Central Ohio Singing Competition

Meet the Judges

Brian Cheney

Brian Cheney is emerging as one of the most unique and thrilling American tenors of his generation. The tenor has received national acclaim for his interpretation of operatic roles such as Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Nemorino in L'Elisir D'Amore, Rodolfo in La Boheme, the Duke in Rigoletto, Don Jose in Carmen, Tom Rakewell in The Rake's Progress and Alfredo in La Traviata. He recently made his Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall debut.

Mr. Cheney's oratorio and concert experience ranges from critically acclaimed performances of Handel's Messiah in New York City, Providence, and Philadelphia to Mendelssohn's Elijah, Britten's Saint Nicolas, Mozart's Requiem as well as Leonard Bernstein's Candide.

In addition to his stage, concert, and recital performances, Mr. Cheney maintains an active interest in teaching and was recently appointed to the faculty of the Conservatory of Music at Capital University, Columbus, Ohio and Department of Music at Otterbein College, Westerville, Ohio.

Cynthia Mahaney

Soprano Cynthia Mahaney has extensive performing and teaching experience. A graduate of Ohio State University (June 2006), Cynthia received her Doctorate of Musical Arts in vocal performance. While there, she was awarded the Margaret Speaks Award as the top female singer. After initially earning her Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from Ohio University, Cynthia received her Master of Arts degree in vocal pedagogy from OSU.

Dr. Mahaney spent time in Chicago where she sang in the Chicago Symphony Chorus under the late Margaret Hillis. Dr. Mahaney's most recent operatic role was as the High Priestess in Opera Columbus' production of Aϊda, and received a favorable review in Opera News magazine. Other roles include Gertrude in Hansel and Gretel (Opera Columbus Outreach), Annina in La Traviata (Opera Columbus), Delphinia in Babes in Toyland (Toledo Opera), Violetta in La Traviata (Lincoln Opera), and First Lady in The Magic Flute (OSU Opera Theater). Cynthia's performances also include solos with the Upper Arlington High School Music Department (Carmina Burana), Toledo Symphony Orchestra (Mozart's Requiem), and members of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra at Saint Joseph Cathedral (Handel's Messiah and Duruflé's Requiem.) In the summer of 2004 Cynthia was one of the soloists on the opening concert of the Lancaster (Ohio) Arts Festival performing Beethoven's Choral Fantasy.

A recent performance at Kenyon College in January 2010 was organized by Dr. Mahaney and featured the music instructors of Kenyon. This concert, A New Millennium of Music: Women in Song, received a community development grant and featured vocal music written by women composers since the year 2000. Recordings featuring Dr. Mahaney include Calidente, music performed by flutist Rodolfo Vazquez, and the newly released recording of original music by Columbus composer Jerry Casey, Yet I Will Rejoice.

Cynthia is soprano section leader of Broad Street United Methodist Church, and is on the teaching faculty at Kenyon College. She also is a violin, viola and voice instructor at Colonial Music in Worthington, Ohio, a voice and piano instructor with Piano Lessons in Your Home and part of the Voice Faculty in the department of Continuing Education with the company. She designs vocal pedagogy courses and workshops via a Webninar format for the voice teachers of the company, which has seven regional offices across the country. Dr. Mahaney is also the past president of Women in Music-Columbus. She resides in the Clintonville area of Columbus, Ohio where she maintains an active private studio of over 25 students.

Lucy Smirnov

Lucy Smirnov, an accomplished and highly-acclaimed singer, immigrated to the U.S. in 1994 from Minsk, Belarus. She graduated from the Minsk State Academy of Music with degrees in choral conducting and singing. She has shared her passion for music for over 30 years with her many piano and vocal students.

Her versatility as a performer of many styles, including jazz, folk, classical and popular music has enabled her to participate in international festivals in Poland, Germany, Belarus, and the U.S. and has brought her many awards. In the U.S., she participated in a number of fundraising concerts for the disadvantaged and disabled, as well as for victims of the Chernobyl disaster.

Lucy has been the lead singer with the Amazing Strings Trio since 1994. Together with Arkadiy Gips and Roman Zhuravlov, they have performed extensively and released the CD "Yidishe Soul" several years ago. She also performs with Arkadiy Gips, Mikhail Popov and Cheri Papier at weddings and other events.

Whitney Dodds

Whitney Dodds, a native of Bellefontaine, OH, has been singing in Columbus for the past seven years. A full lyric soprano, Whitney is currently pursuing her masters degree in vocal performance and singing health at The Ohio State University, and will graduate this June.

Whitney received her undergraduate degree at Otterbein College in Westerville, where she was active in both the opera and choral programs. Whitney has performed such roles as Mistress Ford in Niccolai's The Merry Wives of Windsor, and La Ciesca in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi. She has also been featured in several opera scene productions, playing Rosina in The Barber of Seville, Susan B. Anthony in The Mother of Us All, Marzellina in Fidelio, Anna Bolena in Anna Bolena and Manon in Manon. Whitney has also been a soloist for several university ensembles, including the Otterbein Early Music Ensemble, the Otterbein Concert Choir, The Ohio State Chorale, and The Ohio State University Singers.

Currently, Whitney is playing Lady Billows in The Ohio State University's production of Britten's Albert Herring, and is preparing several works for her graduate recital, including pieces by Schubert, Liszt and Rachmaninoff. In addition, Whitney has been teaching private voice for the past three years and holds a position as a choral section leader at Indian Run United Methodist Church in Dublin.