Emily Shallbetter

Get to know Emily

What are you doing in school?
"I’m currently pursuing a BM in Vocal Performance at the University of Maryland and plan to pursue Arts Administration after graduating."
How long have you been singing in choirs?
"I’ve technically been singing in choirs since I was in fourth grade, but I joined my first extracurricular choral ensemble (shout-out to the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York) when I was in sixth grade, and I haven’t looked back since!"
What is your favorite musical memory?
"My favorite musical memory is from when I performed in the premiere of Ola Gjeilo’s To the East and to the West at Carnegie Hall. I was singing with an organization that is very near and dear to my heart, with my one of favorite conductors and teachers by my side in the choir, and I just remember feeling so incredibly lucky in that moment. It truly changed my life."
Do you have any special talents or interests outside of music?
"I really really really love to cook—like a lot--especially for my family and friends."
Who is your favorite composer?
"Caroline Shaw. I first heard her Partita for 8 Voices when I was about 15 years old and it transformed my perspective on sung music. Her compositions are deeply poetic and moving, and I really appreciate that she isn’t afraid to experiment; it just feels like she gets to the root of the joy in using the human voice."
Who's your favorite non-classical musical artist?
"Radiohead has definitely influenced my musical taste a lot. Some of my other favorite artists are St. Vincent, Ariana Grande, Tune-Yards, Sufjan Stevens, Two Door Cinema Club, Grimes, and Father John Misty. They’re pretty different from one another, but they’re all fantastic musicians who take full ownership of their artistic vision, which I respect and admire."
What song have you not been able to stop listening to?
"4 ÆM by Grimes. Grimes is the best kind of weird."
What's the most interesting fact about you?
"I have both American and Czech citizenship!"
Breakfast for dinner or dinner for breakfast?
"Dinner for breakfast. This is a hill I will die on."
What's your favorite holiday and why?
"I adore Valentine's Day because it gives me an opportunity to celebrate all of the love in my life!"
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
"I'm definitely the latter, but I wish I were the former."

Emily Shallbetter recently completed her second season with Lux and has been singing in choirs since she was 10 years old. Emily is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at the University of Maryland, where she studies with Carmen Balthrop and was selected for masterclasses with Dawn Upshaw and Maureen O’Flynn. At UMD, Emily has performed as a featured soloist with the Chamber Singers and in the School of Music’s Bach Cantata series. She is passionate about performing works by living composers and serves as the Assistant Director for TEMPO, the School of Music’s extracurricular new music ensemble. Emily also served as President of Sigma Alpha Iota’s Gamma Epsilon chapter. In 2019, Emily helped to organize the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center's annual NextNOW Fest as a Student Curator. She plans to use the skills she's gained through these opportunities to pursue a career in Arts Administration after she graduates.

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