DEBORAH MARKS BERTLING

CURRENTLY LIVING IN SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA

From: Hershey, Pennsylvania, (Chocolatetown, USA)

I knew very early in my life I would be a singer. I thought about nothing else.

It was either that or a Disney Princess, and being a Disney Princess seemed unattainable. There was a brief detour into visual arts in high school, when I thought it might make more sense to be a graphic artist, but music won out. After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Voice Performance, I headed to California with some friends to teach high school music in a private school. I lasted exactly one year doing that. Various life choices landed me in Santa Barbara where I married the most amazing man - my best friend and my soul mate - Peter G. Bertling. Being married to a lawyer can be trying, but I have so much experience living with one that I should at least get to play one in a movie or TV show, right?

My timing was perfect moving to Santa Barbara shortly after Santa Barbara Grand Opera was formed (now known as Opera Santa Barbara). Since 1994, I have been involved with OSB in some capacity or other. I’ve sung as a chorus member many times, have sung main stage roles (see resume for partial list) and I helped to organize - and I performed in - their outreach program in schools for about 15 years. 

I enjoy working in the vibrant arts scene in Santa Barbara. I have diversified my work by adding Musical Theater and Play roles to my resume. In more recent years, I have added film, TV and commercial work to the mix. I am grateful for a varied and flexible life in which to also use my talent and skills for volunteer work in my community. As a member of Community Arts Music Association’s Board of Directors, Advisory Council for Out Of The Box Theater Company, and Westmont Music Council, I have a unique perspective on the arts scene in my beautiful town

I am passionate about music education and work as a docent in local schools teaching music appreciation. I also run a non-profit organization (Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation) to assist young musicians in Santa Barbara County through an annual competition. PASF has been around since 1982, founded by the late Sylvia Dellar, but I “inherited” it in 2002. In the summers, I enjoy working in a summer camp and monthly mentoring club for foster children: Music Director for Royal Family Kids, a faith-based camp for foster children.

To get in touch, please reach out through my contact page.