Emily began learning music at a very young age. Her mother, a high school band director, and father, a professional trumpet player and amateur opera singer, assured she was surrounded by music as soon as she was born. Emily began playing the clarinet at 8 years old, and later learned piano, oboe, and English horn. She also played the xylophone in her high school marching band. After seeing musicals at the high school at which her mother worked, Emily fell in love with the stage. She began performing on stage at the age of 13, and shortly thereafter began studying voice with Mr. Lincoln Chapman through Cincinnati's Musical Arts Center.

During high school, Emily sang under the direction of Messers. David Bell and Robert Hartigan. The choirs were very successful, enjoying many performances with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra in Cincinnati's Music Hall, at Cincinnati's summer-time "Music on the Green," and at Riverbend Auditorium in 2000 for the televised 4th of July celebration, seen on PBS nationwide.

Emily also played oboe and English horn throughout high school, and was directed by her mother, Kim Ohlweiler. She played oboe and English horn in the Cincinnati Youth Wind Ensemble (CYWE) from 2001-2003 under the baton of Gabe Southard. In 2001, CYWE went on tour throughout England and Scotland, where they won an international band competition in Edinburgh! Also in 2001, Emily's high school marching band was chosen to represent the state of Ohio in Washington D.C.'s 125th 4th of July parade!

Emily then joined the Young Artist's Preparatory Program under the direction of Cecily Nall and Lincoln Chapman. There she received top-notch dramatic and vocal coaching and the opportunity to perform scenes from opera and musical theater for the community. 

Emily also performed in the dramas and musicals presented by her high school  - 8 shows in total. Among them was My Fair Lady, where she played Eliza Doolittle. She played Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls, and in Barnum she played Jenny Lind. With the Encore! Youth Theater group, based in Butler County, OH, Emily performed in the shows Crazy For You, Good News, and Children of Eden, where she played Mama Noah.

As a high school senior, Emily won the National Choir Award, an annual award given by her high school's directors to an outstanding senior from their choirs.  
  
In 2003, Emily began classes at Baldwin Wallace College's Conservatory of Music, where she studied vocal performance. She was fortunate to receive private voice lessons from Drs. JR Fralick and Timothy Mussard, the latter of whom is her current teacher. She took workshop classes with Vicky Bussert, Sandra Ross, Scott Plate, and Timothy Mussard. Emily also took diction classes with Sophie Ginn-Paster.

In 2005, Emily was the understudy for the role of Marcellina in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro. In 2006, Dr. Mussard's junior/senior workshop performed for several area elementary schools an abbreviated version of Englebert Humperdink's opera, Hansel und Gretel, in which Emily played the role of The Witch. In 2006, Baldwin Wallace collaborated with the Cleveland Opera for the production of Puccini's Turandot; Emily was one of the 20 musicians in the Conservatory to be chosen to sing in the chorus for this production. In 2007, Emily graduated from BW's Conservatory with a BA in Music Performance.
 
Emily plans to continue her vocal studies with Dr. Timothy Mussard, and plans to continue her education in the art of vocal performance by attending a graduate program within the coming years. Eventually, she plans to earn a masters degree and a doctorate in vocal performance and begin a career as an opera singer.

Apart from her musical life, Emily, age 23, is a dynamic personality who cares deeply about the quality of life for all. She has a deep passion for animals and natural life. She also loves to bring her beloved music into people's lives - see her "Classical Music for the Masses!" page. Emily also supports the following charitable organizations: The American Heart Association, World Wildlife Fund, and The National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE (7233) and 1-800-787-3224 TTY For the Deaf).  Emily is currently working as the Financial Aid Administrator for Stautzenberger College. She has an amazingly supportive family, two wonderful dogs, and many beloved friends who all enrich her life and help make her stronger every day.
 
Note from Emily: In the above paragraph, I said I support The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. I want to make sure people are aware of the importance of having a safe home - something we can often take for granted. You may not realize that hitting or any physical abuse is NOT the extent of violence, and if you are in a situation where you don't feel safe and loved, I urge you to believe in your self-worth enough to find help so you can someday feel safe in your home. May your home be your haven to come to when the rest of the world is so tumultuous.

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) and
1-800-787-3224 TTY For the Deaf

American Heart Association

World Wildlife Fund