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More Biographical Information A native of Cincinnati, Petra's first exposure to music came from her father, a Dutch classical pianist and piano technician. Her professional debut came at age eleven with the Cincinnati Opera Company and by age twelve, she was on the road in her first national tour. For middle and high school, Petra attended the Cincinnati School for the Creative and Performing Arts and continued her education during the summers at New York City Ballet's School of American Ballet and at the San Francisco Ballet School. She then went on to receive her BFA in Musical Theatre at the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music. Upon graduation, Petra spent a couple of years performing around the country in regional theater and on national tours. Some highlights from that time include a national tour of "A Chorus Line" and dancing in the Radio City Rockettes' Christmas Spectacular. In 1999 at the age of 24, Petra discovered jazz and was inspired to hang up her dancing shoes and follow her heart (and ears) into the world of jazz singing. Living in Cincinnati, she spent many nights listening to veteran vocalists Ann Chamberlain and Mary Ellen Tanner who graciously supported her early efforts by allowing her to sit in with the band. It was not long before Petra began performing around the Cincinnati area and in 2002, Petra and her husband, guitarist Andy Brown, moved to New York City. In New York, Petra was encouraged by singers Marion Cowings and Barbara Lea. In 2004, Petra arrived in Chicago where she was taken under the wing of vocalist Jeannie Lambert, and singer/pianists Judy Roberts and Marc Pompe. Petra continues to gain much inspiration from these mentors. |
