Athlone Artists welcomes the newest addition to its roster – soprano Nicole Elyse Keeling. The grand prize winner of the 2024 Opera Ithaca Vocal Competition has also recently been seen in the role of Senta in Der fliegende Holländer with Painted Sky Opera (which she covered last season at Santa Fe Opera), 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.
Although Nicole was immersed in music from the time she was born in a small town in the South Plains of Texas, she didn’t try on the art form of opera until midway through her undergraduate degree. But when she did, she says, “it was like putting on an old pair of jeans that fit really well. It just made sense.”
Nicole was born in Levelland, Texas to two music educators: her mother a singer, and her father a symphonic and big band trombonist and jazz man. She loved singing – enjoying performing in musicals and in choir – but never thought that she would follow in her parents’ musical footsteps. Still undecided when it came to choosing a career, Nicole set off to obtain a two-year degree in accounting from the local community college, where she continued to enjoy performing as the lead singer in a jazz band. Though all was going well, she was “filled with this kind of dread about going on with this accounting degree.” Her parents assured her that they would be supportive of any career choice, but she admits that they were “absolutely thrilled” when she was accepted into Eastern New Mexico University’s music education program.
And that’s where Nicole’s dream began to take shape. She thrived at ENMU, double majoring in choral music and music education. And it was there that she experienced and fell in love with her very first opera, a double bill of Puccini’s Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi; and delved into works by Gilbert & Sullivan.
After graduation, Nicole found work conducting the junior high choir in the small dairy town of Muleshoe, in West Texas. She adored the job and loved working with the “really wonderful kids who hungered for knowledge,” but Nicole knew now that above all, she wanted to perform. “I was ready for the next steps,” she says. Not knowing fully where her path would lead, Nicole entered the master’s degree program in vocal music at the University of Oklahoma. It was there that she would meet the legendary American mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne, who was regularly teaching lessons and masterclasses at the time. “I’ve had really amazing voice teachers,” says Nicole. “I hesitate to mention just one because I’d want to mention them all! But Marilyn was the first person of that stature to say to me, ‘you can do this, and I want to invest in you.’” Nicole followed Ms. Horne to her first young artist program at Music Academy of the West, where she finally felt like she was on the right track. “I thought: I can do this!”
Not knowing fully where her path would lead, Nicole entered the master’s degree program in vocal music at the University of Oklahoma. It was there that she would meet the legendary American mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne, who was regularly teaching lessons and masterclasses at the time. “I’ve had really amazing voice teachers,” says Nicole. “I hesitate to mention just one because I’d want to mention them all! But Marilyn was the first person of that stature to say to me, ‘you can do this, and I want to invest in you.’” Nicole followed Ms. Horne to her first young artist program at Music Academy of the West, where she finally felt like she was on the right track. “I thought: I can do this!”
Nicole went on to perform with the apprentice programs at Opera Colorado, Utah Festival Opera, Lakes Area Music Festival, Opera Breve, the San Miguel Institute of Bel Canto, and Santa Fe Opera. She learned and performed roles like 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), and appeared in concert with Amarillo Opera, and Detroit Opera. She took home top prizes from the Benton-Schmidt Competition, Vocal Artistry Art Song Competition, and the OU School of Music’s Concerto Competition; and earned her spot as semi-finalist in the 2024 Giulio Gari International Competition and the Opera at Florham Competition, a Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Opera Competition, and a finalist in both the John Alexander and Lewisville Lake Symphony Competitions.
Hearkening back to her roots in the choral tradition, Nicole holds a special place in her heart for ensemble shows. “I got to do a performance as Alice in Falstaff at Opera Colorado with the other resident artists,” she says. “It was really beautiful; we’d spent a whole year together, and all seven of us were on stage at one time. The camaraderie – there’s something so magical about having everyone on stage aligned.” Another significant moment happened for Nicole when she was asked to perform as a soloist with the Big Spring Symphony, while her dad played in the orchestra. “It was such a full circle moment,” she says. “I cannot say enough good things about the way my parents have been there for me. Even now, they fly to see my performances, both big and small.”
Between opera gigs, Nicole still loves to sing jazz, emulating her all-time favorite artist, Sarah Vaughan. She also finds a creative outlet in her side-hustle, creating custom knitwear. And she is finding joy spending time with the latest addition to her New York apartment, a new dog named Count Basie.
Nicole met Miguel Rodriguez of Athlone Artists while at Santa Fe Opera, and the two reconnected after her win at the Opera Ithaca competition earlier this year, where he was a judge. “When I first heard Nicole sing,” recalls Miguel, “I thought to myself ‘here is the next Verdi soprano about to emerge.’ I’m excited to have her join our roster, and can’t wait to hear how that voice continues to grow over the next few years!”
Nicole knew it was time to seek management, and found that “Miguel really understands me as a whole singer and a whole package.” She is ready for the next step, and looking forward to a long and fruitful career, filled with all kinds of music.
