MITZI WESTRA, mezzo-soprano, received her B.A. degree in music and religion from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Her graduate work was done at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, where she received her master’s and doctoral degrees, working with such nationally renowned artists as coach/accompanist Margo Garrett and opera directors James Robinson and Vern Sutton. While in Minneapolis, she spent 4 years performing, touring, and recording with a professional choral group, the Dale Warland Singers, and was alto section leader for the DWS Chamber Singers. Since moving to Indianapolis, she has appeared as soloist with Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra, New Century String Quartet, The Indianapolis Quartet, and the Grammy Award-winning Pacifica Quartet, as well as performing frequently on the University of Indianapolis Faculty Artist Series. Opera performances include Katisha in The Mikado and the mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors. As an avid choral musician, she has sung with several professional organizations, including the Grammy Award-winning ensemble Conspirare and Santa Fe Desert Chorale. She currently teaches in the vocal department at University of Indianapolis, as well as being an alto section leader at Second Presbyterian Church, recording for Aireborn Studios in Zionsville, and maintaining her own private studio. She is pleased to be married to Frank Felice, composer and professor at Butler University in Indianapolis ( www.frank-felice.com ). She can be heard on two professionally released recordings of Frank’s music—Reflections and Whimsies: Chamber Music for Strings and Voice (2020) and The Beauty of Innuendos (2023), which encompassed all four of his song cycles for mezzo.