Nancy Bliss Estes
Associate Faculty, Music
Class Voice; Music Appreciation; Applied Music Instruction
Norco College School of Visual & Performing Arts
Nancy Bliss Estes has had a varied 35 yr. musical career as a mezzo-soprano and music
educator. She has sung major leading operatic and compramaria roles (Dorabella, Suzuki,
Hansel, The Old Lady {Babar the Elephant}, the Mother {Amahl and the Night Visitors}, La Ciesca {Gianni Schicci}, Rosette {Manon}) with various Southland companies (Guild Opera of Los Angeles, Five Penny Opera,
Lyric Opera of Orange County) and has appeared as a guest artist with the CSU Fullerton
Opera Department in the title role of Carmen and as Madame de Croissey in Dialogues of the Carmelites. As a featured mezzo-soprano soloist with the Overture Company, the community outreach
ensemble of Orange County’s regional opera company, Opera Pacific, she toured Southern
California in opera education programs.
In addition, she has been a contracted staff singer with the following symphonic/chamber/opera
and professional choruses: Pacific Chorale, William Hall Master Chorale, the John
Alexander Singers, Opera Pacific (AGMA chorister), and the Crystal Cathedral Choir.
She has been privileged to sing under numerous international conductors/composers
such as John Mauceri, Pierre Boulez, Anton Coppola, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and John Debney
in venues such Orange County Performing Arts Center, the Los Angeles Music Center
and the Hollywood Bowl. Voiceover work has included SAG/AFTRA TV commercials (Zenith
TV, TRW Systems, Yes Detergent) as well as for the Las Vegas Hilton’s production of
JAMBIRDEE (located in the Benihana Restaurant on site). Showcased as a soloist, she
has recorded for the following commercial labels: Musical Heritage Society, Takoma,
Gothic and Pacific Chorale.
To view the Music program page, click here.