" If the angels in heaven really sing, please let them do it like Nassief. Her voice combines the best of two worlds: It has bel canto size, warmth and height, and yet is svelte, with a youthful sparkle." - So wrote the Leipziger Volkszeitung when Kelley Nassief sang Elijah with the Gewandhausorchester and Kurt Masur on the occasion of the sesquicentennial of Mendelssohn's death.

​

Miss Nassief's critically acclaimed and exquisite performances on symphonic and operatic stages across the globe have established her as one of the world's leading artists.  She has performed with such conductors as Kurt Masur, Michael Tilson Thomas, Charles Dutois, Julius Rudel, Marin Alsop, Joann Falletta, Sir Colin Davis, Seiji Ozawa, Hans Vonk, Neemi Jarvi, Carlos Prieto, Yeol Levi, and Miguel Harth Bedoya.  Some orchestras Miss Nassief has performed with include:  The New York Philharmonic, L'Orchestre de Paris, Dresden Philharmonic, Israel Philharmonic, The National Symphony, The Royal Flemish Philharminic, Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Symphony, Radio France, São Paulo State Symphony, The National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, Mexico City Philharmonic, Xalapa Symphony, La Verdi Orchestra in Milan, Real Orquesta Sinfónica de Sevilla, The Tanglewood Festival Orchestra, and Houston Symphony. Miss Nassief continues to perform in concert and recital venues internationally. 

​

Miss Nassief's opera credits include lead roles with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Atlanta Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Minnesota Opera, Arizona Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Portland Opera, Strasbourg Opera, Saarbücken Opera, Eugene Opera, Santa Barbara Opera, and Berkshire Opera.

​

Kelley Nassief was named a winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, was awarded a Sullivan Foundation Grant, is a Laureate of the Leonard Bernstein Jerusalem International Oratorio and Song Competition, and received a Richard Tucker Career Grant.

​

Miss Nassief is the Director of Opera and Opera Studios and the Marilyn Crilley Professor of Opera at Portland State University.  She is a vocal pedagogue sought after for master classes and clinics throughout the country. She has been an adjudicator for several competitions including National NATS, NW Regional NATS, Angela Meade Vocal Competition, and the Westminster Choir College Scholarship Competition.  Miss Nassief has a private studio in Portland Oregon.

 

Miss Nassief is a member of Opera America, NOA, NATS, VF, NAfME, and AGMA.  She holds a Masters Degree in Vocal Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College with additional studies in voice disorders, and a Bachelor of Music from Portland State University.