Recent grad earns coveted spot with Opéra Bastille

Mezzo-soprano Amber Fasquelle completed her bachelor’s degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music in December 2015 and a month later, flew to Paris to compete in an international competition for a position in a young artist program at Opéra Bastille. “I auditioned with the mentality to practice auditioning, and then to my surprise I was in the finals, and next I know, I was selected,” says Fasquelle.

This fall Fasquelle will be joining the Opéra Bastille’s Atelier Lyrique Programme where she’ll working in main stage productions and complete training and vocal studies with other young artists.

During her time at CIM Fasquelle studied with Vinson Cole whom she considers a mentor. “Mr. Cole taught me everything about singing and the art of opera. He continues to influence my decisions as a musician and an artist. I'm very lucky to have had the years of experience working alongside him at CIM,” she says.

Fasquelle performed in various CIM opera productions including the leading role of Ruggiero in CIM’s production of Handel’s Alcina—a role usually given to graduate students. She also sang the Mother in Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges, Charlotte’s Letter Scene and aria from Massenet’s Werther and Bianca in The Spinning Scene of Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia.