Laura Portune is a senior associated faculty in voice in the School of Music, teaching graduate and undergraduate applied voice. She has also lectured on rehabilitation techniques and healthy repertoire choices in teaching and performing as a guest speaker in the Singing Health Specialization program. In 2021, Portune coached and prepared Sella, an original student musical whose recording was released in May. An advocate for diversity and inclusion, Portune appeared as a guest panelist in On the Stage Together: Dialogues on Diversity, expanding conversations with Ohio State students. She received an Arts and Humanities Grant to bring Emmy award-winning performer Adrienne Danrich to speak to the School of Music on performing, opportunities and social justice issues. Portune is a coordinator for the School of Music Ambassadors (SOMA) program, serves on the Performance Committee, and is the advisor to Student National Association of Teachers of Singing (SNATS).

An acclaimed soprano, Portune has performed over sixty operatic roles and concert works internationally and regionally, including world premieres in the Czech Republic, Italy and San Diego. She has appeared with such companies as San Diego Opera, Dayton Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Opera Columbus, North Czech Philharmonic, Greek Orchestra (Athens), Dayton Philharmonic, Chicago Chamber Orchestra, Columbus Symphony, Newark-Granville Symphony and Westerville Symphony. A finalist for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Awards and for Lyric Opera Chicago's prestigious Ryan Opera Center, Portune has sung as an apprentice in Austria, Italy, New York, California and Iowa. Equally versed in opera and musical theatre, Portune has directed for Nightingale Opera, Southern Illinois Music Festival, Opera Project Columbus, Columbus Children's Theatre, Youth Sing Praise (MO), Ohio Wesleyan, and the University of Notre Dame. A member of NATS, Portune is a frequent guest clinician and writes for Classical Singer Magazine.

Selected Publications

• “Adrienne Danrich: Be the Light.” Classical Singer Magazine (Summer 2021): cover story. Pages and link TBA.
• "Owning your Vocal Health." Classical Singer Magazine (October 2019): 118–121.
• “Singer and Administrator: Gabriel Preisser.” Classical Singer Magazine (June/July 2016): 36–39.
• "Choosing Audition Repertoire." Classical Singer Magazine (December 2015): 48–51.
• "Practicing Efficiently." Classical Singer Magazine (November 2015): 52–55.
• "L’Universita per Stranieri di Perugia." Classical Singer Magazine (January 2007): 52–55.
• Portune Cordell, L. M. (2011). Bridging the Gap: Transitioning Vocalists from Academia to Career (DMA document). The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.

Guest Speakers in 2020–21

• Helen Allen, Otterbein University
• Andy Blosser, The Ohio State University
• Adrienne Danrich, Grammy award winning soprano
• Stephen Lancaster, University of Notre Dame
• Mike Smith, The Ohio State University
• Justin Swain, Musicologie Center

---

Laura Portune's curriculum vitae [pdf] (May 2021)

Pronouns: She/her/hers