Virginia Herrera-Crilly

• *ACE 2014 Award for Best Musical Production in the Latin Theater in NYC of "Bésame Mucho" at Repertorio Español
• *HOLA 2013 Award for Excellence in Theater-"Bésame Mucho" at Repertorio Español
• *Rising Star Opera Competition of Naomi Music Productions and Recordings – 1st Prize
• *New Millennium Vocal Competition of the New York Vocal Artists- Winner
• *Queens Opera Competition - Winner
• *Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation International Vocal Competition – Finalist
• *New Jersey State Opera Competition - Finalist
• *Palm Beach Opera Competitions – Finalist

Virginia Herrera-Crilly is a soprano and voice teacher operating Crillera Vocal Studio in Stamford, CT. She began her vocal training in the country of her birth – México – going on to study in Rome at the Arts Academy, then in NYC at the Center for Opera Performance, and at OMTI with the legendary Jerome Hines.

As a performer, Virginia has been acclaimed by Opera News as having an “uncommonly beautiful sound,” with “tonal beauty and liquid phrasing,” She has performed in operas, zarzuelas, and concerts around the world, and in the tristate area in venues such as Weill Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Merkin Hall, Town Hall, PNC Arts Center, Repertorio Español, Hispanic Society Center. She is proud to have worked with some of the world’s great conductors including Pablo Zinger, Anton Coppola, Jorge Parodi, Borislav Ivanov, Enrique Patrón de Rueda, Greg Scimé, Johannes Somary, Manfred Knoop, Laurine Celeste Fox, Per Brevig, John Marino, Will Crutchfield, Barry Hoffmann, Alan Aurelia, Joseph Turin, Nelly Vuksic, Thomas Carlo Bo, Scott Jackson Wiley.

Virginia has been recognized for her work in BESAME MUCHO including winning the ACE 2014 Award for Best Musical Production in the Latin Theater in NYC and the HOLA 2013 Award for Excellence in Theater. Her voice is featured in the soundtrack of the Mexican short film “Under the Rubble” nominated for Best Short Film at the Tribeca Film Festival’06 and for Best Original Music at the Pantalla de Cristal Festival’06 in México.

Honors/Awards

AWARD - Alfa Cultural Center of Monterrey, México

AWARD - Center for the Arts and the Sciences of Monterrey, México

AWARD – ILLA (Instituto Italo-Latino Americano) of Rome, Italy

Rising Star Opera Competition of Naomi Music Productions and Recordings – 1st Prize

New Millennium Vocal Competition of the New York Vocal Artists- Winner

Queens Opera Competition - Winner

Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation International Vocal Competition – Finalist

New Jersey State Opera Competition - Finalist

Palm Beach Opera Competitions – Finalist

She has taught voice to students at all levels for over 25 years in adult and elementary music education. Since 2008, she has judged student and professional singers in the classical and musical theater divisions of the annual Classical Singer Music Vocal Competition.

While living in the Bronx, NY, Virginia served as director of the vocal department for Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts. She went on to work as a music educator in Stamford, CT with the City’s Catholic Schools, the Recreational Services Department, and at Long Ridge Music Center. Currently she teaches Voice/ Piano at SMMA - Stamford Music & Arts Academy and at WMS - Wilton Music Studios in CT. All the while Virginia continues instructing private students at Crillera Vocal Studio and online tutoring platform Wyzant.com.

Among these many activities, Virginia places singing as a cantor for weekly Masses, funerals and wedding services at the top of her list. She believes strongly in sharing one’s gifts whether it’s at your local church, in the studio, or on a professional stage.