A native of Chicago, Soprano Marlene Meier is classically trained as an opera singer. She was heard last fall she as the leading lady, Casilda, in The Gondoliers presented by Evanston's own Gilbert & Sullivan Company, The Savoyaires. She has performed locally as a concert soloist and in leading opera roles such as title role in Carlisle Floyd's Susannah, Rose in Kurt Weill's Street Scene, Venus and Poppea (cover) in Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea, and Soeur Constance in Poulenc's Dialogues of the Carmelites. In scene work she has performed inspiring roles such as Mimi in Puccini's La Boheme and Magda in Puccini's La Rondine in Italy at the Asolo Art Song & Music Festival. 

In concert work, Marlene has been recently heard in Mendelssohn's Psalm 42: Wie der Hirsch schreit with the North Park University Choir & Orchestra in their spring Oratorio Concert entitled: "Oratorio: A Celebration of Community through Hope & Music" which was held at Northside Prep Auditiorium in the spirit of collaboration with neighboring musicians from the community such as the Music Institute of Chicago. She has also been soprano soloist for Brahms'  Ein Deutsches Requiem, a collaborative work with North Park University and Northeastern Illinois University choirs & orchestras and has been a soloist for both the Bach Magnificat and the Fauré Requiem.