Shannon LaRue

Having a life long, deep connection and love for all things music, Shannon LaRue first realized she could sing classical style music during her first year in high school at the age of 14. She began taking voice lessons, singing the National Anthem acapella for many of the school’s sports and a variety of community events, learning new repertoire and entering and placing in multiple singing competitions. In 2002, Shannon auditioned and was selected as one of the solo performers for the grand opening of the Benjamin and Miriam Schuster Performing Arts Center located in downtown Dayton, Ohio. On academic and music scholarship, in 2004 she began her bachelor’s in Vocal Performance at the University of Dayton, initially studying with John Wesley Wright as her voice teacher. During her time at UD, “Shay” established herself as a strong and developing singer. She had the privilege of being section leader and often soloist for the international traveling University Chorale under the direction of Dr. Robert Jones, and again competing and placing in competitions such as the Alice Hotopp Voice Competition, NATS, Nationals Society of Arts and Letters, to name a few. In 2007, she auditioned and was accepted into the Dayton Opera chorus, and in 2008 she performed in the Schuster Center’s production of Turandot, all whilst 6 months pregnant and completing her final semester for graduation! Other Dayton Opera performances as chorus member include Tosca; La Traviata; Carmen; Porgy and Bess; I Pagliacci; Die Zauberflöte; Opera Columbus production of The Mikado; full role of Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi at the University of Dayton ; and lots of scene work from many others! Shannon has had awesome opportunities to share her voice, including but not limited to: touring in 2011 with the New York Harlem Theatre to Naples, Italy for their production of Porgy and Bess as understudy for the character “Clara” and chorus member; performing as featured soloist for the induction of now Congresswoman Joyce Beatty; singing for countless engagements throughout Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, and occasionally out of state. Although her motherly responsibilities have kept her close to home, and earned her a recent 5 year respite from performing, she has never stopped studying, practicing, and preparing for present opportunities and the future to come.

This can not all be said without expressing sincere gratitude to those close family and friends who have walked with me on this path, helping, assisting and supporting whenever and however possible.