Lewis University Music Department

Elayna Swearingen | Voice

Elayna Rogalen Swearingen has performed as soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in Mahler's Symphony No. 8 (Mater Glorioso), Beethoven's Choral Fantasy, Mussorgsy's Boris Godunov, and Strauss' Electra with the following conductors: the late Sir George Solti, Kurt Mazur and James Levine.

As a concert soloist, Mrs. Swearingen's performances have included Faure's Requiem, J. S. Bach's Christmas Cantata, J. S. Bach's Magnificat in D Major, Vivaldi's Gloria, Handel's Messiah, Haydn's Creation, and participated in 'Opera Night' with L'Opera Piccola. She has also appeared in opera scenes as 'Monica' in Menotti's Medium, as 'Annina' in Menotti's The Saint of Bleecker Street, as 'Dido' in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, and as 'Mother' in Barab's Little Red Riding Hood.

She has also performed in the Verdi Requiem and as soprano soloist with the Downers Grove Choral Society in Mendelssohn's Elijah, Rossini's Petit Missa Solemnis and solo concert recitals.

In 1999, Mrs. Swearingen began teaching voice at Lewis University. She has appeared in various performances at Lewis University: the annual 'Binder Concert', the Honors Convocation and commencement, the Gilbert and Sullivan concert, Arts Gala and an all Verdi concert with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Mrs. Swearingen received her M.A. in Vocal Pedagogy and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education with High Honors from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago. Her master's research paper "Teaching the Adolescent Voice" was selected to be presented at the Annual Research Symposium.

Her awards have included the Joan Sachs Award, a complete music scholarship for both undergraduate and graduate study at Northeastern Illinois University and the Margaret Hillis Fellowship Grant.

Her previous coaches and teachers have included the late Evelyn Leiske Noble, Dr. Robert Holst, Dr. Phyllis Hurt, Dr. Ronald Combs, Edward Lally, Richard Boldrey, the late William Browning, Kip Snyder, Dr. Eric Weimer and Monroe Olson.

In addition to her position as adjunct faculty at Lewis University, Mrs. Swearingen teaches voice and piano in her Manhattan studio and voice at the Lewis University Community School of Music to all ages, junior high school students through adult.