Ami Bouterse
"The sweetness and gentility of Bouterse's singing calmed the ear" were the critic's words in Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for a recent performance of Mozart's Litany for the Altar of the Blessed Sacrament in Eb Major with Waukesha Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Bouterse was also seen in Patience at Skylight Opera Theatre.
Ami Bouterse's performing credits span many genres. In opera, she has sung several Mozart roles including Pamina in Die Zauberflote, Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, and Servilia in La Clemenza di Tito. Other roles include Beth in Little Women, Norina in Don Pasquale, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Yum-Yum in The Mikado, Anna I in The Seven Deadly Sins, Baby Doe in The Ballad of Baby Doe and the Little Red in Little Red Riding Hood (a children's opera). Companies include Skylight Opera Theatre, Ash Lawn Opera Festival, Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, New York Japan Society, Operafestival di Roma and Milwaukee Opera Theater, Theater X (formerly in Milwaukee).
As an opera apprentice artist, Ami sang two full seasons with the Opera Theater of Pittsburgh in main stage roles, educational outreach performances and concert repertoire. Dorian Opera Theater also featured this soprano in their apprenticeship program.
In oratorio, Ms. Bouterse soloed in Mozart's Requiem and Vesperae solennes de confessore in C, Faure's Requiem, Handel's Messiah, Pergolesi's Stabat Mater, and Bach's Easter Oratorio. Organizations include Racine Symphony Orchestra, Festival Arts of Antioch, Choral Arts Society of Southeastern Wisconsin, and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
At the Ash Lawn Opera Festival, Ami starred as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Other favorite musical theater roles include Christine in Phantom, and Rapunzel in Into the Woods.
On the recital stage, the Atlantic Center for the Arts featured Ms. Bouterse at its New Arts Song Festival held under the leadership of composer, Richard Danielpour in Florence, Italy. Ami premiered songs dedicated to her by composer, Jorge Muniz. Other recital venues include the Lake Geneva Chapter of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Sopelana (Spain) Music Festival, and Milwaukee Civic Music Association. She also frequently performs Wednesday Noon Concert Recitals at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. This fall she performs on September 26.
She has won frequent awards. Highlights include those sponsored by the Gerda Lissner Foundation in New York where she was an Encouragement Grant Recipient and National Finalist, MET District Council Auditions at which she received the Young Artist Award, National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), and the Milwaukee Civic Music Association.
Ms. Bouterse is an Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Wisconsin- Parkside where she teaches private voice and other related courses, including directing the Opera Workshop.
"I am so excited to share the link for my performance at the College Music Society National Conference Composer's Concert in October 2009. The 12-minute piece is called Lamentations of the Prophet Jeremiah and is scored for soprano and string quartet. The text is in Hebrew and English. My amazing collaborators are the Euclid String Quartet and composer Jorge Muniz, who are faculty from the University of Indiana - South Bend. For more information on performance possibilities, please contact me"
