Professional profile
Dr. Yi-Lan (Elaine) Niu began her music studies at the age of four in Taipei, Taiwan. She completed her master’s degree in voice at the Eastman School of Music under the direction of Ms. Rita Shane, and her doctoral degree in vocal performance at the University of Wisconsin-Madison under the direction of Professor Paul Rowe. Throughout her academic career, Dr. Niu has been the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships including the Joyce and William Wartmann Scholarship, UW-Madison Opera Props Award, and scholarships to the Hot Springs Music Festival, the Madison Early Music Festival, and the Vancouver Early Music Festival.

As a dedicated teacher, Dr. Niu has served on the faculties at both Ripon College and the Madison Academy of Music. Additionally, she has taught voice as an instructor at the Summer Music Clinic at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Dr. Niu enjoys traveling and performing internationally, and is a regularly featured soloist in the United States and Asia. She has premiered several works written for her, including the epic Requiem for solo voice and orchestra by Alexander Nohai-Seaman. As an early music enthusiast, Dr. Niu has performed masterworks by J.S. Bach, J. Dowland, C. Monterverdi, B. Strozzi, and A. Vivaldi. Her numerous operatic roles have included Clorinda in “Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda”, Costanza in “La Griselda”, Serpina in “La Serva Padrona”, and Papagena in “The Magic Flute”.

Dr. Niu joined the faculty at St. Norbert College in the fall of 2007.

Courses taught:
Applied Voice