A recipient of the Chicago Oratorio Award, she was complimented by the New York Concert Review for her recent performance in Messiah presented by Distinguished Concerts International New York at David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center; “Soprano Penelope Shumate was a real find for me, with a voice that has been described previously in the New York Concert Review as “radiant,” and I can see why. The clear tones were true and expressive, one of the best “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion” that I have ever heard live. Her “I know that my redeemer liveth” was lovely.” Her recent and upcoming engagements include debuts and return appearances with Rapides Symphony Orchestra, Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, and Heartland Festival Orchestra (Carmina Burana and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9), Roanoke Symphony Orchestra (Messiah), Quincy Symphony Orchestra Association (“Ah! Perfido,” Op. 65), Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra (Carols and Candles), Peoria Area Civic Chorale (Holiday Favorites), Galesburg Community Chorus and Orchestra (Dona nobis pacem and Missa in tempore belli), Oklahoma City Philharmonic and Southern Illinois University (Carmina Burana), Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra (Symphony No. 9), The Virginia Consort (Requiem/Rutter), McDonough Choral Society (Requiem/Rutter and Fauré) Muddy River Opera Company (Pamina in Die Zauberflöte and Micaëla in Carmen), Lyric Opera of Chicago Northfield Chapter Community (Opera Favorites), Fourth Presbyterian Church Concert Series in Chicago and Drake University (“Of Love and Peace”), the Chicago Bar Association Symphony Orchestra & Chorus (Benedicite and Ein Deutches Requiem), Opera on the James (Opera Gala), and the Burlington Chamber Music Concert Series (Chamber Music by Copland, Rodrigo, and Vaughan Williams). At Carnegie Hall and David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City, she has also appeared as a soloist in both the Mozart and Verdi Requiem, Carmina Burana, Coronation Mass, St. Nicolai Mass, Messiah, and Stabat Mater by living composer, Paul Mealor.

She has appeared with opera companies and orchestras across America including Opera Company of Philadelphia, Opera Roanoke, Lake George Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Utah Festival Opera, Ash Lawn Opera, Annapolis Opera, Baltimore Concert Opera, Baltimore Opera, Jacksonville Lyric Opera, Concert Opera Philadelphia, Duluth Festival Opera, Opera on the James, Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra, Berkshire Choral Festival, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, Canterbury Choral Society, Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra, Kennett Symphony Orchestra, MidAmerica Productions, Little Orchestra Society of New York, Drexel University Chorus and Orchestra, Lynchburg College Choral Union and Orchestra, Luzerne Music Festival, and Rockwell Productions, among others.

In addition to her recent selection as the winner of the Chicago Oratorio Award, she has also been an award winner with the Gerda Lissner Foundation, Marie E. Crump Vocal Arts Competition, MacAllister Awards, New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera Vocal Competition, American Prize, Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition, The American Prize, Octave Artist Management Excellence in Arts, James Parkinson Opera Competition, Kennett Symphony Orchestra Vocal Competition, and the Altamura/Caruso International Vocal Competition.

Visit penelopeshumate.com to learn more about her professional performance career.