Virginia Chen, Mezzo Soprano
	Virginia, a native Californian,  has sung in Italy, Austria, the Czech Republic and the United States.  Active as a recitalist as well as in opera, her roles include Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), Idamante (Idomeneo), Second Lady (The Magic Flute), Dryad (Ariadne auf Naxos), Old Maid (The Old Maid and the Thief), and the Witch and Mother (Hansel and Gretel) with Marin Opera,

Stockton Opera and Townsend Opera Players. She has appeared as a soloist with the San Francisco Symphony, the Berkeley Symphony, the Carmel Bach Festival and the Stockton Chorale and has been a member of the San Francisco Opera Chorus, the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra Chorale and the Grammy Award-winning San Francisco Symphony Chorus.  She directed a popular cabaret show in Stockton and was the recipient of a Professional Singers' Fellowship from the Bach Aria Festival and Institute at the University of Stony Brook, New York.  Chen received a BA from the University of the Pacific and an MA from the University of San Francisco (Lone Mountain College). 

"Chen is a marvel.  Her wonderfully expressive face and comic sense would sufficiently entertain even if she couldn't sing.  But she can sing beautifully!" (Stockton Record) 

"Her full-bodied mezzo-soprano voice and fine diction provided a solid foundation for the entire production." (Stockton Record)              

(Revised 5 12 04)