Melissa C. Shiflett

Melissa Shiflett’s career began as resident composer for the experimental Dream Theatre in Chicago. She is a composer, librettist, and pianist whose operas have been produced by the American Chamber Opera Company, Peabody Chamber Opera Theatre, New York City Opera’s Vox Festival, Nautilus Music-Theater, New Dramatists, and the Pennsylvania Opera Theater. 

Her Rose Saga song-story was premiered in New York City, and again in Denver under the auspices of The Millenium Chamber Players. Her art songs have been performed at the 92nd St. Y, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, by the William Ferris Chorale, and at Eastern Carolina University. 

From 2020–2023 Shiflett was thrilled to have three new chamber works premiered by the Bronx ensemble di.vi.sion: Happiness Trio, Trio No. 2, and The Horses’ Quintet for English horn, violin, cello, piano, and percussion. 

Shiflett has received multiple grants including an Illinois Arts Council grant, and a Diverse Forms Artist Grant (funded by the NEA, Rockefeller Foundation and Jerome Foundation) to complete the orchestration of her opera Dora, composed to a libretto by Nancy Fales Garrett. She participated in three composer residencies at the Pennsylvania Opera Theater, and an artist residency at Ucross in Wyoming. Shiflett graduated with degrees in composition and piano from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. She was a music instructor at the 92^nd St. Y in New York City for many years until her return to Chicago in 2020. 

Praise for Melissa Shiflett’s dramatic works: 

For Dora: “The aria in which she recounts her second dream — is one of the most beautiful pieces of poetry and music that I can think of in contemporary opera.” Roger Brunyate, Artistic Director, The Peabody Opera Theatre 

For Without Colors: “Shiflett accomplished something astounding by creating a musical theatre ambiance that allowed the audience’s imagination to fill in the blanks. Not an easy trick, but one that was crafted with great skill and sensitivity.” – George Heymont Bay Area Reporter 

For The Rose Saga: “…Melissa has a wonderful gift for sensitive lyricism: simple, direct, honest — childlike without being childish; sincerity without naivety.” William Tracy, head coach/Opera Studio, Manhattan School of Music