Hayley Kukulis, soprano

Hayley Kukulis, soprano, currently resides in Charlottesville, Virginia, post graduating from James Madison University with her Masters in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy, under the instruction of lyric-coloratura soprano Dr. Dorothy Maddison. During her time at JMU, she participated in the Madison Baroque Ensemble performing works by Barbara Strozzi, a seminar dedicated to German Lied, the opera showcase An Evening in Paris, Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance as the cover of Edith, Gounod’s Faust as a chorus member, and the fall 2020 virtual opera production of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte as the Zweiter Knaben. Her most recent performance took place this spring in Staunton, Virginia at Emmanuel Episcopal Church singing Pergolesi's Stabat Mater as the soprano soloist.

Hayley grew up in Marquette, Michigan, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Music with a minor in German, at Northern Michigan University, under the instruction of Dr. Robert Engelhart. While at NMU, she was the Soprano Section Leader for the NMU Arts Chorale. She student conducted the Arts Chorale and the NMU European Tour Choir in 2017. Following the 2017 Tour, she attended a program of study with a special concentration in German opera and lieder at the Salzburg College under the instruction of Claudia Michel of the Salzburger Kommersolisten and studied German at the Alpha Sprachinstitut in Vienna, Austria.

During her time at NMU, Hayley served as a Cathedral Cantor and member of the St. Peter Cathedral Choir. She served as an Instructor and Assistant Conductor of the Diocesan Children’s Choir for the annual Diocesan Youth Choir Camp. She has been a repeating artist of the Cathedral Concert Series, participating in Music for a Grand Space, Expressiva: Music for Violin and Organ, and her very own recital, Mother of God, in dedication to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Hayley has also been a guest artist with the Marquette Choral Society, singing the role of the Angel in Respighi's Lauda per la Natività del Signore in 2019.

Spotlight role?: The Shepherd (L'Enfant et les Sortileges)
Dragonfly (L'Enfant et les Sortileges)
Giannetta (L'elisir d'amore for Opera Scenes)