Kyaunnee Richardson
Soprano

“I Believe” Concert
May 18, 2023
Margaret Bonds Credo and André Thomas Mass

Bio:

Kyaunnee Richardson made her professional debut as Papagena in The Magic Flute with Festival of the Arts Boca in 2016. Recently, Kyaunnee starred as Calpurnia in the world premiere of The Secret River with Opera Orlando and made her debut as Adele in Die Fledermaus last season. Other highlights from the last few seasons include the roles of Monica in The Medium with First Coast Opera, Despina in Così fan tutte with Opera in Williamsburg, Sister 2 in the world premiere of Why I Live in the P.O. with UrbanArias, Juliette in Roméo et Juliette and Maria in West Side Story with Gulfshore Opera’s Gala Concert, Frasquita in Carmen, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Clara in Porgy and Bess with the South Florida Symphony; Alice Allegretto and Dr. Marigold in The Amazing Adventures of Alvin Allegretto with Orchestra Miami, Nella in Gianni Schicchi, Monica in The Medium, Pamina in The Magic Flute with Orchestra Miami, Esther in the concert premiere of Ginsberg’s Esther, Sweet Esther at the National Press Club in Washington DC; the roles of Najade in Ariadne auf Naxos, Gilda in Rigoletto, Lisette in La rondine, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Despina in Così fan tutte and Adele in Die Fledermaus with Opera Fusion’s Emerging Artist Project series and she has also participated with the Savannah VOICE Festival as a Festival Artist. While completing her masters at Florida State University, Kyaunnee performed the roles of Rose Maurrant in Street Scene and Despina in Così fan tutte.

Her performances as a soloist with orchestra include Handel’s Messiah with the Civic Chorale of Greater Miami and the Alhambra Orchestra and Vivaldi’s Gloria with the Delray Orchestra. She has also been a featured soloist with the Brevard Symphony Orchestra, Symphony of the Americas, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, South Florida Symphony Orchestra, Hallandale Symphonic Pops Orchestra, Sugar Pops Orchestra, Opera Fusion Orchestra, Coral Gables Chamber Orchestra and the Sunrise Symphonic Pops Orchestra.

Kyaunnee placed third in both the New York Lyric Opera Theatre and Opera Ebony’s Benjamin Matthews Vocal Competition and won the Audience Favorite Award in the Harlem Opera Theater Competition. Other awards include the Sherrill Milnes American Opera Award and a Semifinalist in the 2023 American Traditions Vocal Competition, one of the top four finalists in Orchestra Noir’s International Medallion Competition, a Finalist in the 2020 SAS Performing Arts Company Vocal Competition and the Michael Ballam Concorso Lirico Opera Competition, the Encouragement Award from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and Stuart Smith Audience Favorite Award from Opera Ebony.

Kyaunnee counts among her highest honors singing for President Barak Obama and other dignitaries at the funeral of South Carolina Senator and Rev. Clementa Pinckney.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, she has performed virtually, including Opera Fusion’s #SongStrong and Music to Eat Chocolate By e-concerts, Hued Songs in Make Music Miami, and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s international online Cadenza Competition.

Upcoming engagements for the 2022/23 season include her return with Opera in Williamsburg in the role of Donna Elvira in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. In the summer, Kyaunnee joins Teatro Nuovo as a Studio Artist then returns to the Savannah VOICE Festival in the roles of Kate Pinkerton in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly and Donna Elvira in Mozart’s Don Giovanni.