Soprano Melissa Heath enjoys a varied career of opera, concert and recital work. Hailed as a “soaring, sparkling soprano” with “vivacious stage presence,” recent opera roles include Musetta in Puccini’s La Bohème, Countess in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro and Micaëla in Bizet’s Carmen. Recent concert work includes Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem and both Mozart’s Requiem and Mass in c minor with the Temple Square Chorale and Orchestra at Temple Square, Handel’s Messiah with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and both Mozart’s Exsultate, jubilate and Barber’s Knoxville, Summer of 1915 with Sinfonia Salt Lake. With Utah Symphony, Ms. Heath has performed both Nielsen’s Symphony no. 3 and Handel’s Messiah. In 2017 she was the soprano soloist with Ballet West in choreographer Nicolo Fonte’s world premiere of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, a role she will reprise with the company in 2022. Ms. Heath has soloed on Salt Lake City’s NOVA Chamber Music Series and the Gina Bachauer International Piano Festival, with the Blacksburg Master Chorale in Blacksburg, VA, and has given recitals in New York, Seattle and Leipzig. In 2019 she sang the role of The Water in Utah Opera's Production of The Little Prince, Mahler’s Symphony no. 2 with Salt Lake Symphony, and soloed with Utah Symphony in their Deer Valley Concert Series. In 2020, she appeared with Utah Chamber Artists in Mendelssohn’s Psalm 42 and in Carmina Burana with Brigham Young University choirs and orchestra. In 2022, Ms. Heath will appear in Poulenc’s Gloria with the Temple Square Chorale and Orchestra at Temple Square, with Nevada Ballet Theater in their production of Carmina Burana, and again with NOVA Chamber Music Series. Ms. Heath was a district winner in the Metropolitan Opera’s National Council Auditions, and was a two-time regional finalist in the National Association of Teachers of Singing’s biennial art song competition. 

Dr. Heath is an Associate Professor of Music and the Voice Area Coordinator in the Department of Music at Utah Valley University. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in voice from Brigham Young University, and her Master of Music and Doctorate of Musical Arts degrees in voice from the University of Utah.

Clarinetists at UVU work one-on-one with Dr. Jeffrey O'Flynn and benefit from his diverse musical experience. Dr. O'Flynn served as principal clarinet of the Queen City Opera and has appeared with the Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, Cincinnati Symphony, Cincinnati Opera, and the Richmond Symphony, among other ensembles. In demand as a soloist and chamber collaborator, he has presented recitals and classes in Utah, across the US, and abroad. He was the featured artist at the Hebei International Clarinet Festival (China) and the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (Mexico City, Mexico) Taller de Clarinet. He was guest artist at the University of Southern Mississippi Clarinet Day and has given recitals at the University of Arizona, Adams State University, and the Las Vegas Clarinet Day. Recent chamber performances include "The Chamber Music of Brahms" at UVU, and a concert at the International Clarinet Association's ClarinetFest 2019.

In addition to his performance credentials, Dr. O'Flynn has a successful record as a teacher. UVU clarinet graduates have perfect job placement in their chosen fields. Students have won positions in performing groups (band, orchestra, military), are excellent music educators, work as composers/arrangers, and more. UVU clarinetists have won the UVU Concerto Competition and regularly place in other competitions. A noted clinician, Dr. O'Flynn has presented masterclasses and lectures around the world.

He holds degrees from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (DMA), Florida State University (MM), and Wichita State University (BM). Major mentors include Ixi Chen, Ron Aufmann, Frank Kowalsky, and Suzanne Tirk.