Mary Pratt

Biography

Beginning her vocal training after a suggestion from her mother, soprano Mary Kathleen Pratt
discovered her gift for singing with unexpected awe in small town Culver, Indiana. Fascinated by
acoustical mechanics and the art of completely filling a concert hall with the human voice, she
immersed herself in Interlochen Center for the Arts’s summer vocal artist program and further
developed a passion for singing. She pursued collegiate vocal studies mastering in vocal
performance with a concentration in classical voice and an advanced certificate in vocal
pedagogy from New York University.
While in New York City, Mary performed excerpts of Gretel from Humperdinck’s Hänsel und
Gretel in an Opera Scenes and Aria Concert at Carnegie Hall during the Manhattan Opera
Studio Festival. Mary has also performed excerpts of Despina from Mozart’s Così Fan Tutte and
Susanna from Le Nozze di Figaro for a concert at the National Opera Center where she
previously played the role of second Spirit in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte and performed in Hansel
und Gretel. Mary made her debut in Germany with the Lyric Opera Studio Weimar as Papagena
and Second Spirit in a production of Die Zauberflöte at the Mon Ami Youth and Cultural Center.
During her time in Germany, she also performed in two gala concerts of opera scenes and was
involved in an ensemble performance with the Thüringer Symphoniker Saalfeld-Rudostadt
orchestra conducted by Maestro Oliver Weder. Other European engagements include
performing Don Giovanni at the Estates Theatre and playing the role of La Novizia from
Puccini’s Suor Angelica at the St. Simon and Jude Church during the Prague Summer Nights
Festival.
In 2023, Mary happily returned to her midwestern roots where she now lives with her husband
and children and teaches voice at the University of Notre Dame. She finds immense joy in
teaching. Her students represent a wide range of talent from Notre Dame community members
and non-majors to music minors and soloists for various performances including Handel’s
Messiah and the recently televised Mozart’s Requiem.