Born in Bombay, India, Deirdre Lobo-D’Cunha began her musical training under her mother, Celia Lobo, famous opera singer, theatre director, and Voice Teacher in India. Deirdre received her Bachelor’s of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines; Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Colorado, Boulder, CO and a Post-Master’s Diploma in Vocal Performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music, Baltimore, MD.
She has studied with Marilyn Zschau, Herman Le Roux, Dr. Barbara Sable, Dr. Robert Harrison, Ms. Phyllis Bryn-Julson, the late Katherine Sternberg, Jean Kingdom-Vollenweider, and last but not least her mother, Celia Lobo. Additionally, she has coached with Kathryn Cathcart (San Francisco Opera), Richard Boldrey, the late Joann Grillo (Metropolitan Opera, New York), Hanna Ludwig (Mozarteum, Austria), Martin Isepp (Glyndebourne Festival, England). Ms. Lobo-D’Cunha, has also worked with conductors such as Dr. Francisco Feliciano (Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Manila), Mr. Joseph Esmilla (Manila Chamber Orchestra), Mrs. Coomi Wadia (Paranjotti Chorus and Bombay Chamber Orchestra, India), Alfred D’Souza (Stop-Gaps Chours, India) Mark Alburger (Goat Hall Productions), Dietrich Erbelding (Apollo Opera Productions), Madame Francois Legrand (World Philharmonic, Paris), Amelita Guevarra (Coro de San Antonio, Manila), and Shulamit Hoffman (Viva la Musica, Belmont, CA), just to name a few.
Over the years, Deirdre has performed internationally as well as in the USA as soloist and in recital. Deirdre has performed with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bombay Chamber Orchestra, the Manila Chamber Orchestra, the Philippine Youth Orchestra, the San Francisco Concerto Orchestra, and the Sangat International Music Festival Orchestra. Deirdre has been soloist for The Messiah (Handel), The Creation (Haydn), Gloria (Vivaldi), Magnificat (Vivaldi), Christmas Cantata (J.S. Bach), Mass in G (Schubert), and the Seven Last Words of Christ (Dubois).
In 1996, Deirdre was invited to sing in Sangat an Indian International Music Festival held in Bombay and chaired by Zubin Mehta. In the Bay Area, Deirdre has performed frequently in recital with the Rossmoor Concert Series, Walnut Creek, Noontime Concerts, San Francisco, Santa Rosa Concert Series, Santa Rosa and the Community Music Center Concert Series.
Internationally, Ms. Lobo-D’Cunha has performed with the National Center for the Performing Arts Chamber Series, The British Council Chamber Music Series, The Indo-Soviet Culture Concert Series, The Time and Talents Club Concert Series, and the Bombay Chamber Orchestra Music Series, Bombay, India; The Poona Music Society Concert Series, Poona, India; and The Philippine National Bank Chamber Music Series, and the Manila Chamber Concert Series, Manila, Philippines.
Deirdre made her operatic debut in 1992 playing the role of Mother Gerald in the Dialogue of the Carmelites by Poulenc (1993). Other roles include: The First Lady in the Magic Flute (2000), The Mother in Hansel and Gretel (1998, 1999, 2001) Amelia in Un Ballo in Maschera (1999), Appolonia in La Canterina (1994), the snake and flower in The Little Prince (2001), and Magda in The Consul (Cover) (2002).
Ms. Lobo-D’Cunha has also conducted vocal Master Classes in India a number of times which were well received. She is a member of the Music Teachers Association of California and most recently has become a member of Viva la Musica.
Deirdre has taught voice and piano since 1980 in the Philippines, India, and the United States. Currently, Ms. Lobo-D’Cunha has a very busy music studio, where she teaches and coaches students in voice, piano, music theory, sight reading, drama, and speech. With the knowledge of more than four languages, Ms. Lobo-D’Cunha also teaches language diction in Italian, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Tagalog, and much more! Additionally, she serves as drama director for Our Lady of Mercy School, Daly City, California, as well as choral director, and cantor for St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, San Mateo, California.
In February 2003, Deirdre founded Ensemble Vocalis, a concertizing company which performs in the Bay Area and beyond.
Deirdre is married to Neville D'Cunha, and along with their son Andre live in Daly City, California.
