Elaine Rinaldi
Conductor and pianist Elaine Rinaldi began her musical studies at an early age with renowned pedagogue Dr. Rosalina Sackstein in Miami, FL. A winner of numerous scholarships and awards, Elaine made her professional debut at the age of 16 as a piano soloist with the Ft. Lauderdale Chamber Orchestra. Elaine continued her studies at the University of Miami's Frost School of Music, where she received the full-tuition M.B. Byrd Scholarship. After graduation, Elaine received a scholarship to the prestigious Mannes School of Music in New York, where she studied piano with Nina Svetlanova, Chamber Music with Julius Levine and Vocal Coaching with Benton Hess and Joan Dornemann.
As a student and young professional, Elaine had the privilege of working with many of the world's most important opera singers, accompanying extensively in their master classes and lessons. Several of the artists with whom she worked closely are Renato Capecchi, Nico Castel, Sherrill Milnes, Mignon Dunn, Renata Scotto, Juan Pons, Judith Blegen and Dodi Protero, as well as Franco Corelli, Sena Jurinacs, Theo Adam, Maestro Horst Stein, Dolores Ziegler and James King.
As a recital accompanist, Elaine has accompanied hundreds of recitals for all instruments and voice types. At Mannes, she was awarded the Newton Swift Prize for Accompanying. Notable recital engagements have included performances with Metropolitan Opera stars Olga Makarina and Russell Thomas, and with acclaimed soprano Patricia Johnson. She is currently the collaborative pianist for the "Prima Volta" debut recital series at the Austrian Cultural Institute in Manhattan.
As a conductor, Elaine has held many positions as an Assistant and/or Cover Conductor in many of this country's leading regional opera theaters. From 1997-2000, she held the positions of Resident Associate Conductor and Chorus Master at the Florida Grand Opera in Miami. Critics called her work with the chorus "exquisite", and Tim Smith of the Ft, Lauderdale Sun Sentinel said "the chorus, under Elaine Rinaldi's direction, gets better and better."(3/13/99, La Boheme).
A champion of new music, Elaine led the world-premiere reading of Deborah Drattel's Lilith, and has worked closely with composer Paula Kimper on her operas Patience and Sarah and The Bridge of San Luis Rey. Additionally, Elaine served as Music Director for American Opera Projects' Composer and the Voice series for two consecutive seasons. At AOP, she met composer Ed Ficklin, and went on to premiere many of his vocal works in several venues around Manhattan.
As an educator, Elaine has taught at many opera training programs, and given master classes at several universities throughout the United States. She recently returned from Intermezzo Summer Opera Training Program, where she conducted performances of Die Zauberflöte and Suor Angelica.
Currently, Elaine is the Founder and Music Director of Orchestra Miami, Miami's new professional orchestra. Following the success of Orchestra Miami's inaugural concerts (featuring acclaimed soprano Eglise Gutierrez as soloist), she led the orchestra in "Pictures: an Exploration in Visual Music" on Dec. 8, 2006. Additionally, Elaine is in much demand as an opera conductor and vocal coach. For four consecutive seasons, she was the principal guest conductor at the Dicapo Opera Theater in Manhattan. She has also led several tours for the National Lyric Opera, twice appeared as a guest conductor with the Albany Symphony for the Shaker Mountain Performing Arts Festival, and conducted performances of La Traviata for Island Opera Theater in Key West, Florida.