Music for Mt. Lebanon: Renée Knapp – Vita

Born in Virginia, Renée graduated from Ithaca College School of Music in New York. Upon arriving in Europe she quickly became a star of Musical Theater, singing lead roles in top musicals all over Europe. She epitomized the passionate ‘Christine Daaé’ in Andrew L. Webber‘s ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ in more than 1000 Musical shows at the “Neue Flora Theater” in Hamburg; Germany and the Princess Theatre in Melbourne; Australia, and starred as ‘Isabella’ in Eric Woolfson’s Musical ‘Gaudi’ (Cologne Musical Dome; Germany), as well as in numerous other prime musical theater engagements, e.g. as ‘Maria’ in ‘West Side Story’ (New York, Germany (State Theater of Kassel, Essen and Dortmund), and Lodz; Poland), Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Cats’ (at the Theater Carré in Amsterdam; Netherlands), and in the German premieres of ‘Windy City‘ and ‘Nine‘ at the ‘Theater des Westens’ in Berlin.

In addition, Renée performed in numerous UNICEF galas, European television shows, and acted as a Musical-Star in the popular police television series ‘Die Wache’ (‘Watch’), broadcast on RTL (German television). Besides her longtime engagement for UNICEF Germany, the artist has an active support commitment for the PREDA Foundation, a Philippine children’s fund organization, established by the Irish Missionary priest, Father Shay Cullen. Renée Knapp was awarded with the ‘Aalto Buehnenpreis’ (Aalto Theater Stage Award) Essen for her performances as ‘Maria’ in Bernstein’s ‘West Side Story’, and as ‘Best musical theater artist of the year 2000’ in the renowned German ‘Golden Artist Magazine’ (Das goldene Kuenstlermagazin). During the season 2013/14, Renée is on tour with Metropolitan star Deborah Sasson’s renowned ‘Phantom of the Opera’ musical theater show production, performing in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy.