Emily Tepe (born 20 January 1978), known professionally as IVA, is a Swedish-American crossover artist, singer songwriter, opera singer, bandleader and composer.

Early life

From

Wilmington, Delaware Wilmington is the List of municipalities in Delaware, most populous city in the U.S. state of Delaware. The city was built on the site of Fort Christina, the first Swedish colonization of the Americas, Swedish settlement in North America. It lie ...

, Emily Tepe was born into a musical family as she was influenced by her grandfather, an oboe player and multi-instrumentalist who led ensembles throughout his life. One of his friends, Evelyn Swenson, a well-known composer and conductor at Opera Delaware, took Emily under her wing and put her on stage at the age of nine.

Music career

Emily would start her music career at the age of nine by being mentored by Evelyn Swenson at the Opera Delaware, where she sang. While producing music in her early years, Emily would train as a classical soprano at the

Juilliard School The Juilliard School ( ) is a Private university, private performing arts music school, conservatory in New York City. Founded by Frank Damrosch as the Institute of Musical Art in 1905, the school later added dance and drama programs and became ...

and

Manhattan School of Music The Manhattan School of Music (MSM) is a private music conservatory A music school is an educational institution specialized in the study, training, and research of music. Such an institution can also be known as a school of music, music a ...

and graduated from Princeton University's performance program. Throughout her years of studying, she had been mentored by numerous notable teachers, including

W. Stephen Smith William Stephen “Steve” Smith (born December 18, 1950) is an American voice teacher, author and baritone singer. He is a professor of Voice and Opera at the Bienen School of Music of Northwestern University, voice faculty for the Ryan Opera ...

Kishti Tomita Kishti Tomita (born 19 November 1963) is a Swedish voice coach, TV personality and singer. Together with A&R manager Daniel Breitholtz and manager and talent scout Peter Swartling, she was a part of the Swedish ''Idol 2004'', '' Idol 2005'', '' ...

, and Don Marrazzo, who apprenticed with Celine Dion's vocal teacher William Riley. At the end of her conservatory training, Emily would receive a

Fulbright scholarship The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright–Hays Program, is one of several United States cultural exchange programs with the goal of improving intercultural relations, cultural diplomacy, and intercultural competence between the people ...

to study her ancestors' music in Sweden, where she lived for six years. Emily's first breakthrough was when she made her first appearance on

Late Night with Conan O’Brien ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien'' is an American television talk show broadcast by NBC. The show is the second installment of the ''Late Night (franchise), Late Night'' franchise originally established by David Letterman. Hosted by Conan O'Brie ...

. On May 12, 2009, Emily released her first independent album, “Ivolution” which would be picked up by Universal Sweden. In 2015, she was named the “

Swedish American of the Year Swedish American of the Year (SAY)/ is an annual award program of the Vasa Order of America which is run by the two Sweden District Lodges – District 19 and District 20. Origin Since 1960, the Vasa Order of America has selected a prominent Americ ...

” for her contributions in the cultural exchange between Sweden and the United States. Previous laureates include actress and singer

Ann-Margret Ann-Margret Olsson (born 28 April 1941), credited as Ann-Margret, is a Swedish-American actress and singer with a career spanning seven decades. Her many screen roles include '' Pocketful of Miracles'' (1961), ''State Fair'' (1962), '' Bye Bye B ...

, lunar astronaut

Buzz Aldrin Buzz Aldrin ( ; born Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr.; January 20, 1930) is an American former astronaut, engineer and fighter pilot. He made three extravehicular activity, spacewalks as pilot of the 1966 Gemini 12 mission, and was the Lunar Module Eag ...

, Chief Justice

William Rehnquist William Hubbs Rehnquist (October 1, 1924 – September 3, 2005) was an American attorney who served as the 16th chief justice of the United States from 1986 until his death in 2005, having previously been an associate justice from 1972 to 1986. ...

, and E Street Band Member

Nils Lofgren Nils Hilmer Lofgren (born June 21, 1951) is an American rock musician, recording artist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Along with his work as a solo artist, he has been a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band since 1984, a memb ...

On July 10, Emily released her EP "Leap". Emily currently teaches voice, gives readings of her opera libretto, and leads workshops in singing and songwriting at the

New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music The School of Jazz and Contemporary Music is a Private university, private music school of The New School in New York City. It is located on 13th Street (Manhattan), West 13th Street in the neighborhood of Greenwich Village. It was once known ...

, The Brooklyn Music School, and private studio. On January 28, 2022, Emily released the single "Run". In February 2022, IVA has announced her residency with

Brooklyn Music School The Brooklyn Music School is a community school for the performing arts in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York offering in person and online programming. Founded in 1909 as the Brooklyn Music School Settlement, it owns and operate ...

. As part of the residency, IVA will give a reading of her opera libretto and lead workshops in singing, songwriting, and performing with her band.

Discography

Albums

* ''IVA'' (2006) *''Ivolution'' (2009)

EPs

* ''Leap'' (2015) * ''Traitor'' (2019)

Singles

* ''Run'' (2021)

Awards and nominations

(2015)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:IVA 1978 births Living people Singers from Delaware American people of Swedish descent American women singer-songwriters