Dr. Mary Beth Taylor has attracted attention for her beautiful, lyric-coloratura voice, her intelligent musicianship, her diverse repertoire, and her thoughtful interpretation. She relocated to Keene following completion of a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at The University of Alabama. While there, she studied with Dr. Susan Fleming, and participated in master classes with internationally renowned baritone Sherill Milnes and the chamber group Tafflemusik. Before moving to Keene, Dr. Taylor performed as a soloist throughout the Birmingham, Alabama, area including appearances as a soloist for the Birmingham Choral Guild and Birmingham Opera. Her concert repertoire includes numerous opera and musical theater roles, oratorio, and art song. Mary Beth is a highly sought-after performer and has appeared locally as a soprano soloist with The Raylynmor Opera, Franklin Pierce College, The Monadnock Chorus, The Keene United Church of Christ, and The Keene Chorale. Her most recent performances include an appearance in December, 2007, with The Keene Chorale singing Handel's Dixit Dominus and Vivaldi's Magnificat. Upcoming performances include a spring concert at the Wisteriahurst Museum in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and a solo recital featuring the works of Samuel Barber.
Dr. Taylor has taught at The University of Alabama, Birmingham-Southern College Conservatory (Alabama), Franklin Pierce College (Rindge), Keene Institute of Music and Related Arts, Creative Arts at Keene (CAKE), P.A.C.E Summer Music Theatre Intensive and Vocal Music Academy (Northampton, Massachusets), and for the Jaffrey-Rindge School District. She is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and has served as an adjudicator for NATS and for NH Allstate auditions. She has also served as Music Director for the Keene Unitarian Universalist Church since 2004.
