's quirky work was in very, very good hands.
Rachel's production found the heart
of this goofy story. She inspired our enchanted creatures to empathize with each other on
their way to forgive the child's earlier cruelty
in a way I had never seen.
It was impossible not to cry during Ravel's closing chorus as Maestro Buchalter conducted the
end of the opera. Ravel's creatures revealed
their souls on the Black Sea. Who knew?
Dale Morehouse, Program Coordinator
Varna International Opera Academy
"The stage direction was also a high point,
one could see that the singers had been very well schooled in their actions, emotions, and
choreography. There was great variety in stage movement and positioning.
The director clearly had a strong sense of the
overall picture at any point in time.
Engaging from first moment. A very high level of performance. Very impressive."
NOA Opera Production Competition
Mozart's La Finta Giardiniera - UMKC
"Her adroit instruction to students integrates the music, the characterization and the motivation in a way that is beneficial to beginners as well as
advanced students.
She is truly a “teaching director.”
Robert Grayson - Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
"The perfect stage director -- organized, efficient,
and creative."
Dr. Lori Bade - Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
"The aspect that impressed
me the most was the stage direction.
It was beautiful and extremely well done.
It takes great ability to produce
such a work of art."
The Pirates of Penzance
Southeastern Louisiana University - Hammond, LA
"This opera has been one of
the very best experiences
for our students.
Her Master Class was superb!"
Utah State University - Logan, UT
"She is a very giving person, and has a way of cutting through the fog as a dramatic coach that one rarely experiences."
Boris VanDruff - professional singer
"Ms. Harris was very engaging with the students
and really helped them with expression
and conveying the meaning
of their pieces."
Bridges Master Class - Lowville Central School
Photography by Jefferson Ridenour
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