Jennifer Barrett

Mezzo-Soprano Jennifer L. Barrett holds a BA in Vocal Music Education from North Central College, and a MA in Vocal Pedagogy from Northeastern Illinois University. Post-graduate studies include Singing Voice Therapy, Hennessy Bodywork for Singers, and the Estill Voice Method. Her Masters thesis, focusing on the works of composer Samuel Barber, was featured in Time Out Chicago, The Daily Herald, and the NEIU Research Symposium. 

On stage, Jennifer has been praised for her “plummy” voice, sharp diction, and “strikingly lovely” character portrayals.  Recent performance highlights include Third Eye Theater Ensemble's final production, The Consul, as well as the US debut of John Plant’s I will fly like a bird, with Thompson Street Opera. Her performance as Zofia was highly acclaimed by Chicago Classical Review, Chicago Theater Review, and was given special end-of-year recognition by Vocal Arts Chicago. 

As a company member of New Moon Opera in Chicago, Barrett has appeared in Gianni Schicchi, Viardot’s Cendrillon, Mesdames de la Halle, Trouble in Tahiti, The Old Maid and the Thief, and Hansel and Gretel.  Other area credits include shows with Natural Talent Productions, The Savoyaires, New Philharmonic Orchestra, Third Eye Theatre Ensemble, Opera on Tap Chicago, Main Street Opera, and The Floating Opera Company. 

Jennifer is honored to also serve the Chicago opera community as an up-and-coming opera director.  She reinstated the North Central College OpShop (Opera Workshop) program three years ago, to great acclaim.  In 2023, she made her directorial debut at Roosevelt University's OperaFest, directing Giannini's Beauty and the Beast and Ching's Remove Shoes Before Entering, along with a scene from Massenet's Manon. 

A Chicago-area native, Jennifer has been teaching private voice for over 25 years, in her home studio and as a professor of Classical and Musical Theater Voice at North Central College. She also serves as the Alto section leader at First United Methodist of LaGrange, and is a member of the Alto section of Consonance Chicago. Jennifer currently resides with her wife, Tracey, and has two children.

Courses Taught

MUAL-100: Applied Classical Voice

THEA-221: Applied Musical Theater Voice

MUEN-105: Opera Workshop (NCC OpShop)