Abigail
Raiford
Schedule
Recent Highlights
Sarah Vautour
Königin der Nacht, Papagena
Dates
Joshua Conyers
Speaker
Dates
William Guanbo Su
Sarastro
Dates
Zachary Rioux
Tamino
Dates
Vivien Shotwell
Second Lady
Dates
Alex Banfield
Tamino
Dates
Stephanie Pfundt
Queen of the Night
Dates
Maxwell Levy
Tamino
Dates
Emily Edmonds
Dorabella
Dates
Lauren Yokabaskas
Fiordiligi
Dates
Jayne Diliberto
W.A. Mozart
Dates
Tanya Langlois
Dates
Sarah Vautour
Königin der Nacht, Papagena
Dates
Joshua Conyers
Speaker
Dates
William Guanbo Su
Sarastro
Dates
Zachary Rioux
Tamino
Dates
Vivien Shotwell
Second Lady
Dates
Alex Banfield
Tamino
Dates
Stephanie Pfundt
Queen of the Night
Dates
Maxwell Levy
Tamino
Dates
Biography
Lyric coloratura soprano Abigail Raiford has caught the attention of many in the music world and beyond. This season, she looks forward to her return to Sarasota Opera, where she made her debut as an Apprentice Artist in their Winter 2020 season, taking the stage as Second Witch and covering Belinda in their production of Dido & Aeneas this spring. A lover of Mozart, her most performed operatic roles are the Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflöte) and Despina (Così fan tutte), and other highlights include Rose Maurrant (Street Scene), First Lady (Die Zauberflöte), Anicasia (La Dolorosa), and Yum-Yum (The Mikado). Her vocalism has thrilled audiences on the concert stage as well, especially in John Mackey’s Songs From the End of the World, which she performed with the University of Tulsa Wind Ensemble, and Milhaud’s Chansons de Ronsard with the Mannes Orchestra. Ms. Raiford has gained recognition as a finalist and Encouragement Award winner at the 2019 Camille Coloratura Awards, winner of the Mannes Concerto Competition and the University of Tulsa Concerto Competition, and recipient of the George and Elizabeth Gregory Award for Excellence in Performing at Mannes. She has trained in programs across the country, most notably at Songfest in their Professional Program, Manhattan Opera Studio, and the Amherst Early Music Festival under Kent Tritle. During the summer of 2016, she spent six weeks studying music in the heart of Vienna, Austria. She completed her Master of Music at the Mannes School of Music, and received her Bachelor of Music from the University of Tulsa.
Gallery
