It has been said that singers are a dime a dozen. But great singers? Not so much. Mezzo-soprano Shirley Verrett was one of the greats. She eventually transitioned into soprano roles, transforming the rich depths of her voice into a velvety, caramel-hued spinto of power and grace. Above, Verrett sings the aria "Vissi d'arte" in the title role in a 1978 Metropolitan Opera production of Giacomo Puccini's Tosca.
Jennifer Hambrick unites her extensive backgrounds in the arts and media and her deep roots in Columbus to bring inspiring music to central Ohio as Classical 101’s midday host. Jennifer performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago before earning a Ph.D. in musicology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.