By the fire sat the child
Cupid, Cupid 
and was blind;
with his little wings he fans
into the flames and smiles;
Fan, smile, wily child!

Ah, the child's wing is burning!
Cupid, Cupid 
runs quickly.
O how the burning hurts him deeply!
Beating his wings, he weeps loudly;
To the shepherdess's lap runs,
crying for help, the wily child.

And the shepherdess helps the child,
Cupid, Cupid, 
naughty and blind.
Shepherdess, look, your heart is burning;
You did not recognize the rascal.
See, the flame is growing quickly.
Save yourself, from the wily child!

Montpelier Recital Competition

Amor (Richard Strauss)

At the cry of the first bird
They began to crucify Thee, 0 Swan!
Never shall lament cease because of that.
It was like the parting of day from night.
Ah, sore was the suffering borne
By the body of Mary's Son,
But sorer still to Him was the grief
Which for His sake
Came upon His Mother.

The Crucifixion (Samuel Barber)

https://www.monicaharwoodsoprano.com/

Maryland-born coloratura Soprano Monica Harwood graduated Magna Cum Laude from The Catholic University of America’s Benjamin T. Rome School of Music. With an affinity for contemporary art music, she recently debuted the dramatic monodrama, Black Water, for D.C. audiences. Operatic highlights include the role of Zerbinetta in Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos, Monica in Menotti's The Medium and Papagena in The Magic Flute. Monica has repeatedly been selected as a prizewinner for the NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) Vocal Competition. Monica attended Salzburg College in Austria with the University of Miami Summer Music Festival, where she immersed herself in German language and song literature. 
Monica began her vocal training at Salisbury University, where she studied with voice teacher John Wesley Wright.  She performed in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, competed in the first National American Spiritual Competition, with the American Spiritual Ensemble, and in the contemporary gospel-style musical The Gospel at Colonus. 
At St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Monica cultivated an appreciation for the performing arts as the general music teacher, initiating a successful musical theatre program. Monica currently maintains a busy private piano and voice studio and works diligently as the accompanist and music director for Poolesville Presbyterian Church, providing a variety of music for worship services. 
She currently studies with Jennifer Casey Cabot of the Potomac Vocal Institute and resides in Gaithersburg, Maryland, with her French bulldog, Chloe.

MonicaHarwoodSoprano