Hi, I’m Jen.
Singing is a fundamental part of the human experience, and it’s one of my greatest joys in life. I believe in the necessity of musical collaboration and approach it with the utmost respect. I’d love to work with you as part of your performance experience, one that will leave your audience feeling deeply and wanting to come back for more.
Artist Bio
Jennifer Burks, soprano, is known for her “lovely, gleaming soprano voice” and “effortless virtuosity”. She performs a wide range of repertoire and has a passion for early and chamber music. Recent collaborations include Boston Baroque chorus (2024, Haydn Creation), Odyssey Opera chorus (2024, The Voyage of Edgar Allen Poe), and various performances with the Masterworks Chorale. As a soloist, Jennifer was an invited soloist with Back Bay Chorale (2023, Israel in Egypt), a winner of the 2022 Rhode Island Civic Chorale and Orchestra’s Collegiate Vocal Competition and debuted as the Soprano Soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the group in December of 2022. Other notable appearances include opera choruses with the Boulder Symphony Chorus, Bach B Minor Mass with BBF, Puss in Boots with Boulder Opera, and the role of First Spirit with Arapahoe Philharmonic in their adaptation of The Magic Flute.
Jennifer was a Fellowship Artist with the Boulder Bach Festival (BBF) in 2019. She has competed in numerous competitions, including NATS (2nd place, 2021), and the Lois Alba Aria Competition (Semi-finalist, 2018). In 2018 Jennifer was a finalist in the Denver Lyric Opera Guild competition and was awarded Honorable Mention. In 2020 she won 2nd prize in the Vocal Community Category of the 1st ever World Bach Competition. Other notable appearances include opera choruses with the Boulder Symphony Chorus, Bach B Minor Mass with BBF, Puss in Boots with Boulder Opera, and the role of First Spirit with Arapahoe Philharmonic in their adaptation of The Magic Flute.
Jennifer has been teaching private voice since 2017. She currently owns Real World Voice Co, where she guides future professionals and later-in-life voices to cast aside perfection and sustainably sing with joy. Jennifer is currently the Auditions Chair of the New England Region of NATS and is a member of NATS Boston, PAVA, and The Voice Foundation.
Jennifer graduated from The New England Conservatory of Music in 2023, earning a Master’s degree in Vocal Pedagogy under the direction of Dr Ian Howell (with whom she currently studies) and Lisa Saffer. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Arkansas (2015). When she’s not singing, you can find Jennifer reading a good book, running on the Charles River Esplanade, or hanging with her husband and young daughter.