Audrey Harris - Mimi

Audrey Harris' voice, described as "luminous and lush"(Nation News- Barbados) and magnetic stage presence have thrilled audiences in Europe, The United States, and the Caribbean.  She has been hailed as a "standout performer" and "an emotional show stopper". (Opera Online)

    In a series presented by New York City Opera at Harlem’s Schomburg Center, Ms. Harris performed excerpts from Anthony Davis' X: The Life & Times of Malcolm X, in the role of Betty Shabazz.  Malaak Shabazz, daughter of the late civil rights leader Malcolm X, described Ms. Harris’ depiction of the late Betty Shabazz as the “embodiment and spirit” of her mother.  She recently made her Weill Recital Hall debut in association with the Gerda Lissner Foundation, performing in a concert in honor of Marilyn Horne; and performed excerpts from Handel's Giulio Cesare (Cleopatra) for the Opera Index Gala where Maestro Julius Rudel was presented with it’s Distinguished Achievement Award. 

   Most recently, Ms. Harris won the Audience Choice Award and 1st Prize of The Harlem Opera Theater 2009 Vocal Competition.  She also won 1st Prize in both the 2009 New Jersey Verismo Opera Competition & the 2009 Marian Anderson Classical Icon Vocal Competition.  She is a Winner of an Opera Index Award, Gerda Lissner International Vocal Competition Award, and an Eastern Region District Winner of The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.  Ms. Harris sang for President Sarkozy of France during his latest visit to New York City.  She was a featured guest soloist with the Richmond Symphony & appeared with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, in a live broadcast of Marsalis' world premiere Mass.  Wynton Marsalis has described her voice as "a noble voice...one of distinct quality". 

   Ms. Harris was honored to perform at The Library of Congress in Washington, DC. as a featured soloist in a program that included Grammy Award Winner, Twinkie Clark- Terrell of The Legendary Clark Sisters.  She has also performed in various benefit concerts for such foundations as: Yele Haiti (Founded by Wyclef Jean), Stroke of Hope, Saved For Life, PepsiCo Foundation, and The American Red Cross.  Ms. Harris is the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships.  These include: Florida Grand Opera Vocal Competition (Grand Prize), Palm Beach Opera

(First Prize), National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts Scholarship Award, The Jewish Foundation for the Education of Women Scholarship, Philo Higley Scholarship, NAACP Scholarship, and Omega Psi Phi Scholarship. 

  Among her numerous opera roles performed are Aida- Aida, Mimi- La Boheme, Desdemona- Otello, Micaela- Carmen, Countess- The Marriage of Figaro, Pamina- The Magic Flute, Lillian Russell- The Mother of Us All, Cio Cio San- Madama Butterfly, Tigrana- Edgar, Liu- Turandot, Donna Elvira- Don Giovanni, Anna Maurrant- Street Scene, and Bess- Porgy & Bess.  Her extensive Oratorio and Concert experience throughout NYC includes the Faure Requiem, Mozart Requiem, Vivaldi's Gloria, Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem, Handel's Messiah, Judas Maccabaeus, and Israel in Egypt.  She has also performed in educational outreach programs with such companies as The Orchestra of St. Luke's, Opera Noire of NY, Harlem Opera, and Pacific Opera (NY). 

  A native of Miami, Florida, Ms. Harris received her music degree from The Juilliard School in New York City.