Bio
Of Indian origin, based in Colorado, USA, acclaimed International Concert Artist, Vocal Coach & Consultant, Deirdre Lobo comes from an extremely artistic family. Deirdre began her musical training under her mother, Celia Lobo, well known opera singer, theater director, and voice teacher in India – teacher and director to many artists and personalities including Sunidhi Chauhan, Sachin, Tendulkar, Shiamak Davar, Dalip Tahil, Sunita Rao, Shweta Shetty, etc. Deirdre is winner of the GRAND PRIZE in the Messiah Soloist Competition, San Diego, California (Dec 4, 2011), and SECOND PRIZE in the Barry Alexander International Vocal Competition, New York (Dec 19, 2011).
A versatile artist, Deirdre has internationally performed close to 100+ concerts worldwide, performing repertoire ranging from Western Classical, Pop, Broadway, World Music, and Fusion. In 1988, Deirdre was featured as a soloist for the Messiah (Handel) with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, under Dr. Francisco Feliciano where she was the only non Filipino singing alongside a full Filipino cast. Ms. Lobo has been soloist with numerous orchestras and choruses, including the Manila Chamber Orchestra, Bombay Chamber Orchestra, Symphony of India Chamber Orchestra, Paranjoti Chorus, Stop Gaps Chorus, Cantata Choir, Viva la Musica, San Antonio Chorus, just to name a few.
Deirdre has been soloist for the Messiah (Handel), Creation (Haydn), Gloria (Vivaldi), Magnificat (Vivaldi), Christmas Cantata (J.S. Bach), Mass in G (Schubert), Seven Last Words of Christ (Dubois), Ceremony of Carols (Britten), Magnificat (Pergolesi), The Armed Men (Jenkins), Magnificat (J.S. Bach), Mass in C Major (Beethoven), and Requiem (Mozart), among others. Deirdre made her operatic debut playing the role of The Fist Lady in the Magic Flute. Other roles include: The Mother in Hansel and Gretel, and the snake in The Little Prince. Deirdre has also covered the role of Amelia in Un Ballo in Maschera.
In 1996, Deirdre was invited to sing in Sangat, an Indian International Music Festival held in Bombay, sponsored by the Mehli Mehta Foundation, and chaired by Zubin Mehta. In the San Francisco Bay Area, Deirdre has performed frequently in recitals with the Rossmoor Concert Series, Noontime Concerts, Santa Rosa Concert Series, and the Community Music Center Concert Series.
In 2009, Deirdre did a solo concert tour in India with concerts in Delhi, Mumbai and Pune. In Feb 2013, she was invited to do a solo recital at the Monte Music Festival, Goa, INDIA. In May 2014, Ms. Lobo-D’Cunha sang a solo recital program of mostly Pop, Broadway, Classical, and Crossover repertoire, to a packed audience and standing ovations. Deirdre attended the APAP conference 2018 in New York and performed a Showcase Recital for agents and presenters. On April 26, 2018, Deirdre did a solo concert with the Symphony of India Chamber Orchestra at the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Mumbai, INDIA under the baton of Maria Badstue. In 2019 Deirdre performed in, and presented a Tribute Concert to her mother Celia Lobo at the Royal Opera House, Mumbai, India showcasing students of her mother, and those of her own.
As a Vocal Coach and Consultant, she has taught over 65+ workshops and masterclasses. She has worked with Tara Sutaria, Pia Sutaria, Meher Mistry, Shiamak Davar, Dhawal Chandawadkar, Aditi Paul, Abhilasha Chellam, etc. In 2014, Deirdre was hired as Vocal Director for JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR in India, where she worked with the late Alyque Padamsee.
Deirdre has been teaching voice since 1988 and teaches students vocal technique enabling them to sing the following genres of vocal music with ease and efficiency: Pop, Jazz, Rap, Broadway, Western Classical, Indian Classical – Hindustani / Carnatic. This kind of technique transcends even speech and drama students. Deirdre works with students of all levels of vocal and musical development – from beginners to advanced levels, and even specializes in teaching students with special needs. Some of her star students have performed in the United States, on Broadway – Hannah Bautista played Ngana in SOUTH PACIFIC, Cosette in LES MISERABLES, to name a few. In India, Tara Sutaria was host for Disney India, played lead roles in musicals such as GREASE, and is now an actress in Bollywood. Meher Mistry played lead roles in plays, and musicals, among her biggest roles was Belle in India’s Disney production of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
Deirdre has been teaching ONLINE via her International Vocal Studio since 2010, and recently designed her one of a kind online 6 month vocal program: Deirdre Complete Vocal Transformation (DCVT).
Another big part of Deirdre’s teaching career is doing voice workshops and masterclasses worldwide online and offline for high school, college, and university choirs, dancers, voice teachers, actors, and singers.
Deirdre is Founder, and Artistic Director of the Celia Lobo Academy of Voice (CLAV) www.clavusa.com training the up and coming Pop, Broadway, Indian and Western Classical vocalists of tomorrow. She is also the Founder and Artistic Director of One Voice Institute of Music and Art (OVIMA Global) www.ovimaglobal.com, a complete performing arts institute serving students globally, offering online, hybrid, and in-person Non-Certification, and Certification courses in all areas of the performing arts.
As Drama Director, Deirdre has directed over 17+ musical, and stage productions where she worked with students ages 7–16 years. Lastly from 1997, Deirdre has been principal Cantor and Choral Director for many churches in the United States, and continues to do that. She has been a soloist for weddings and funerals.
Deirdre owes all she has accomplished to date to all the teachers, coaches, directors, conductors, and mentors she has worked with over the years. Just to name some:
TEACHERS
Marilyn Zschau
Voltaire Verzosa
Phyllis Bryn-Julson
Dr. Robert Harrison
Katherine Sternberg
Jean Kingdom-Vollenweider
Celia Lobo
CONCERT & OPERA COACHES
Richard Harrell
Kathryn Cathcart
Mark Markham
Joann Kulesza
Martin Isepp
Joanne Grillo
CONDUCTORS
Dr. Angela Yeung
Dr. Joseph Esmilla
Dr. Francisco Feliciano
Amelita Guevarra
Shulamit Hoffmann
STAGE DIRECTORS
Roger Brunyate
Carol Palca
Dennis Jackson
Deirdre is grateful to her parents and family, especially her husband Neville D’Cunha and son Andre D’Cunha for supporting her career!
FORMAL MUSIC EDUCATION
- Graduate Performance Diploma (Vocal Performance)
Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns’ Hopkins Institute, USA - Master of Music Degree (Vocal Performance)
University of Colorado, USA - Bachelor of Music Degree (Vocal Performance)
University of Santo Tomas, PHILIPPINES - Bachelor of Arts (Sociology)
University of Bombay, INDIA
OTHER AFFILIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
- Music Teachers Association of California (MTAC) 2006-2022
- National Association of Teachers for Singing (NATS) 2018-Present
