Although a diva by nature, Luanne Crosby, from Alfred, New York, has loved the NAVE experience–good music, good company and good food! A well-traveled singer and conductor, Luanne met Bonnie Sneed in 2008 in Varna, Bulgaria where Luanne was the soprano soloist for the Brahms’ Requiem, and Bonnie was one of the conductors. They furthered their friendship in Prague by biking along the Moldau River in the Czech Republic and keeping an eye on their handsome guide.
Audiences in the Northeastern US may have heard Luanne, as she has been a frequent guest recitalist at Chautauqua, performing in “Three Sopranos” in 2010 and with tenor, J.R. Fralick in 2011. She is a soloist on the CD “With Heart and Voice: Anthems Across America” with Rochester-based chamber choir, Madrigalia. She has sung professionally with the Cleveland Opera, Aspen Opera Theater, the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes and the Fredonia Chamber Players. Her performance of Poulenc’s “Gloria” with the Chautauqua Orchestra received the following praise from the Buffalo Evening News, “Miss Clarke (Crosby) sang with plaintive and appealing tone.”
As a conductor, Dr. Crosby directs the Alfred University Chorus and Chamber Singers. She has been the invited guest conductor for County and All State Choirs across New York State and Pennsylvania. In 2005 she participated in the Varna International Choral Conductor’s Workshop where she conducted portions of Mozart’s “Requiem”. Dr. Crosby also teaches Music Appreciation, American Music and World Music as well as Voice Class and private lessons in voice. Her students have won awards at NATS events and have been accepted into national choirs at ACDA.