SAINT LOUIS, MO, February 11, 2019 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Mary Sutherland with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Ms. Sutherland celebrates many years' experience in her professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes she has accrued in her field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
With 40 years of industry experience, Ms. Sutherland has worked as a collaborative pianist performing with vocal and chamber music musicians in Memphis, TN (as Mary Marcus) and St. Louis, MO. She has also worked as an independent teacher, vocal coach, musical theater director, church music director and organist in both cities. Since 1994, she was music director for musicals in St. Louis with Clayton Community Theater, Overdue Theater, Stray Dog Theater, Marble Stage Theater and St. Charles Shakespeare and also earlier in Memphis with the University of Memphis theater department and with Germantown Community Theater. She was also musical theater and Solo and Ensemble pianist for Clayton High School (St. Louis) 1996 - 2012. In St. Louis from 1997-2014, she and her operatic tenor husband, Howard, were the Sutherland Duo, performing in several states.
From 1994 to 2002 Ms. Sutherland was conductor, artistic director and development manager for Five Grand and for The Midwest Chorale. In May 2002 for that organization's farewell and with the collaboration of the Kurt Weill Foundation in NYC, they presented three semi-staged performances with orchestra of Kurt Weill's and Bertolt Brecht's "The Lindbergh Flight". A highlight of her life, the performances were part of a Charles Lindbergh celebration at the Missouri History Museum and performed beneath the replica of the Spirit of St. Louis with husband Howard Sutherland singing the role of Lindbergh. Excelling as a free-lance musician in Memphis as well, she held the role of pianist for the Regional Metropolitan Auditions, the Memphis Symphony Chorus, Opera Memphis and Southern Opera Theater, all from 1978 to 1994. During those years Ms. Sutherland also began her career as an independent vocal coach and piano teacher, the latter as well at the Hutchison School from 1981 to 1994.
Before embarking on her professional path, Ms. Sutherland pursued an education at DePaul University, earning a Bachelor of Music in 1967. She continued her academic efforts with a Master of Music in 1978 at the University of Kentucky. Ms. Sutherland concluded her studies in 1980 at the University of Memphis by serving through a fellowship as staff pianist for the new opera program directed by New York City Opera tenor Raymond Gibbs.
Beyond her responsibilities within the field, Ms. Sutherland has participated in numerous endeavors in her community. She has contributed to the Siteman Cancer Center Arts in Healing program at Barnes-Jewish Hospital as a performer since 2011. Ms. Sutherland has also held the role of Oasis tutor from 2002 to 2006 and mentor with St. Louis Mentor program from 1996 to 2002. Since 2015, she has also been a docent with Opera Theatre St. Louis, studying and lecturing. Ms. Sutherland has been active with the American Composers Forum.
Ms. Sutherland found success with her compositions as well, having been commissioned to write a chamber opera on Shakespeare's "The Winter's Tale" (Clayton High School Theater Department, 2005) and "Three Songs on Texts by May Sarton" (University of Missouri at St. Louis: 20th Century Living Women Composers Chamber Concert, 2005.) She was also invited to present "Three Songs on WWI Texts by Vera Brittain" at the Shepley 2017 Concert Series "Missouri Art Song Composers". World-acclaimed collaborative pianist Dalton Baldwin included two psalm settings of Ms. Sutherland's in the GBG 2004 CD recording Exaltation: Songs of Women - Sacred Solos. She has also written incidental music for four plays at First Run Theater.
In light of her exceptional undertakings, Ms. Sutherland has accrued several accolades and honors throughout her impressive career. She was presented with the Best Achievement in Musical Direction Award from Arts for Life in 2004 and 2008, and she was recognized as a President's Fellow of the University of Memphis from 1978 to 1980 and Fellow of the University of Kentucky from 1976 to 1977. On completion of her Master's degree, she was inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda. Ms. Sutherland was selected for inclusion in many editions of Who's Who in America and Who's Who of American Women.
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