Nicknamed “Columbus’ Sweetheart Soprano,” internationally acclaimed opera singer Chelsea Melcher has been described as “cooly captivating,” “ethereal and sublime,” and “a woman to be reckoned with” onstage. Originally from Coldwater, Michigan, the Opera Idol National Finalist graduated with a Performance Diploma from the world-renowned Jacobs School of Music under the study of Heidi Grant Murphy, Kevin Murphy, and Timothy Noble. At The Jacobs School of Music Chelsea performed Musetta (La Bohème) under the baton of Paul Nadler and direction of Jeffrey Buchman. Chelsea graduated with a Master’s in Music from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor’s of Music from Central Michigan University.
Chelsea’s roles include Micaëla (Carmen), Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), Valencienne (The Merry Widow), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Mimi (La Bohème), Violetta (La Traviata), Nedda (I Pagliacci), Maria (The Sound of Music), Adina (L’Elisir d’amore), Suor Genovieffa (Suor Angelica), Butterfly (Madama Butterfly), Annina, (La Traviata), Norina (Don Pasquale), Mariuccia (I Due Timidi), Female Chorus (The Rape of Lucretia), Frasquita (Carmen)Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi), Musetta (La Bohème), and Papagena (Die Zauberflöte).
Chelsea has performed Verdi’s Requiem and Strauss’ Vier Letzte Lieder, the Messiah, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and Mahler’s Second Symphony, Beethoven’s Mass in C, Forrest’s Requiem for the Living, Haydn Requiem in C, and Mozart’s Coronation Mass. Melcher’s performing includes collaboration with Opera Columbus, Opera Seabrook, Opera Project Columbus, Bay View Music Festival, New Albany Symphony Orchestra, Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra, Columbus Symphony, Ohio Light Opera, Midland Symphony, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, Amherst Symphony, Central Michigan Orchestra, and The Ohio State University Orchestra.
Chelsea has been inducted into the “Music Hall of Fame” (Coldwater, MI) and awarded the Margaret Speaks Scholarship, Jacobs School of Music Graduate Tuition Award, Jacobs School of Music Performance Certificate Recommendation, Wilson Award, Women in Music (Columbus) Award, Second Round Finalist in the Classical Singer Competition, and has received first place in numerous concerto competitions. Chelsea has been featured performing many works of modern composers and has performed world premieres for composers such as Jacob Reed, Philip Rice, and Paul Melcher.
Chelsea is the founder of Vocal Career Academy and Nerves Be Gone Academy, Professor of Entrepreneurial Performance Anxiety within Chalene Johnson’s Marketing Impact Academy, Professor of Voice at Siena Heights University, Voice Faculty and Vocal Coach for Columbus Children’s Theatre, adjunct Voice Faculty at Capital University, and Co-Founder (with her husband Paul Melcher) of Red School of Music. Chelsea teaches privately at Columbus Children’s Theatre and the greater Columbus area and specializes in coaching performers to manage anxieties and gain a natural confidence onstage and in auditions. Her masterclasses, coaching and courses have helped hundreds of students gain confidence, take their mind off the opinions of others, and truly enjoy performing.