Ana Elisa Portes
Ana Elisa Portes
Ana Elisa Portes, mezzo soprano, was born in Brazil and completed her undergraduate studies in Vocal Performance at the University of São Paulo, instructed by Francisco Campos and Ricardo Ballestero. She moved to the U.S. to pursue her Master’s Degree at the University of New Mexico with Dr. Olga Perez Flora and Dr. Kristin Ditlow. Her operatic roles include Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, Dorabella in Così fan Tutte, Tolomeo in Giulio Cesare, Sorceress in Dido and Aeneas, Rosine in Signor Deluso, and Don Ettore in La Canterina. Ana has performed as a soloist in concerts including Mozart’s Requiem and Coronation Mass, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, and Fauré’s Requiem, she also performs as a solo recitalist in Brazil and US. She has recently received 1st place award at NATS, Las Vegas Chapter, won the UNLV Concerto Competition (2023) performing Shéhérazade by Maurice Ravel with the UNLV Symphony Orchestra, and is currently pursuing a Doctoral Degree in Vocal Performance at UNLV under the guidance of Dr. Kimberly James and Prof. Darryl Cooper.
As an educator, Ana has experience in both group and individual instruction. She worked as a full-time music teacher at St. Paul’s School, in São Paulo, teaching 3-6 year old children (PrePrep School), and giving private piano and voice lessons to all age groups, preparing the students for the London College of Music Exams and IB. She has worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of New Mexico, and is currently a Graduate Teaching Assistant at UNLV. At both institutions, she has had the opportunity to teach voice students at the undergraduate level.
She sees herself as both a teacher and a learner in the classroom, and believes that her attitude serves as a model for her students. She maintains a healthy relationship with students, wanting them to feel confident and safe, so they can explore their sensitivity, listening skills, and creativity. She encourages mastery, competency, lifelong learning, critical thinking, and the exchange of experiences and ideas.