Soprano, alumna to speak at Judson's spring commencement

Judson alumnus Melody Aristo Kielisch will speak at Judson University's spring 2009 commencement at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 2 at the Robert D. Lindner Fitness Center, 1151 N. State St. in Elgin.

After earning her bachelor of arts in music in 1973, Kielisch continued to study music, earning her master's degree in Wisconsin and her conservatory of music and performance at Hamburg, Germany. She also has studied under music teachers in Italy, Austria and Australia.

As a soprano, Aristo Kielisch has performed in opera halls all over Europe, including at venues in Berlin, Hamburg and Hanover, Germany; Zurich, Switzerland; and Edinburgh, Scotland. She also has performed at the Lincoln Center Alice Tully Hall and Carnegie Hall in New York, N.Y., the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, Calif., and the North Shore Performing Arts Center in Chicago. She recorded "The Impresario" with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and "Symphonic Love Melodies" with tenor Giorgio Aristo and the Czech Symphony Orchestra in Prague. Kielisch has performed with renowned artists such as Rene Kollo, Nicolai Gedda and Sylvia Geszty. She has made several TV appearances, including Susanna ("Marriage of Figaro") in Japan, and Rosina ("The Barber of Seville") in the United States. She also has been teaching private voice lessons for more than 15 years.

More than 165 students will graduate during the 60th graduating class of Judson University. During the ceremony, Judson will also recognize four returning alumni who graduated with the class of 1964, marking 45 year since their graduation. Also, 11 members of the class of 1969, will also be recognized upon the 40th anniversary of their graduation.