Ashley Putnam, a soprano who has held lead roles in operas performed internationally, and veteran choral director Clayton G. Parr have joined the faculty of DePaul University's School of Music this fall.

      "Ashley Putnam has had a celebrated career in opera around the world since she launched her career as one of the most brilliant talents to emerge in decades," said Donald Casey, dean of the School of Music. "She is a welcome addition to our faculty."

     Putnam joins the faculty as an associate professor, a full-time faculty position. She teaches voice lessons to students in the school's vocal performance program. Selected students from the program perform in two full-length operas presented annually by the DePaul Opera Theater. The program's faculty includes internationally renowned soprano Catherine Mafitano, who joined DePaul as a visiting professor this fall.

     Putnam is known for performing a broad repertoire, encompassing everything from Mozart to Gorecki, with special emphasis on the works of Strauss and Janacek. Her career began with a first prize award in the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions. She made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Marguerite in the Hal Price production of "Faust" and later appeared with the company as Donna Elvira in "Don Giovanni."

     Her success with Mozart operas has been acclaimed worldwide. She has performed as Donna Anna in "Don Giovanni" in Brussels, Electra in "Idomeneo" in Lyon, as Fiordiligi in "Cosi fan Tutte" in Cologne and Venice and as Sifare in "Mitridate" at the Aix-en-Provence Festival and other venues.

     Putnam has been equally successful in twentieth century works and has been heralded as her generation's premiere interpreter of the role of Marschallin. She has performed in "Der Rosenkavalier" in the United States and internationally. She also has given memorable performances in the less-often performed Strauss operas. Putnam has been particularly committed to presenting the works of Janacek and Dvorak, triumphing in performances as Jenufa.

     Parr has experience teaching music in both university and public school settings. He comes to DePaul from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, where he was director of choral music education and chorus conductor. He also was an associate professor of music for 10 years at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He was choral director of West Genesee High School in Camillus, New York for four years.

     A tenor, Parr has appeared with many ensembles including the Cincinnati Opera, Middletown and Hamilton-Fairfield Symphonies, Music of the Baroque, His Majestie's Clerkes, Oregon Bach Festival and the Syracuse Vocal Ensemble.

     Parr will conduct the DePaul Opera Theater's spring production and oversee the university's choral program. The program is designed to support and enhance the education of singers through great choral literature. Singers throughout the university perform with The University Chorus, while a select group of music majors sing as The Concert Choir. These two groups frequently perform together, presenting works for large chorus and women's and men's choir. The Chamber Choir, a highly select group of 30 voices, perform on and off campus.

     "Clayton's audition to conduct our choirs was one of the most exciting choral rehearsals I've ever seen and heard," Casey said. "We look forward to seeing our students perform under his direction."