An Oral History with Erie Mills

On August 9th, 2022 soprano and educator Erie Mills sat down with OPERA America's President/CEO Marc A. Scorca for a conversation about opera and their life.
Erie Mills, currently the Artistic Director of the Livermore Valley Opera, has received critical and popular acclaim throughout the world, dazzling audiences with her sparkling coloratura voice, captivating personality, and vivid portrayals of operatic roles. She has performed in the worlds major opera houses, and is an accomplished recitalist. In 1998, Erie Mills joined the music faculty of San Jose State University, devoting herself to the education and training of young singers. She spent ten years in academia, retiring from SJSU in 2008 as a full Professor of Music, and she continues to maintain a private studio. She regularly adjudicates for the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions, and from 2004-2010 she served on the OPERA America Board of Directors, the first singer ever named to the board.
This interview was originally recorded on August 9th, 2022.
The Oral History Project is supported by the Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Charitable Foundation.
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[@harrydiak3010]

I also love Erie. I had the joy of appearing with her in a community production of A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forumn. This goes back to our Highschool Days, with a group known as Masquers. After many weeks of rehearsals and two weekends of performances, I had the joy of taking Miss Mills to our very first Cast Party. I watched the complete interview on OA and it is clear to me that the years have been very kind to this wonderful lady, it is clear that she loves her life and profession, that she still has the Granite City Illinois girl personality, and lastly, that I miss that I don't have a small piece of her in my life today. With love and all my best wishes, Harry Diak

[@Paddy818]

I was also at U of I during the period she talks about. It was the Golden Age at U of I. A wonderful artist! Brilliant!!

[@operas6]

I love her. I went to school with her at the University of Illinois. My freshman year I was in the chorus of L'Elisir D'amore where she sang Adina and Jerry Hadley was Nemorino. This was 1976. That was my entree into opera performance. How lucky was I?