The grand prize winner of the 2024 Opera Ithaca Vocal Competition Soprano Nicole Elyse Keeling recently made her role and house debut of Senta in Der fliegende Holländer with Painted Sky Opera following a cover of the role last season with Santa Fe Opera. Her other recent engagements have included workshopping the role of Euridice in Nmon Ford’s new house music opera, House of Orfeus, singing the role of Tatiana in Eugene Onegin with Opera in the Heights, and singing as soprano soloist in Poulenc’s Gloria with University of Arkansas, Little Rock. Her repertoire also includes the title role of Suor Angelica, Contessa (Le nozze di Figaro), Alice Ford (Falstaff), Mimì (La bohème), Anne Trulove (The Rake’s Progress), and Madame Lidoine (Dialogues of the Carmelites). She has appeared in concert with Big Spring Symphony, Amarillo Opera, and Detroit Opera.  

In 2024, Keeling was named a semi-finalist in the Giulio Gari International Competition and the Opera at Florham Competition. Previously, she has been awarded First Prize in the Benton-Schmidt Competition, Vocal Artistry Art Song Competition, and the OU School of Music’s Concerto Competition; was a Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Opera Competition, and was a finalist in both the John Alexander and Lewisville Lake Symphony Competitions.  

Originally from the South Plains of Texas, Keeling earned her bachelor’s degrees in music and music education from Eastern New Mexico University and her master’s degree in music from the University of Oklahoma. She has been an apprentice with Opera Colorado, Utah Festival Opera, Lakes Area Music Festival, Opera Breve, the San Miguel Institute of Bel Canto, Music Academy of the West, and Santa Fe Opera.  

October 2024