Biography

Critically acclaimed throughout the United States and Europe for her "quintessential lyric soprano voice," soloist Angela Powell personifies the highest standards of artistic performance in today's classical music world.

She has appeared in numerous operatic roles, including the title role in Carlisle Floyd's Susannah, Le Contessa in Le Nozze di Figaro, Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, Micaela in Carmen, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni and is a long-time favorite of concert audiences at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Her work has also been enthusiastically received at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, and by audiences in Rome, Prague, and Vienna.

Ms. Powell has been a preeminent competitor, taking several first place awards, including the Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition, the Paul Robeson Competition, the National Society of Arts and Letters Vocal Competition and the Sigma Slpha Iota National Vocal Competition. She is also a recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council's highest grant awarded to a vocalist.

A graduate of Oberlin Conservatory (BM) and the University of Maryland (MM), Ms. Powell has appeared with leading orchestras in performances of music by such classicists as Bach, Brahms, Handel, Faure, Mozart and Verdi, and has premiered several works, including Adolphus Hailstork's Done Made My Vow and Luigi Zaninelli's opera Snow White, bringing to life the role of the Evil Queen. Ms. Powell's oratorios include the Brahms' Requiem, Szymanowski's Stabat Mater, Faure's Requiem, Donald McCullough's Holocaust Cantata and Mozart's Requiem.

Her lyrical soprano voice has been hailed by critics as "impressive, sultry, and rich toned," and can be heard, in its many tonal shades, on several recordings, as well as her recently released solo CD, A City Called Heaven.