Ruth Wilson Francisco's Biography




			Ruth Wilson Francisco, is a delightfully versatile singer. Whether singing Mozart, Bach, Gershwin, or Rodgers and Hammerstein, she thrills audiences with her beautiful voice and gifted interpretation. A Colorado native, she has returned to the Southwest, where she sings regularly. She dazzled audiences as Sister Amnesia in the Cortez High Desert Community Theatre (CHDCT) production of Nunsense in early 2006, reprising the role in special "Back by Popular Demand" performances of the comedy in April. In October 2005, Ms. Wilson was one of the top placing entertainers in the Spotlight to Stardom competition held at the Fort Lewis College Community Concert Hall in Durango. She entranced a highly appreciative and responsive audience with Noel Coward's Nina. Other appearances include singing the role of Maria in 2005 in The Sound of Music with the CHDCT, performing in December 2004 with the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, and cabaret at the La Fonda hotel, Santa Fe. In July 2004 Ms. Wilson debuted with Music in the Mountains at Durango Mountain Resort, in Winter Apples, an original piece for two sopranos, piano and oboe, by Katherine Freiberger. During her tenure in New York City, she presented concerts at the American Landmark Festivals Concert Series, the Donnell Library, the American Institute of Guitar, and historic St. Peter's Church in Chelsea, among many others. Listed among her operatic roles are Olympia in The Tales of Hoffman with the Stony Hill Players in Summit, New Jersey, and First Spirit in Mozart's The Magic Flute with the Amato Opera in New York. Some favorite roles in musical theatre are Marian in The Music Man, Julie in Carousel, and Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof. She has also appeared at the Santa Fe Playhouse, Santa Fe Music on the Plaza, and at Judy's Restaurant and Cabaret in New York City. A gifted oratorio interpreter, Ms. Wilson has been the featured soprano soloist in The Messiah for NYC's Music at Holy Trinity Concert Series, Schubert's Mass in G and Bach's Wachet Auf (Cantata 140) for Music at St. Paul's in Denver, Davidde Pentitente with the Larimer Chorale/Ft. Collins Symphony, and Mozart's Vesperae Solennes de Confessore in Denver. She has sung Mozart's renowned vocal/orchestra concerto Exsultate, Jubilate in the Loveland Chamber Orchestra's A 18th Century Evening, musical theatre with the Colorado Theatre Orchestra in A Sondheim Revue, a classic repertoire in the Boulder Bach Young Artist's Evening, and recitals in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah and Wisconsin. In 2002 she was presented in recital at the Academy of Music and Dance in Bratislava, Slovakia - the first American soprano invited to sing at that institution. Ms. Wilson has received excellent reviews on her recently released second CD, entitled On My Way To You, a compilation of well-loved Broadway, film and cabaret songs. It follows her first CD, Sometimes. In addition to her musical performances, Ruth appears in cable TV commercials. In addition to her performance schedule, Ms. Wilson maintains a private voice studio in the Cortez area. She holds the Master of Music in Voice Performance degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Recent Performances: Nunsense - January 2006 Nunsense - April 2006 (back by popular demand) Private Venue - April 2006 Music in the Park - July 2006 Oklahoma/Laurey - July 2006 Soloist Soprano - Handel's Messiah LDS Church, Monticello, Utah - December 2006 Concert Series Music at the Saints at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Denver - Spring 2007 with Nancy Thomas, pianist at the sanctuary at the 1st Methodist Church to benefit the Homeless Shelter, Cortez - July 2007 San Juan Symphony, Farmington, NM - September 2007 San Juan Symphony, Durango, CO - September 2007 Temple Square Concert Series Salt Lake City, UT - November 2007 College of Eastern Utah Performing Arts Center Blanding, UT - December 2007 The Messiah - Monticello, UT - December 2007 Durango Bach Festival - Coffee Cantata - March 2008 Presbyterian Women's Tea Concert - May 2008 Music at St. Paul's Concert Series, Denver, CO - June 2008 The Southwest Players in Life (And All That Goes With It) 7:00 p.m. Hampton Hall, 1st United Methodist Church, Cortez - June 2008 Upcoming performances include: June 28 & 29, 2008 - Renaissance Festival, Mancos, CO July 16, 2008 - Albuquerque Public Library Concert Series July 19-21 & 26-28, 2008 - Ruth Wilson Francisco appearing as Sister Amnesia in Nunsense II, The Second Coming with the CHCDT October 2008 - Colorado School of Mines Concert Series October 2008 - Trinity Lutheran Concert Series, Ft. Collins, CO April 2009 - St. George Tabernacle Concert Series, St. George, Utah Ruth is available for performing in private venues, concert series and for private recording needs.