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 and in the role of Ottavia in Vivaldi’s The Card Game. Ms. Townsend regularly collaborates with local musicians, including in a Summer Song Series solo voice recital at James Madison University, and a holiday recital of early music at Fort Harrison in Dayton, VA, as well as other performances in the community. In addition to solo engagements, Ms. Townsend performs regularly with Rocktown Choral Artists (Douglas Byler, conductor), Staunton’s Bach Around the Clock Festival Choir (Paul Weber, conductor),  Richmond’s Red Letter Consort (Charles Humphries, conductor), and with Madison Baroque (with Dr. Jon Gibson). 

Ms. Townsend is also a sought-after choral educator. She served as a high school choral director for almost a decade. During that time, her choirs routinely received Superior ratings at state Choral Assessment and, her students were regularly selected for regional and state honor choirs. Since leaving the classroom, Ms. Townsend has coached young teachers in and outside the classroom. Currently, Ms. Townsend is on staff for internationally recognized Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir, where she teaches musicianship and gives private voice coachings to choristers.

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. ​​Ms. Townsend resides in Harrisonburg with her husband, Don. She enjoys traveling, attending concerts of all kinds and shopping for vintage home decor.  

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