is regarded highly for her work with Baroque and early music.  Noteworthy appearances include performing with The Governor’s Musick in Colonial Williamsburg, soloist for Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living (Shenandoah Valley Choral Society), and as the mezzo-soprano soloist for Vivaldi’s Gloria in D major (Mary Baldwin University, Dr. Craig Robertson, conductor). 

Other recent solo appearances have featured Ms. Townsend as a soloist with the Baroque Performance Institute (Oberlin, OH), the Baroque Opera Workshop (Queens, NY; with Christa Patton, conductor) Virginia Baroque Academy (with Arthur Haas) and in the role of Susan in Alice Parker’s opera, Singers Glen. Ms. Townsend performs regularly with Rocktown Choral Artists (Douglas Byler, conductor) and Staunton’s Bach Around the Clock Festival Choir (Paul Weber, conductor). Ms. Townsend has also performed with Richmond’s Red Letter Consort (Charles Humphries, conductor) and Madison Baroque (with Dr. Jon Gibson). 

​A graduate of the James Madison University's School of Music, Ms. Townsend has studied privately with Brenda K. Witmer, Dr. Carrie Stevens and Kathy Gardner. Vocal coaches have included Dame Emma Kirkby, James Taylor, Dan Taylor, Julianne Baird, Judith Malafronte, and Barbara Hollinshead. ​