To kick off the 2024 New year, we connect with Melissa Joseph, a voice performance alumna (B.Mu. '15 and M.Mu.'17) from the School of Music. An accomplished soprano, Melissa dazzles audiences across the country with her enchanting and powerful voice. Hear from Melissa as she talks about growing up surrounded by music, an “a-ha” moment that set her on a path to study opera, and her debut with Opera Philadelphia in “La Bohème” performing the role of Musetta, and more.
Haitian-American soprano Melissa Joseph, lauded for her “theatrically vivid and funny” performances, captivated audiences with her debut as Musetta in “La Bohème” at Opera Philadelphia last spring. The Washington Post hailed her rendition as “show-stopping.” In the summer of 2023, Ms. Joseph served as a Steans Singer Fellow at Ravinia Steans Music Institute in Highland Park, IL. Additionally, she returned to Opera Theatre of St. Louis as a Gerdine Young Artist, covering the titular role in the reimagined Treemonisha (by Scott Joplin and Damien Sneed) and portraying Mrs. Gleaton in Floyd’s Susannah. Ms. Joseph made a notable debut with OTSL as Lily in the world premiere of Tobias Picker’s opera Awakenings during their 21-22 season.
As a dedicated competitor, Ms. Joseph achieved notable success, including a 2022 district win in the North Carolina Met Opera National Council Auditions, semi-finalist placement in the 2021 Annapolis Opera competition, and most recently, receiving the Hibbet-Savoca award from the TCO Next competition. She was also awarded a Resident Artist position, where she debuted the role of Sally in Mark Campbell’s Stone Soup.
https://www.melissajosephsoprano.com/
Watch CBS Philadelphia TV News interview with Melissa here.
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