Rina Lucas

• PERFORMANCE WORK:
• Virtually Yours - Spring's Serenade for Summer - July 2021- Original Multimedia Show
• VCOM Auburn White Coat Ceremony - April 2021- Original rendition of VCOM Alma Mater
• Farewell Ode to Winter - A Virtual Performance - March 2021- Original Multimedia Show
• Spot Light Awards 2019 - Featured soloist accompanied by Earth Angels and Arshak Sirunyan
• Piccolo Spoleto 2019 - Seasons A Visual and Vocal Journey - Original Multimedia Show
• Piccolo Spoleto 2019 - Sounds of the Holy City - Co-presenter of Original Multimedia Show
• Charleston Symphony Orchestra - Dec. 2018, 2019 - Soprano Soloist for Handel's Messiah
• Staff & Palette presents Rina Lucas in Solo Recital 2018 - Original Multimedia show
• Lowcountry Voices - regular soloist, mass choir, and concert choir - 2017 to 2018 seasons
• AWARDS:
• Current Finalist in The CS Music Fall Online Voice Competition 2021
• Current Semifinalist in The Music International Grand Prix for Classical and Popular Voice 2021
• Honorary Mention - Professional Voice - Medici International Music Competition 2021
• Finalist - NY Lyric Opera Company 2020
• SCNATS Mid-Atlantic Region Honors Recital Finalist 2018
• VOICE TEACHERS:
• Dr. Jill Terhaar Lewis 2018-2021
• Sandra Barnhardt 2016-2018
• Patricia Clevenger 2012-2016
• MASTER CLASSES:
• Dr. Jennifer Luiken
• Deedy Welborn Francis
• Awet Andemichael
• Donald Lawrence
• Dr. James Abbington
• Dr. Lori Hicks
• Chris Beatty
• CONDUCTORS:
• Ken Lam
• Yuriy Bekler
• David Richardson
• Alphonso Brown
• Nathan L. Nelson
• Sandra Barnhardt
• Dr. Roland Carter
• Nick Palmer
• Kelly Corcoran
• John Hugo
• David Stewart Riley
• DEGREES:
• Master of Physical Therapy - Gannon University - magna cum laude - 1998
• Bachelor of Science - James Madison University - magna cum laude - 1994

Soprano Rina Lucas is known for her powerful instrument, effortless range, and musical versatility. Comfortable in multiple genres, she is sought after as a soloist for recitals, concerts, and other special occasions. Rina was delighted to make her debut with The Charleston Symphony Orchestra as Soprano Soloist for Handel’s Messiah at historic Mt. Zion AME Church in 2018 and was invited back for the 2019 season. After performing with the Charleston United Choir for the televised Spot Light Awards honoring the Emmanuel Nine at the Gaillard Center in 2018, she returned to this diverse stage as a featured soloist for The Spot Light Awards 2019 alongside vocal group Earth Angels. As an artist in paint and poetry as well as voice, her multimedia performances have dazzled audiences throughout the Lowcountry of South Carolina including her original show “Seasons: A Visual and Vocal Journey” which debuted during Piccolo Spoleto 2019 alongside pianist and composer Arshak Sirunyan. Also during Piccolo Spoleto 2019, she was a co-presenter and featured artist in voice and visual art for “Sounds of the Holy City with Small Opera, Staff & Palette, and Mt. Zion AME. In 2018, she drew acclaim for her Charleston solo recital debut featuring her original oil paintings, poetry, and multi-genre vocal repertoire including her own arrangements. During the 2020-2021 pandemic, she continued to create multimedia shows for online viewing including “Farewell Ode to Winter - A Virtual Performance” and "Virtually Yours - Spring's Serenade for Summer". She recently performed at the 2021 Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Auburn Campus White Coat Ceremony, Mercer School of Medicine Commencement 2019 Ceremony, and her recorded performance was utilized for the virtual ceremony in 2020. She has been a proud member of the Lowcountry Voices Mass Choir as well as the separately auditioned Concert Choir, and has been featured as a regular soloist. She has also sung chorally with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra Chorus. Rina, whose name in Hebrew means “Joyfully Singing”, has sung with multiple church choirs including ensembles, worship teams, and solo work. Because of her Jewish heritage, she also has served in a Cantorial role singing prayers in Hebrew. She has performed multiple solos at various historic sites while traveling in Israel.

Rina’s path to the profession has been nontraditional, having turned to the arts full time less than ten years ago after a career as a Physical Therapist. She received her Bachelor of Science from James Madison University, and her Master of Physical Therapy from Gannon University. Since that time, Rina has developed her musical gifts with several excellent mentors including Patricia Clevenger, Professor of Voice at Roanoke College, Sandra Barnhardt of Lift Up Your Voice Studio, and Dr. Jill Terhaar Lewis of Charleston Southern University. Rina has performed for multiple National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Master Classes as well as a SCNATS State Student Auditions in Spartanburg where she won first place and a Certificate of Distinction in her category (Contemporary Commercial Music). After receiving accolades from judges and reaching the final rounds of multiple voice competitions for both CS Music and New York Lyric Opera Company, she has been spotlighted in a national publication, CS Music Magazine, for her unique emergence into a fascinating new career.

https://www.csmusic.net/content/articles/an-artist-in-voice-paint/

She won an Honorary Mention for her vocal performance in the Medici International Music Competition 2021, and is currently a semi-finalist in the Music International Grand Prix 2021 as well as a finalist in the CS Music Fall Online Voice Competition 2021.

Rina has recently returned to the mountains of her native Virginia with her beloved husband John and their pups Ariel and Eli after a season of prolific artistic growth in Charleston, SC. Traveling from the sea to the summit, she re-opened her studio, Staff & Palette, in this lovely new setting, high atop ancient hills in Floyd County, which like the Lowcountry, provides so much inspiration for her work as an artist in paint, poetry, and voice. Though largely self taught in visual art, she has had some important mentors including Terry Lyon, Anne Way Bernard, Michael Farrar, and her own Uncle James Fleshman. In addition to being featured as a visual artist for multiple productions during Piccolo Spoleto 2019, she has also exhibited in several juried art shows including MOJA 2019 in Charleston, SC and Art Appalachia 2020 in Floyd, VA. She recently won The Judge's Choice Award as well as The People's Choice Award for her original oil "Wild Iris in Bloom on the Palmetto Trail" in the National Juried Exhibition 2021 with internationally acclaimed watercolorist Z.L. Feng, and her work is currently on exhibit at The Floyd Center for the Arts as part of the 18th Annual New Work Exhibit and at The Art Museum on Tyler as part of the 16th New River Art Biennial Juried Exhibition. All of her paintings are accompanied by poetry, and plans are in the works to publish a book including images of her artwork and the poetic interpretations brushed onto the canvas. She has been writing poetry since her youth, but she has been inspired by mentoring and encouragement from Poet Laureate of Charleston, SC, Marcus Amaker. She sells her artwork online and from her home studio, and she often partners with animal charities, helping pups in need find loving homes through her “Painted Pooch Project”. She frequently uses her artwork as a way to advocate for worthy causes close to her heart. Commissioned by Lowcountry Voices, Rina painted an oil portrait of iconic African-American Composer, Dr. Roland Carter entitled “Lifter of Voices”, as part of the celebration for his 75th birthday in May of 2017. Her passion for building cultural bridges and deep desire for racial reconciliation and justice are important themes depicted in her work.

LINKS:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL2sl7buX6WI6w25XfxcHTQ

https://www.facebook.com/staffandpalette

https://www.instagram.com/staff_and_palette/

https://www.biafarin.com/p/artist.html?name=rina-lucas