Soprano Mary M. Schiefen pursued her formal studies at the North Carolina School of the Arts and the Manhattan School of Music where she studied with Betty Allen.  She has performed the roles of Gilda in Rigoletto with the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Nicholas Armstrong, Giuditta in the New York Premiere of Franz Lehar’s Giuditta at the Liederkranz Theatre under the direction of Fred Horton as well as the role of Alma Way in the New York Premiere of The Village Singer by Stephen Paulus.  She has also appeared with Brooklyn Lyric Opera, Forest Hills Opera Productions, and New York Opera Works in the roles of Sonya Glawari (The Merry Widow), Adele (Die Fledermaus), Echo (Ariadne auf Naxos), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Nora (Riders to the Sea), Second Witch (Dido & Aeneas), and has distinguished herself in the roles of Lucy in The Telephone and Monica in The Medium, both by Gian Carlo Menotti.  Ms. Schiefen has performed throughout Europe appearing in opera and musical theatre productions as well as recitals and gave her operatic debut in the role of Miss Jessel in Benjamin Britten’s The Turn of the Screw in Bremen, Germany.  Her musical and theatre credits include a European tour of Hair in the roles of Suzanne/Chrissy as well as regional Summerstock productions where she performed the roles of Dulcie (The Boyfriend), the Singing Waitress (Scapino), Natalya (The Proposal), Mary (Godspell), Nora (A Doll’s House), Kate and Laurie (Oklahoma), Rosaura (Los Gavilanes – Zarzuela), Karen (The Children’s Hour), Gwendolyn (The Importance of Being Earnest), Constance (The Madwoman of Chaillot), Juliet (Romeo and Juliet), Hecuba (The Trojan Women), Countess Delage (The Women), and Anne Frank (The Diary of Anne Frank).  She has performed as recitalist in regional tours throughout Spain with featured performances at the renowned ”Liceu” in Barcelona, the “Teatro Bartrina” and “Teatre Fortuny” in Reus, and in regional tours of Spain.  In New York, Ms. Schiefen has appeared with the New Renaissance Chamber Artists and in concerts at the Pace Art Gallery, St. Paul’s Chapel, St. Bartholomew’s Church, and the New Composers Symposium.  In 2004, Ms. Schiefen was featured soloist in a special presentation Duo Artist Recital with soprano Mary McClain, sponsored by Mu Phi Epsilon at Tenri Cultural Institute in Manhattan.  Ms. Schiefen has also recorded film scores for the documentaries “From the Heights to the Depths,” “Decisions and Visions” and “Pancho Claus.” Ms. Schiefen was Mu Phi Epsilon-NYC Alumni Chapter’s 2004 Distinguished Artist.