Kimberly Beasley is an Assistant Professor of Voice at Jacksonville University and holds a Bachelor's in Music Theatre from the University of Colorado, a Master of Music from Valparaiso University and a Certificate of Vocal Performance from Northwestern University where she studied with Sunny Joy Langton and coached with Sherrill Milnes and Richard Boldrey. Baritone Sherrill Milnes of the Metropolitan Opera states, "Kimberly is a fine musician who sings with great sensitivity, offering mature musicianship and strong performance technique."
While a Chicago resident she performed frequently as a soloist with the Northwest Festival Orchestra, Southwest Michigan Symphony, Elmhurst Symphony, the Northwest Indiana Symphony, DuPage Opera Theatre, the New Philharmonic Orchestra, Light Opera Works, and the Grant Park Symphony Chorus. With the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Kimberly performed in their productions of Cavalleria Rusticana, Fidelio, and Turandot. Of Kimberly's performance with the Northwest Indiana Symphony, conductor Kirk Muspratt remarked in the Northwest Indiana Times, "I am looking forward to introducing Kimberly to our audiences here, because I know they will be completely bowled over by her amazing talent."
Kimberly has extensive concert and recital appearances featuring varied repertoire including opera, oratoria, jazz, and musical theatre. Her roles are also varied and include Cinderella in Into the Woods, Angelica in Suor Angelica, Rosina in Barber of Seville, Dorine in Tartuffe, Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore, Micäela in Carmen, and Butterfly in Madama Butterfly. She has directed productions of Little Women, the Musical, Puccini's opera Gianni Schicchi and A...My Name is Alice at Jacksonville University. She also been the musical director for productions of A…My Name is Alice, West Side Story, The Ballad of Baby Doe, Children of Eden, and Hello Dolly for companies including the Memorial Opera House in Valparaiso and OneTheatre in Chicago. Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune said about OneTheatre's production of The Last Five Years: "...it features a highly proficient musical ensemble, led by conductor Kim Beasley."
She has taught university courses in applied theory, opera scenes, vocal pedagogy, and opera history at Valparaiso University, Northwestern University, and the Graham School of the University of Chicago. You can hear her locally with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Music Society of Jacksonville, Friday Musicale, and Music at Main.
