Director of Vocal Studies

High Point University

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336-841-9240

Praised in Opera News for a production of Mozart's The Magic Flute, soprano Alexa Jackson Schlimmer’s singing was called "the most stunningly brilliant of the evening." She has received wide acclaim for her “sublime vocal artistry” and her “masterful acting.” Dr.Schlimmer made her professional debut at the age of 19 as soloist with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.  Since then, her opera and oratorio roles are numerous.  Her extensive operatic career has included the role of the Blumemadchen I in Wagner's Parsifal with Maestro James Levine conducting.  She has also appeared in many productions featuring opera greats Renata Scotto, Sherrill Milnes, James Morris, Jessye Norman and Kathleen Battle. Dr. Schlimmer's artistry in the operatic genre is evidenced by her more than 30 roles ranging from Rosina in The Barber of Seville, Fiordiligi in Cosi fan Tutte to Mimi in La Boheme and the title role in The Merry Widow. Not only has Dr. Schlimmer appeared with numerous opera companies and symphony orchestras in the United States, but she has performed extensively in eight foreign countries. She made her London debut asSusanna in The Marriage of Figaro with the prestigious Mayer-Lismann Opera Workshop, Covent Garden, London. She has performed many times on radio and television including a performance of Gazzaniga's Don Giovanni under the direction of former General Manager and Covent Garden Stage Director, Ande Anderson and the Chicago Lyric Opera’s, Maestro Lee Schaenen with special consultant in opera characterization, opera legend, George London.

Dr. Schlimmer is the winner of numerous vocal competitions including the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (two time Regional winner) and the Inaugural National Association of Teachers of Singing ArtistsCompetition (National Finalist). She was also a recipient of two fellowships to study abroad in London and in Germany. A native of South Carolina, Dr. Schlimmer studied at the Cincinnati -College Conservatory of Music with John Alexander, Jon Spong and Italo Tajo, The American Institute of Musical Studies (Graz, Austria) with Eugene Conley and the University of North Carolina Greensboro with Richard Cox,Charles Lynam and Carla LeFevre.  In addition she studied at the Royal College of Music, London with Else Mayer –Lismann and was a student of Sandor Konya while studying in Germany.

Recent engagements include being selected as THE Vocal Pedagogue for the Inaugural London Choral Festival in December 2007- January 2008. She continues her role with the London International Choral Festival and has been featured both on the BBC (Television and Radio) live. She was a featured soloist in the Festival’s productions of John Rutter’s Gloria in December of 2008 and 2010 at Westminster Cathedral ,in 2009 at Westminster Central Hall and in 2011 at The Cadogan Hall. Equally at home on the recital stage, Dr. Schlimmer was one of two singers nationwide, chosen to present a solo recital at the internationally known Spoleto Festival, U.S.A. She received a standing ovation from the capacity audience at her first Spoleto concert and has been  invited back several times  She has also soloed at  Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center and at Carnegie Hall  (The Main Hall, Isaac Stern Auditorium and Weill Recital Hall).

An active voice instructor, her students continue to win vocal competitions and scholarships at prestigious schools including Oberlin, Cincinnati- College Conservatory of Music, Florida State University, Indiana University, Northwestern University, Columbia University, Peabody Conservatory, New York University, and Julliard.  Her students have soloed at Carnegie Hall and have sung internationally including the Houston Grand Opera, the prestigious Merola Program at the San Francisco Opera, the Tanglewood Festival, the Altenberg International Music Festival, the London International Choral Festival. Dr. Schlimmer currently serves as the Director of Vocal Studies at High Point University. Her husband, Jim is VP of Enrollment Management at Christian Brothers University in Memphis. Son, Andy is a third year law-student and daughter Katie is in Divinity School.