Metropolitan Opera’s District Finalist (Detroit - 1991) and Comic Opera Guild’s “Harold Haugh” Vocal Competition’s (Ann Arbor – 2002) Second-Place “Winner” Mezzo Soprano, Dorothy Duensing, returns for her second role onstage with AOT as Alicia in Lucia di Lammermoor. (Her first role with AOT was Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro (Detroit – 2004). In Dearborn Press and Guide’s September 3, 1998 edition, it stated that Ms. Duensing. “…was stunning. Her accomplished vocal abilities, her stage presence and mysterious beauty combined to make her the perfect Carmen,” Ms. Duensing holds both the Master of Music degree from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor – 1990) and the Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University (Bloomington – 1984) in vocal performance. Most influenced by her mother, Patricia Ann Gasthoff Duensing, a professional singer (spinto soprano) and voice teacher who led her to study voice with Mrs. Carolyn Grimes Sherwood of then, Huntington Woods, MI. Later, Ms. Duensing studied at universities above with Virginia Zeani, Reri Grist, Martha Sheil, Lorna Haywood, and with conductors-vocal coaches: Gustav Meier, Jerry Blackstone, Martin Katz, Richard Miller, Mitchell Krieger, and more recently, George Shirley, his protégé, Shawn McDonald, and Dina Soresi Winter.

During her eight years as Artist-In-Residence with Ohio’s Toledo Opera Company (1991-1999), Ms. Duensing embraced her desire for performing, especially when extending it into the classroom! While, singing over two hundred school renditions of the role of Hansel in Hansel & Gretel, among many other roles in operas for children, Ms. Duensing recognized her desire to teach them. Therefore, she realized classroom teaching certifications in her home State of Michigan at Madonna University (Livonia – 2004). Currently, Ms. Duensing holds Professional Teachers Certifications in K-12 Vocal Music (JX) and 7-12 Speech (BD), and she is certified to teach Orff Schulwerk Music Levels 1, 2 & 3.

Ms. Duensing received extensive operatic training as recipient of the Patricia Brinton-Becirovic Memorial Scholarship to attend the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) (Graz, Austria – 1989). This opportunity led her to sing for numerous agents and opera house auditions throughout Germany and Austria, as well as additional concerts and Austrian television appearances there. More recently, Ms. Duensing’s rendition of comedic roles as Mary Sunshine in “What’s That Smell? Productions’” fully-staged musical, Chicago (Mt. Clemens – 2008), and Simon Garrick in Comic Opera Guild’s Orange Blossoms (Canton – 2009) brought her and her audiences much laughter and joy! Ms. Duensing continues performing as professional soloist with regional opera companies, orchestras, bands, churches and temples. She is featured in Marquis’ Who’s Who in the World, Marquis’ Who’s Who in America and Marquis’ Who’s Who in Women in America. Ms. Duensing is an active member of Sigma Alpha Iota (SAI)-International Professional Music Fraternity (Detroit Alumnae Chapter) where she has served in national, regional and local positions, and remains active in PEO Sisterhood (Chapter AU-Novi/Northville) promoting higher-education for all women. She resides in Novi, MI with her college-bound son, Mason Cormie, who is majoring in music performance with double-bass at DePaul University in Chicago, IL. Aside from professional singing, Ms. Duensing teaches private singing, drama and piano lessons in their home while working part-time in Novi Community Schools’ District and as Alto Soloist/Section Leader at The Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit.