Artist Statement
I am a vocalist and teacher, specializing in early music. As a historically informed performer it is my duty to honor composers of the past through expressive style, historic ornamentation, and a deep understanding of the text. As a teacher, I strive to encourage healthy vocal development, confidence, and the musical skills for my students to be independent musicians. Furthermore, through my teaching I spark curiosity in younger generations about artists of the past and how they can express their own art. My goal as an artist is to ignite interest in historical music through passionate performance, informed future musicians, and creative programming.
Biography
Praised for her “nuance and sensitivity” (Boston Music Intelligencer), soprano Kendra Comstock, is a Boston-based performer and teacher. Kendra performs a wide variety of Classical and Contemporary repertoire, but is especially passionate about singing early music. Recent engagements include performances with the Pandora Consort, the Cambridge Chamber Ensemble, the Boston Camerata, Piccola Opera, the Concordia Consort, Ensemble 44, the Society for Historically Informed Performance (SoHIP), and the BEMF Fringe Series.
Kendra has been praised for her stylistic interpretations of Baroque cantatas and oratorios, including the works of Barbara Strozzi, J. S. Bach, G. F. Handel, and Élisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre. Kendra began her exploration into early music as a founding member of the Oklahoma City University Early Music Ensemble, directed by Kyle Patterson, from whom she also studied classical guitar. Kendra has performed at the Amherst, Madison, and Boston Early Music Festivals, as well as the International Baroque Institute at Longy. During these festivals, she studied with several Early Music specialists, including Pamela Dellal, Charles Weaver, and Paul O’Dette. Originally from Hartland, Vermont, Kendra is also passionate about bringing the arts to rural communities, and in 2018, Kendra produced and performed her first solo recital series of early music throughout New England, benefiting Hartland Community Arts. In 2020, Kendra also co-founded the Pandora Consort, an early music ensemble focused on creating innovative performances of early music.
Kendra holds a MM in Historical Performance at the Longy School of Music of Bard College, where she studied with Pamela Dellal. In addition to performing, Kendra maintains a private voice studio in Somerville, MA; and teaches voice, piano, and guitar at the North End Music and Performing Arts Center (NEMPAC). Other musical explorations include playing classical guitar and accompanying herself on the lute.
