Amy Susan Heard is known in the Metro Detroit area for her smooth, soulful, angelic voice that has graced stages all over Michigan, as well as Chicago and Las Vegas. In the past several years, she has released two CD’s. “Sister To Sister” is a tremendous work of love and dedication to her late younger sister, Danielle Diana Heard, the author of the four beautiful works on this EP. “This Day” is one of Amy’s original compositions, coupled with a mesmerizing version of “Amazing Grace.” After being nominated for seven Detroit Music Awards in 2004, Amy won two awards for Outstanding Christian Vocalist and Outstanding Christian Songwriter. She was nominated for 13 awards in 2005, spanning the categories of Christian/Gospel, Folk/Acoustic, and Pop/Rock.
Amy has most recently received a Master of Music in Musical Theatre and Vocal Performance from the University of Montana. Amy previously received a Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre and a minor in Dance from Oakland University in Auburn Hills, Michigan. She has been a professional actress/singer/dancer, a voiceover talent, a private vocal instructor, a dance instructor, a choreographer (Six Women with Brain Death or Expiring Minds Want to Know, Chicago, IL, etc.), a music director/conductor, and an acting coach. Refusing to nail herself down to any one of her loves, she has found a way to use all of her gifts. The staff at UM (MT), including her vocal coach, Dr. David Cody, and her acting coaches, Greg Johnson and Michael Murphy, utilized each one of her talents. Along with performing the leading lady role in three films, Amy choreographed for the UM’s Opera Theatre, conducted for their Chamber Chorale, and Music Directed for their drama department’s production of The Good Person of Setzuan. She was also winner of the Concerto Aria Competition and performed with the University of Montana Symphony Orchestra at the Honor’s Convocation as well as performing the National Anthem for Commencement services. The world-renowned Missoula Children’s Theatre, where she completed her internship by Assistant Directing, Stage Managing and Understudying for The Miracle Worker, cast her as “Mayzie La Bird” in Seussical. The Fort Peck Summer Theatre hired Amy for the summer, where she played the roles of Queen Aggravaine in Once Upon A Mattress, Claire in Neil Simon’s Rumors, BJ in Smokey Joe’s Café, Sour Kangaroo in Seussical, and Lady MacBeth/ Heccat in a podcast recording of The Tragedy of Macbeth.
Amy Heard is unapologetically, faithfully, and passionately a Christian. For all of her achievements, she gives full credit to the grace of Jesus Christ, and she rejoices in all of her failures, as each disappointment brings her closer to God. Amy grew up in Macomb, Illinois (hometown of W.I.U.) where she gives thanks to her wonderful beginnings and excellent college training, starting at age thirteen. Her family, which has been her biggest supporters and biggest blessing, now resides in the Metropolitan Detroit area, where Amy calls home. To learn more about Amy’s family, please consider reading “Sweet Angel” by her father, Daniel William Heard.
Read more...