Lyric soprano Deborah Massell has performed throughout Europe and North America appearing in leading operatic roles including Pamina, Susanna, Despina, Zerlina, Euridice, Semele and Belinda, while also creating many world premieres. She has sung in acclaimed venues such as the Hamburg State Opera, the United Nations, Basel Opera, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Town Hall; and festivals including the Vienna, Munich Biennale, St. Bart's, Salzburg Mozarteum, and Caramoor. She has worked with noted artists Julius Rudel, René Jacobs, Lukas Foss, Peter Ustinov, Warren Jones, Brian Zeger, and Walter Berry, and in addition to master classes with Nicolai Gedda, Georgio Tozzi, and Maureen Forrester, has studied vocal repertoire intensively with legendary performers Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Gérard Souzay, Dalton Baldwin, Rosemarie Landry, Hugues Cuénod, Camilla Williams, Laszlo Halasz, and Judith Raskin.

Dr. Massell has performed educational outreach programs through the Metropolitan Opera Guild, the Children's Free Opera of NY (Orchestra of St. Luke's), and the Mexico City Opera. Other orchestral appearances include the North German Radio Orchestra, the Orchestra of Cologne, the Syracuse Symphony, and the Orchestra of Northern NY. In addition to recording for Austrian, German, and Swiss radio, Dr. Massell’s discography includes Gluck's Echo et Narcisse (CD and video), the songs of Jacques Leguerney with Kurt Ollmann and Mary Dibbern in close collaboration with the composer, (both for Harmonia Mundi), the award winning video The Bald Soprano with the Center for Contemporary Opera in NYC, and she can also be seen on the classical music video for children, Ears Wide Open. She has had many works composed for her voice, including the parody “I Love Teaching Voice” by Ben Moore, published by Classical Vocal Reprints.

Associate Professor Massell has been on the voice faculty of SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music since 2000. She holds degrees from Hamilton College, The Mannes College of Music, and The University of Montreal. She is a member of the transcription staff of the online resource “The Diction Police” and has presented master classes and audition workshops as well as adjudicated for vocal and concerto competitions across the northeast. She has taught at Hyosung Catholic University in South Korea, the University of Miami Frost School of Music’s Summer Program in Salzburg, and is Co-Director of the Nanjing International Vocal Program, a summer opportunity for Chinese students that takes place in both Nanjing, China and Potsdam. She brought the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD to the Roxy Theater, and is President and founding member of the Potsdam Community Dog Park.