News release Public Information Office   SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu Spring 2004 news releases Public Information home News archive Contact: Christina Chapple Date: 9/22/04   Click on image for publication quality photo SOUTHEASTERN’S RATLIFF TO MAKE NEW ORLEANS OPERA DEBUT      HAMMOND – Mezzo-soprano Joy Ratliff, assistant professor of voice at Southeastern Louisiana University, will make her debut with the New Orleans Opera in the role of Annina in Verdi’s “La Traviata” Oct. 7 and 9 at the Mahalia Jackson Theatre of the Performing Arts, 801 N. Rampart Street.      Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 7 and 8 p.m. on Oct. 9.       Ratliff, a native of Hammond, performed leading mezzo-soprano roles with opera houses in Germany for many years. Her vocal training has been with Ralph Roberts, Norman Gulbrandsen and James McDonald.  In addition to a bachelor’s degree from Southeastern, Raliff also holds graduate degrees from Northwestern University and the University of Maryland. She has taught voice at Schwerte Volkshochschule in Germany, the University of Maryland and Marshall University.      A member of the Southeastern music faculty since 2002, Ratliff teaches studio voice, lyric diction and song literature. This summer she taught in the university’s study abroad program in Salzburg, Austria. She will appear as a soloist with the Southeastern Wind Symphony on Oct. 27 during Fanfare, the university’s annual arts festival. Along with Southeastern music colleague Alissa Rowe, she also has been invited to perform duets by Purcell at the regional conference of the National Association of Teachers of Singing in Monroe.       For ticket information on “La Traviata” visit the New Orleans Opera’s website, www.neworleansopera.org.